President Yushchenko Faced With Defeat in Ukraine Polls


by Vladimir Radyuhin
The Hindu
January 19, 2010


MOSCOW: The former Prime Minister, Viktor Yanukovich, captured an early lead in Ukraine’s presidential election, which looks set to bring a crushing defeat for incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko.

Two exit polls sited by Russian news agencies gave Mr. Yanukovich between 36 to 40 per cent of the votes, with Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko coming in second with 21 to 24 per cent, and ex-Governor of the National Bank Sergei Tigipko trailing them with 10 to 15 per cent. These results, if confirmed, mean that a runoff will have to be held on February 7.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yanukovich has already taken revenge on his archrival, Mr. Yushchenko, who was swept into power five years ago by the West-orchestrated “orange revolution,â€