Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine’s president and prime minister ended the country’s political standoff this week by agreeing to early elections. The former Soviet republic has been mired in a political crisis for more than a month, ever since pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko announced the dissolution of parliament and called for elections. He said the move was necessary to prevent Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych from usurping power. Yanukovych, whose pro-Russian party controls the parliament, initially ignored the decision, calling it unconstitutional. The new elections are a risk for Yushchenko. Members of pro-Western parties have been defecting to the Yanukovych camp for weeks now—bought off, according to Ukrainian media, with Russian money.
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