| UKRAINE Ukraine Ukrayina Joined United Nations: 24 October 1945 Human Rights as assured by their constitution Click here Updated 04/22/10 |
| CAPITAL |
| POPULATION |
| CHIEF OF STATE |
| SELECTION PROCESS |
Kyiv (Kiev)
45,700,395 (July 2009 est.)
Mykola Azarov
Prime Minister since 11 March 2010
Prime Minister since 11 March 2010
President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term);election last held 17 January 2010 with runoff 7
February 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
second term);election last held 17 January 2010 with runoff 7
February 2010
Next scheduled election: 2015
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT
SELECTION PROCESS
The majority in parliament takes the lead in naming the prime
minister, elections: last held 30 September 2007
Next scheduled election: May 2012
minister, elections: last held 30 September 2007
Next scheduled election: May 2012
| DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS |
| ETHNIC GROUPS |
Ukrainian 77.8%, Russian 17.3%, Belarusian 0.6%, Moldovan 0.5%, Crimean Tatar 0.5%, Bulgarian 0.4%, Hungarian 0.3%,
Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)
Romanian 0.3%, Polish 0.3%, Jewish 0.2%, other 1.8% (2001 census)
| RELIGIONS |
Ukrainian Orthodox - Kyiv Patriarchate 19%, Orthodox (no particular jurisdiction) 16%, Ukrainian Orthodox - Moscow Patriarchate 9%,
Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38% (2004 est.)
Ukrainian Greek Catholic 6%, Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox 1.7%, Protestant, Jewish, none 38% (2004 est.)
| GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE |
Republic with 24 provinces (oblasti, singular - oblast'), 1 autonomous republic (avtonomna respublika), and 2 municipalities (mista, singular
- misto) with oblast status; Legal system is based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 February 2010 (next to be
held in 2015); under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1 January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming the
prime minister
Legislative: Unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that
gain 3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Judicial: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
- misto) with oblast status; Legal system is based on civil law system; judicial review of legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory
ICJ jurisdiction
Executive: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 7 February 2010 (next to be
held in 2015); under constitutional reforms that went into effect 1 January 2006, the majority in parliament takes the lead in naming the
prime minister
Legislative: Unicameral Supreme Council or Verkhovna Rada (450 seats; members allocated on a proportional basis to those parties that
gain 3% or more of the national electoral vote; to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 30 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Judicial: Supreme Court; Constitutional Court
| LANGUAGES |
Ukrainian (official) 67%, Russian 24%, other 9% (includes small Romanian-, Polish-, and Hungarian-speaking minorities)
| BRIEF HISTORY |
Human settlement on the territory of Ukraine has been documented into distant prehistory. The late Neolithic Trypillian culture
flourished from about 4500 BC to 3000 BC. The Copper Age people of the Trypillian culture were resided in the western part, and
the Sredny Stog further east, succeeded by the early Bronze Age Yamna ( "Kurgan") culture of the steppes, and by the Catacomb
culture in the 3rd millennium BC. During the Iron Age, these were followed by the Cimmerians, Scythians, Sarmatians, among other
nomadic peoples. The Scythian Kingdom existed here from 750 BC to 250 BC. Along with ancient Greek colonies founded from
the 6th century BC on the north-eastern shore of the Black Sea, the colonies of Tyras, Olbia, Hermonassa, perpetuated by Roman
and Byzantine cities until the 6th century AD. In the 3rd century AD, the Goths arrived in the lands of Ukraine around 250 AD to
375 AD, which they called Oium, corresponding to the archaeological Chernyakhov culture. The Ostrogoths stayed in the area but
came under the sway of the Huns from the 370s. North of the Ostrogothic kingdom was the Kiev culture, flourishing from the 2nd
to 5th centuries, when it was overrun by the Huns. After they helped defeat the Huns at the battle of Nedao in 454, the Ostrogoths
were allowed to settle in Pannonia. With the power vacuum created with the end of Hunnic and Gothic rule, Slavic tribes, possibly
emerging from the remnants of the Kiev culture, began to expand over much of what is now Ukraine during the 5th century, and
beyond to the Balkans from the 6th century. In the 7th century, the territory of modern Ukraine was the core of the state of the
Bulgars (often referred to as Great Bulgaria) with its capital city of Phanagoria. At the end of the 7th century, most Bulgar tribes
migrated in several directions and the remains of their state were absorbed by the Khazars, a semi-nomadic people from Central
Asia. The Khazars founded the Khazar kingdom in the southeastern part of today's Europe, near the Caspian Sea and the
Caucasus. The kingdom included western Kazakhstan, and parts of eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, southern Russia, and Crimea. Up
to the ninth century the land was dominated by the Khazars, the Turkic semi-nomadic people from Central Asia who adopted
Judaism. In the 9th century, Kiev was conquered from the Khazars by the Varangian noble Oleg who started the long period of rule
of the Rurikid princes. During this time, several Slavic tribes were native to Ukraine, including the Polans, the Drevlyans, the
Severians, the Ulichs, the Tiverians, and the Dulebes. Situated on lucrative trade routes, Kiev among the Polanians quickly
prospered as the center of the powerful Slavic state of Kievan Rus. In the 11th century, Kievan Rus' was, geographically, the
largest state in Europe, becoming known in the rest of Europe as Ruthenia (the Latin name for Rus', especially for western
principalities of Rus' after the Mongol invasion. The name "Ukraine", meaning "border-land" first appears in recorded history on
maps of the period. Although Christianity had made inroads into territory of Ukraine before the first ecumenical council, the Council
of Nicaea (325) (particularly along the Black Sea coast) and, in Western Ukraine during the time of empire of Great Moravia, the
formal governmental acceptance of Christianity in Rus' occurred at in 988. The major cause of the Christianization of Kievan Rus'
was the Grand-Duke, Vladimir the Great (Volodymyr). Conflict among the various principalities of Rus', in spite of the efforts of
Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh, led to decline, beginning in the 12th century. Kiev was sacked by Vladimir principality (1169) in
the power struggle between princes and later by Cumans and Mongol raiders in the 12th and 13th centuries, respectively.
Subsequently, all principalities of present-day Ukraine acknowledged dependence upon the Mongols (1239-1240). In 1240 the
Mongols sacked Kiev. A successor state to Kievan Rus' on part of the territory of today's Ukraine was the principality of Halych-
Volynia. During this period (around 1200-1400) each principality was independent of the other for a period of time. During the 14th
century, Poland and Lithuania fought wars against the Mongol invaders, and eventually most of Ukraine passed to the rule of Poland
and Lithuania. After the Union of Lublin in 1569 and the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Ukraine fell under
Polish administration, becoming part of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom. The 1648 Ukrainian Cossack (Kozak) rebellion and war
of independence (Khmelnytsky Uprising), which started an era known as the Ruin (in Polish history as The Deluge), undermined the
foundations and stability of the Commonwealth. The nascent Cossack state, the Zaporozhian Host, usually viewed as precursor of
Ukraine, found itself in a three-sided military and diplomatic rivalry with the Ottoman Turks, who controlled the Tatars to the south,
the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, and the rising Russia to the East. Tsarist rule over central Ukraine gradually replaced
'protection' over the subsequent decades. After the Partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793 and 1795, the extreme west of Ukraine fell
under the control of the Austrians, with the rest being taken over by the Russians. As a result of Russo-Turkish Wars the Ottoman
Empire control receded from south-central Ukraine, while the rule of Hungary over the Transcarpathian region continued. When
World War I and the October Revolution in Russia shattered the Austrian and Russian empires, Ukrainians were caught in the
middle. Between 1917 and 1918, several separate Ukrainian republics manifested independence, the Tsentral'na Rada, the
Hetmanate, the Directorate, the Ukrainian People's Republic, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, and a Bolshevik government.
With the defeat in the Polish-Ukrainian War and then the failure of the Piłsudski's and Petliura's Kiev Operation, by the end of the
Polish-Soviet War after the Peace of Riga in March 1921, the western part of Galicia had been incorporated into Poland, and the
larger, central and eastern part became part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Ukrainian national
idea lived on during the inter-war years and was even spread to a large territory with traditionally mixed population in the east and
south that became part of the Ukrainian Soviet republic. To satisfy the state's need for increased food supplies and finance
industrialisation, Stalin instituted a program of collectivisation of agriculture, which profoundly affected Ukraine, often referred to as
the "breadbasket of the USSR". Following the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, in September 1939, German and Soviet troops divided
the territory of Poland, including Galicia with its Ukrainian population. Over the next decades the Ukrainian republic not only
surpassed pre-war levels of industry and production but also was the spearhead of Soviet power. The town of Pripyat, Ukraine
was the site of the Chernobyl accident, which occurred in April 26, 1986 when a nuclear plant exploded. Ukraine declared itself an
independent state on August 24, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and was a founding member of the
Commonwealth of Independent States. On December 1, 1991 Ukrainian voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum formalizing
independence from the Soviet Union. The Union formally ceased to exist in December 25, 1991, and with this Ukraine's
independence was officially recognized by the international community. The history of Ukraine between 1991 and 2004 was
marked by the presidencies of Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma. This was a time of transition for Ukraine. Two major
candidates emerged in the 2004 presidential election. Viktor Yanukovych, the incumbent Prime Minister, supported by both
Kuchma and by the Russian Federation, wanted closer ties with Russia. The main opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, called
for Ukraine to turn its attention westward and eventually join the EU. In the runoff election, Yanukovych officially won by a narrow
margin, but Yushchenko and his supporters cried foul, alleging that vote rigging and intimidation cost him many votes, especially in
the eastern Ukraine. A political crisis erupted after the opposition started massive street protests in Kiev and other cities (Orange
Revolution), and the Supreme Court of Ukraine ordered the election results null and void. A second runoff found Viktor
Yushchenko the winner. 5 days later Viktor Yanukovych resigned from office and his cabinet was dismissed on January 5, 2005.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine sometimes appear strained. In 2005, a highly-publicized dispute over natural gas prices took
place, involving Russian state-owned gas supplier Gazprom, and indirectly involving many European countries which depend on
natural gas supplied by Russia through the Ukrainian pipeline. A compromise was reached in January 2006.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Ukraine
flourished from about 4500 BC to 3000 BC. The Copper Age people of the Trypillian culture were resided in the western part, and
the Sredny Stog further east, succeeded by the early Bronze Age Yamna ( "Kurgan") culture of the steppes, and by the Catacomb
culture in the 3rd millennium BC. During the Iron Age, these were followed by the Cimmerians, Scythians, Sarmatians, among other
nomadic peoples. The Scythian Kingdom existed here from 750 BC to 250 BC. Along with ancient Greek colonies founded from
the 6th century BC on the north-eastern shore of the Black Sea, the colonies of Tyras, Olbia, Hermonassa, perpetuated by Roman
and Byzantine cities until the 6th century AD. In the 3rd century AD, the Goths arrived in the lands of Ukraine around 250 AD to
375 AD, which they called Oium, corresponding to the archaeological Chernyakhov culture. The Ostrogoths stayed in the area but
came under the sway of the Huns from the 370s. North of the Ostrogothic kingdom was the Kiev culture, flourishing from the 2nd
to 5th centuries, when it was overrun by the Huns. After they helped defeat the Huns at the battle of Nedao in 454, the Ostrogoths
were allowed to settle in Pannonia. With the power vacuum created with the end of Hunnic and Gothic rule, Slavic tribes, possibly
emerging from the remnants of the Kiev culture, began to expand over much of what is now Ukraine during the 5th century, and
beyond to the Balkans from the 6th century. In the 7th century, the territory of modern Ukraine was the core of the state of the
Bulgars (often referred to as Great Bulgaria) with its capital city of Phanagoria. At the end of the 7th century, most Bulgar tribes
migrated in several directions and the remains of their state were absorbed by the Khazars, a semi-nomadic people from Central
Asia. The Khazars founded the Khazar kingdom in the southeastern part of today's Europe, near the Caspian Sea and the
Caucasus. The kingdom included western Kazakhstan, and parts of eastern Ukraine, Azerbaijan, southern Russia, and Crimea. Up
to the ninth century the land was dominated by the Khazars, the Turkic semi-nomadic people from Central Asia who adopted
Judaism. In the 9th century, Kiev was conquered from the Khazars by the Varangian noble Oleg who started the long period of rule
of the Rurikid princes. During this time, several Slavic tribes were native to Ukraine, including the Polans, the Drevlyans, the
Severians, the Ulichs, the Tiverians, and the Dulebes. Situated on lucrative trade routes, Kiev among the Polanians quickly
prospered as the center of the powerful Slavic state of Kievan Rus. In the 11th century, Kievan Rus' was, geographically, the
largest state in Europe, becoming known in the rest of Europe as Ruthenia (the Latin name for Rus', especially for western
principalities of Rus' after the Mongol invasion. The name "Ukraine", meaning "border-land" first appears in recorded history on
maps of the period. Although Christianity had made inroads into territory of Ukraine before the first ecumenical council, the Council
of Nicaea (325) (particularly along the Black Sea coast) and, in Western Ukraine during the time of empire of Great Moravia, the
formal governmental acceptance of Christianity in Rus' occurred at in 988. The major cause of the Christianization of Kievan Rus'
was the Grand-Duke, Vladimir the Great (Volodymyr). Conflict among the various principalities of Rus', in spite of the efforts of
Grand Prince Vladimir Monomakh, led to decline, beginning in the 12th century. Kiev was sacked by Vladimir principality (1169) in
the power struggle between princes and later by Cumans and Mongol raiders in the 12th and 13th centuries, respectively.
Subsequently, all principalities of present-day Ukraine acknowledged dependence upon the Mongols (1239-1240). In 1240 the
Mongols sacked Kiev. A successor state to Kievan Rus' on part of the territory of today's Ukraine was the principality of Halych-
Volynia. During this period (around 1200-1400) each principality was independent of the other for a period of time. During the 14th
century, Poland and Lithuania fought wars against the Mongol invaders, and eventually most of Ukraine passed to the rule of Poland
and Lithuania. After the Union of Lublin in 1569 and the formation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Ukraine fell under
Polish administration, becoming part of the Crown of the Polish Kingdom. The 1648 Ukrainian Cossack (Kozak) rebellion and war
of independence (Khmelnytsky Uprising), which started an era known as the Ruin (in Polish history as The Deluge), undermined the
foundations and stability of the Commonwealth. The nascent Cossack state, the Zaporozhian Host, usually viewed as precursor of
Ukraine, found itself in a three-sided military and diplomatic rivalry with the Ottoman Turks, who controlled the Tatars to the south,
the Commonwealth of Poland and Lithuania, and the rising Russia to the East. Tsarist rule over central Ukraine gradually replaced
'protection' over the subsequent decades. After the Partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793 and 1795, the extreme west of Ukraine fell
under the control of the Austrians, with the rest being taken over by the Russians. As a result of Russo-Turkish Wars the Ottoman
Empire control receded from south-central Ukraine, while the rule of Hungary over the Transcarpathian region continued. When
World War I and the October Revolution in Russia shattered the Austrian and Russian empires, Ukrainians were caught in the
middle. Between 1917 and 1918, several separate Ukrainian republics manifested independence, the Tsentral'na Rada, the
Hetmanate, the Directorate, the Ukrainian People's Republic, the West Ukrainian People's Republic, and a Bolshevik government.
With the defeat in the Polish-Ukrainian War and then the failure of the Piłsudski's and Petliura's Kiev Operation, by the end of the
Polish-Soviet War after the Peace of Riga in March 1921, the western part of Galicia had been incorporated into Poland, and the
larger, central and eastern part became part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. The Ukrainian national
idea lived on during the inter-war years and was even spread to a large territory with traditionally mixed population in the east and
south that became part of the Ukrainian Soviet republic. To satisfy the state's need for increased food supplies and finance
industrialisation, Stalin instituted a program of collectivisation of agriculture, which profoundly affected Ukraine, often referred to as
the "breadbasket of the USSR". Following the Ribbentrop-Molotov pact, in September 1939, German and Soviet troops divided
the territory of Poland, including Galicia with its Ukrainian population. Over the next decades the Ukrainian republic not only
surpassed pre-war levels of industry and production but also was the spearhead of Soviet power. The town of Pripyat, Ukraine
was the site of the Chernobyl accident, which occurred in April 26, 1986 when a nuclear plant exploded. Ukraine declared itself an
independent state on August 24, 1991, following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, and was a founding member of the
Commonwealth of Independent States. On December 1, 1991 Ukrainian voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum formalizing
independence from the Soviet Union. The Union formally ceased to exist in December 25, 1991, and with this Ukraine's
independence was officially recognized by the international community. The history of Ukraine between 1991 and 2004 was
marked by the presidencies of Leonid Kravchuk and Leonid Kuchma. This was a time of transition for Ukraine. Two major
candidates emerged in the 2004 presidential election. Viktor Yanukovych, the incumbent Prime Minister, supported by both
Kuchma and by the Russian Federation, wanted closer ties with Russia. The main opposition candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, called
for Ukraine to turn its attention westward and eventually join the EU. In the runoff election, Yanukovych officially won by a narrow
margin, but Yushchenko and his supporters cried foul, alleging that vote rigging and intimidation cost him many votes, especially in
the eastern Ukraine. A political crisis erupted after the opposition started massive street protests in Kiev and other cities (Orange
Revolution), and the Supreme Court of Ukraine ordered the election results null and void. A second runoff found Viktor
Yushchenko the winner. 5 days later Viktor Yanukovych resigned from office and his cabinet was dismissed on January 5, 2005.
Relations between Russia and Ukraine sometimes appear strained. In 2005, a highly-publicized dispute over natural gas prices took
place, involving Russian state-owned gas supplier Gazprom, and indirectly involving many European countries which depend on
natural gas supplied by Russia through the Ukrainian pipeline. A compromise was reached in January 2006.
Source: Wikipedia: History of Ukraine
| ECONOMIC OVERVIEW |
After Russia, the Ukrainian republic was far and away the most important economic component of the former Soviet Union,
producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its
diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December
1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance
to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had
fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine depends on imports to meet about three-fourths
of its annual oil and natural gas requirements. Ukraine concluded a deal with Russia in January 2006 that almost doubled the price
Ukraine pays for Russian gas. Disputes with Russia over pricing have led to periodic gas cut-offs. Outside institutions - particularly
the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax
and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but
more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, and improving the legislative framework.
Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP
growth exceeded 7% in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top export - and by strong domestic
consumption, spurred by rising pensions and wages. The drop in steel prices and Ukraine's exposure to the global financial crisis
due to aggressive foreign borrowing has lowered growth in 2008 and the economy probably will contract in 2009. Ukraine reached
an agreement with the IMF for a $16.5 billion standby arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the economic crisis. However,
political turmoil in Ukraine as well as deteriorating external conditions are likely to hamper efforts for economic recovery.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Ukraine)
producing about four times the output of the next-ranking republic. Its fertile black soil generated more than one-fourth of Soviet
agricultural output, and its farms provided substantial quantities of meat, milk, grain, and vegetables to other republics. Likewise, its
diversified heavy industry supplied the unique equipment (for example, large diameter pipes) and raw materials to industrial and
mining sites (vertical drilling apparatus) in other regions of the former USSR. Shortly after independence was ratified in December
1991, the Ukrainian Government liberalized most prices and erected a legal framework for privatization, but widespread resistance
to reform within the government and the legislature soon stalled reform efforts and led to some backtracking. Output by 1999 had
fallen to less than 40% of the 1991 level. Ukraine's dependence on Russia for energy supplies and the lack of significant structural
reform have made the Ukrainian economy vulnerable to external shocks. Ukraine depends on imports to meet about three-fourths
of its annual oil and natural gas requirements. Ukraine concluded a deal with Russia in January 2006 that almost doubled the price
Ukraine pays for Russian gas. Disputes with Russia over pricing have led to periodic gas cut-offs. Outside institutions - particularly
the IMF - have encouraged Ukraine to quicken the pace and scope of reforms. Ukrainian Government officials eliminated most tax
and customs privileges in a March 2005 budget law, bringing more economic activity out of Ukraine's large shadow economy, but
more improvements are needed, including fighting corruption, developing capital markets, and improving the legislative framework.
Ukraine's economy was buoyant despite political turmoil between the prime minister and president until mid-2008. Real GDP
growth exceeded 7% in 2006-07, fueled by high global prices for steel - Ukraine's top export - and by strong domestic
consumption, spurred by rising pensions and wages. The drop in steel prices and Ukraine's exposure to the global financial crisis
due to aggressive foreign borrowing has lowered growth in 2008 and the economy probably will contract in 2009. Ukraine reached
an agreement with the IMF for a $16.5 billion standby arrangement in November 2008 to deal with the economic crisis. However,
political turmoil in Ukraine as well as deteriorating external conditions are likely to hamper efforts for economic recovery.
Source: CIA World Factbook (select Ukraine)
| POLITICAL CLIMATE |
The Ukrainian presidential election of 2010 is Ukraine's fifth presidential election since declaring independence from the Soviet
Union in 1991. The first round was held on January 17, 2010. The run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and
opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych followed on February 7, 2010.
On February 14, Viktor Yanukovych, with 48.95% of the popular vote, was declared President-elect and winner of the 2010
Ukrainian Presidential election. According to Article 104 of Ukraine's Constitution the President must be sworn into office within 30
days from the official declaration of the poll before the Ukrainian parliament.The Ukrainian Parliament has scheduled Yanukovych's
inaugurated Yanukovych on February 25, 2010.
On February 17, 2010, the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine, suspended the results of the election on appeal from Mrs.
Tymoshenko. The court suspended the Central Election Commission of Ukraine ruling that announced that Viktor Yanukovych won
the election, but did not postpone or cancel Mr. Yanukovych’s inauguration. Tymoshenko withdrew her appeal on February 20,
2010.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Ukraine
Union in 1991. The first round was held on January 17, 2010. The run-off between Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and
opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych followed on February 7, 2010.
On February 14, Viktor Yanukovych, with 48.95% of the popular vote, was declared President-elect and winner of the 2010
Ukrainian Presidential election. According to Article 104 of Ukraine's Constitution the President must be sworn into office within 30
days from the official declaration of the poll before the Ukrainian parliament.The Ukrainian Parliament has scheduled Yanukovych's
inaugurated Yanukovych on February 25, 2010.
On February 17, 2010, the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine, suspended the results of the election on appeal from Mrs.
Tymoshenko. The court suspended the Central Election Commission of Ukraine ruling that announced that Viktor Yanukovych won
the election, but did not postpone or cancel Mr. Yanukovych’s inauguration. Tymoshenko withdrew her appeal on February 20,
2010.
Source: Wikipedia: Politics of Ukraine
| INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES |
1997 boundary delimitation treaty with Belarus remains un-ratified due to unresolved financial claims, stalling demarcation and
reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the
dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a
December 2003 framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to
monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region, which remains under OSCE
supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in their dispute submitted in
2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary; Romania opposes
Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea.
reducing border security; delimitation of land boundary with Russia is complete with preparations for demarcation underway; the
dispute over the boundary between Russia and Ukraine through the Kerch Strait and Sea of Azov remains unresolved despite a
December 2003 framework agreement and ongoing expert-level discussions; Moldova and Ukraine operate joint customs posts to
monitor transit of people and commodities through Moldova's break-away Transnistria Region, which remains under OSCE
supervision; the ICJ gave Ukraine until December 2006 to reply, and Romania until June 2007 to rejoin, in their dispute submitted in
2004 over Ukrainian-administered Zmiyinyy/Serpilor (Snake) Island and Black Sea maritime boundary; Romania opposes
Ukraine's reopening of a navigation canal from the Danube border through Ukraine to the Black Sea.
| REFUGEES AND INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPS) |
None reported.
| ILLICIT DRUGS |
Limited cultivation of cannabis and opium poppy, mostly for CIS consumption; some synthetic drug production for export to the
West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin
America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from
the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's
anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF.
West; limited government eradication program; used as transshipment point for opiates and other illicit drugs from Africa, Latin
America, and Turkey to Europe and Russia; Ukraine has improved anti-money-laundering controls, resulting in its removal from
the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF's) Noncooperative Countries and Territories List in February 2004; Ukraine's
anti-money-laundering regime continues to be monitored by FATF.
| HUMAN RIGHTS STATEMENTS, ANALYSIS AND CRITIQUES |
2008 Human Rights Reports: Ukraine
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
February 25, 2009
Ukraine, population 46 million, is a republic with a mixed presidential and parliamentary system, governed by a directly elected president
and a unicameral parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) that selects a prime minister. Parliamentary elections were held in September 2007;
according to international observers, fundamental civil and political rights were respected during the campaign, enabling voters to
express their opinions freely. Five political parties and blocs held seats in the 450 member parliament. Civilian authorities generally
maintained effective control of the security forces.
During the year the government closed the long criticized Pavshyne migrant detention facility and opened two migrant detention centers
that comply with international standards. The Ministry of the Interior established human rights monitoring departments in all regions to
monitor human rights performance by police during the year.
Click here to read more »
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
February 25, 2009
Ukraine, population 46 million, is a republic with a mixed presidential and parliamentary system, governed by a directly elected president
and a unicameral parliament (the Verkhovna Rada) that selects a prime minister. Parliamentary elections were held in September 2007;
according to international observers, fundamental civil and political rights were respected during the campaign, enabling voters to
express their opinions freely. Five political parties and blocs held seats in the 450 member parliament. Civilian authorities generally
maintained effective control of the security forces.
- The police and penal systems continued to be sources of some of the most serious human rights concerns. They included
instances of torture by law enforcement personnel, harsh conditions in prisons and detention facilities, and arbitrary and lengthy
pretrial detention. - The judiciary lacked independence and suffered from corruption.
- The government continued to be slow to return religious property.
- Societal violence against Jews continued to be a problem, as did anti Semitic publications, although their number and circulation
declined during the year. - Serious corruption persisted in all branches of the government.
- Societal problems included violence and discrimination against women, including domestic violence and sexual harassment in the
workplace, and against children, as well as increased violence against persons of non Slavic appearance. - Discrimination against Roma continued.
- Trafficking in persons continued to be a serious problem.
- Workers continued to face limitations on their ability to form and join unions of their choice and to bargain collectively.
During the year the government closed the long criticized Pavshyne migrant detention facility and opened two migrant detention centers
that comply with international standards. The Ministry of the Interior established human rights monitoring departments in all regions to
monitor human rights performance by police during the year.
Click here to read more »
9 February 2009
PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention*
Addendum
MISSION TO UKRAINE**
Summary
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, at the invitation of the Government, visited Ukraine on an official mission from 22 October
to 5 November 2008. In Kyiv, Donetsk, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Mukachevo and Chop, the delegation met with
Government authorities, representatives of civil society, relatives of detainees, members of domestic monitoring mechanisms and
representatives of international and regional organizations. It conducted individual interviews in confidence with 138 detainees and
approximately 100 collective interviews in the 21 facilities visited, where people are deprived of their liberty.
The present report provides a brief overview of the institutional and legal framework relating to the deprivation of liberty and describes
the situation in Ukraine with regard to criminal detention, including detention under State security and military powers and pending
extradition, as well as deprivation of liberty for administrative offences, detention of vagrants, immigration detention, the juvenile justice
system and deprivation of liberty on the grounds of mental health.
The Working Group highlights the cooperation given by the Government and the various reforms implemented since the country’s
independence in 1991 with respect to the administration of justice system. It also commends the existence of several monitoring
mechanisms, such as the Ombudsperson, mobile monitoring clinics and public councils, as a means of combating arbitrary detention,
although further strengthening of these mechanisms is required. The Working Group deems the confinement of military jurisdiction,
which largely follows civilian criminal and criminal procedure rules, exclusively to conscripts, a good practice. It encourages the
Government to adopt swiftly a separate juvenile justice system. The Working Group also found the regime applied to persons deprived of
their liberty on grounds of their mental health to be professionally implemented by caring personnel.
One main issue of concern relates to the numerous, consistent and often credible allegations received from various sources, including
victims, some of whom minors, of confessions obtained under torture from detainees of the Militsia, the Ukrainian police force.
Powers of taking persons into custody vested with the Militsia under the laws on administrative offences and on vagrants are at times
abused to extract confessions under duress.
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PROMOTION AND PROTECTION OF ALL HUMAN RIGHTS, CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL
RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO DEVELOPMENT
Report of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention*
Addendum
MISSION TO UKRAINE**
Summary
The Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, at the invitation of the Government, visited Ukraine on an official mission from 22 October
to 5 November 2008. In Kyiv, Donetsk, Simferopol, Sevastopol, Lviv, Uzhhorod, Mukachevo and Chop, the delegation met with
Government authorities, representatives of civil society, relatives of detainees, members of domestic monitoring mechanisms and
representatives of international and regional organizations. It conducted individual interviews in confidence with 138 detainees and
approximately 100 collective interviews in the 21 facilities visited, where people are deprived of their liberty.
The present report provides a brief overview of the institutional and legal framework relating to the deprivation of liberty and describes
the situation in Ukraine with regard to criminal detention, including detention under State security and military powers and pending
extradition, as well as deprivation of liberty for administrative offences, detention of vagrants, immigration detention, the juvenile justice
system and deprivation of liberty on the grounds of mental health.
The Working Group highlights the cooperation given by the Government and the various reforms implemented since the country’s
independence in 1991 with respect to the administration of justice system. It also commends the existence of several monitoring
mechanisms, such as the Ombudsperson, mobile monitoring clinics and public councils, as a means of combating arbitrary detention,
although further strengthening of these mechanisms is required. The Working Group deems the confinement of military jurisdiction,
which largely follows civilian criminal and criminal procedure rules, exclusively to conscripts, a good practice. It encourages the
Government to adopt swiftly a separate juvenile justice system. The Working Group also found the regime applied to persons deprived of
their liberty on grounds of their mental health to be professionally implemented by caring personnel.
One main issue of concern relates to the numerous, consistent and often credible allegations received from various sources, including
victims, some of whom minors, of confessions obtained under torture from detainees of the Militsia, the Ukrainian police force.
Powers of taking persons into custody vested with the Militsia under the laws on administrative offences and on vagrants are at times
abused to extract confessions under duress.
Click here to read more »
Freedom In The World 2009 Report
Political Rights Score: 3
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
Overview
President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko continued their political infighting in 2008, and after Tymoshenko
joined the opposition in trying to reduce the president’s powers, Yushchenko in October sought to disband the parliament and hold new
elections. The parliament refused to fund the voting, however, forcing Yushchenko to postpone the elections indefinitely. Yushchenko
and Tymoshenko reached a new coalition agreement in December, forestalling the push for early elections, but relations between the two
remained hostile at year’s end. The sharp deterioration of the economy in the fall highlighted the politically divided state’s inability to
carry out fundamental reform. Also during the year, the president continued to interfere with the courts, and corruption remained a
severe problem. Even as the domestic media operated with relative freedom, regulators suggested that broadcasts from Russia be taken
off the air, leading some local stations to do so.
Despite the removal of Yanukovych and the return of Tymoshenko, the power struggle between president and prime minister continued
unabated in 2008, as both eyed the presidential election set for 2010. Yushchenko issued more than 800 decrees over 100 days in the
spring, blocking the majority of Tymoshenko’s decisions. When the prime minister sided with the opposition on September 2 to pass a
bill limiting the president’s power, their fragile alliance collapsed. On October 9, Yushchenko tried to disband parliament for the second
time in two years, and set legislative elections for December 7. When the Kyiv District Administrative Court ruled his decree illegal,
Yushchenko disbanded the court. A higher court ultimately overturned the Kyiv court’s ruling. However, at the end of October, the
parliament refused to provide the funding (about $80 million) to hold the elections, forcing Yushchenko to postpone them for an
undetermined time.
Simultaneously, the global economic crisis placed additional strain on the country. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) only
approved a crucial $16.5 billion loan to prop up the economy after the fractious parliament organized enough votes on November 1 to
pass enabling legislation. Yushchenko’s attempts to attach election funding to the crisis legislation almost scuttled its passage, and he
eventually had to remove it.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko announced a new coalition pact in early December, canceling the president’s drive for parliamentary
elections, but the relationship between the two leaders did not improve. By year’s end, Tymoshenko was calling for the president’s
resignation, citing the continued economic slide and alleged currency speculation by Yushchenko’s associates. The disputes came as the
country faced a looming January 1 deadline to reach a new natural gas price agreement with Russia, which had cut off supplies at the
beginning of 2006.
Click here to read more »
Political Rights Score: 3
Civil Liberties Score: 2
Status: Free
Overview
President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko continued their political infighting in 2008, and after Tymoshenko
joined the opposition in trying to reduce the president’s powers, Yushchenko in October sought to disband the parliament and hold new
elections. The parliament refused to fund the voting, however, forcing Yushchenko to postpone the elections indefinitely. Yushchenko
and Tymoshenko reached a new coalition agreement in December, forestalling the push for early elections, but relations between the two
remained hostile at year’s end. The sharp deterioration of the economy in the fall highlighted the politically divided state’s inability to
carry out fundamental reform. Also during the year, the president continued to interfere with the courts, and corruption remained a
severe problem. Even as the domestic media operated with relative freedom, regulators suggested that broadcasts from Russia be taken
off the air, leading some local stations to do so.
Despite the removal of Yanukovych and the return of Tymoshenko, the power struggle between president and prime minister continued
unabated in 2008, as both eyed the presidential election set for 2010. Yushchenko issued more than 800 decrees over 100 days in the
spring, blocking the majority of Tymoshenko’s decisions. When the prime minister sided with the opposition on September 2 to pass a
bill limiting the president’s power, their fragile alliance collapsed. On October 9, Yushchenko tried to disband parliament for the second
time in two years, and set legislative elections for December 7. When the Kyiv District Administrative Court ruled his decree illegal,
Yushchenko disbanded the court. A higher court ultimately overturned the Kyiv court’s ruling. However, at the end of October, the
parliament refused to provide the funding (about $80 million) to hold the elections, forcing Yushchenko to postpone them for an
undetermined time.
Simultaneously, the global economic crisis placed additional strain on the country. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) only
approved a crucial $16.5 billion loan to prop up the economy after the fractious parliament organized enough votes on November 1 to
pass enabling legislation. Yushchenko’s attempts to attach election funding to the crisis legislation almost scuttled its passage, and he
eventually had to remove it.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko announced a new coalition pact in early December, canceling the president’s drive for parliamentary
elections, but the relationship between the two leaders did not improve. By year’s end, Tymoshenko was calling for the president’s
resignation, citing the continued economic slide and alleged currency speculation by Yushchenko’s associates. The disputes came as the
country faced a looming January 1 deadline to reach a new natural gas price agreement with Russia, which had cut off supplies at the
beginning of 2006.
Click here to read more »
Ukraine must not forcibly extradite Chechen man to Russia
14 January 2010
Amnesty International has urged the Ukrainian authorities not to extradite to Russia a Chechen refugee amid fears he would be at risk of
torture and other grave human rights violations.
Ahmed Chataev, who had reportedly been tortured by Russian forces after he was detained in Chechnya during fighting in 2000, was
visiting Ukraine with a valid visa when he was detained by police on 3 January.
Amnesty International’s research into previous comparable cases suggests the charges could be related to allegations of terrorism.
Many Chechen men have allegedly been tortured and ill-treated by the Russian security forces to extract "confessions".
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations working in the region are concerned that many Chechens in the Russian
Federation have been charged with crimes such as participating in illegal armed groups or acts of terrorism on the basis of "confessions"
extracted under torture.
The organization has also accused Ukraine of repeatedly violating the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, in breach of its obligations
under international human rights and refugee law.
The authorities made several attempts to forcibly return Lema Susarov, an ethnic Chechen, to Russia, even though he was recognized as
a refugee by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and would have been at risk of torture if returned. He was released in July 2008 and
allowed to take up an offer of asylum in Finland.
Most recently, on 28 November, Ukraine deported eight Afghan nationals to Dubai. The group of three adults and five children aged
between three and 15 years tried to join a family member granted refugee status in the UK
Ahmed Chataev was granted refugee status in Austria on 24 November 2003 and has lived there for several years with his wife and three
children, a 4-year old girl, a 5-year-old boy, both born in Austria, and a 7-year-old boy born in Chechnya. Ahmed Chataev’s wife will
give birth to another child in August.
He was wounded in the arm and stomach during fighting in Urus Martan in Chechnya in 2000, but before he could be taken to hospital
he fell into the hands of Russian forces.
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14 January 2010
Amnesty International has urged the Ukrainian authorities not to extradite to Russia a Chechen refugee amid fears he would be at risk of
torture and other grave human rights violations.
Ahmed Chataev, who had reportedly been tortured by Russian forces after he was detained in Chechnya during fighting in 2000, was
visiting Ukraine with a valid visa when he was detained by police on 3 January.
Amnesty International’s research into previous comparable cases suggests the charges could be related to allegations of terrorism.
Many Chechen men have allegedly been tortured and ill-treated by the Russian security forces to extract "confessions".
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations working in the region are concerned that many Chechens in the Russian
Federation have been charged with crimes such as participating in illegal armed groups or acts of terrorism on the basis of "confessions"
extracted under torture.
The organization has also accused Ukraine of repeatedly violating the rights of refugees and asylum-seekers, in breach of its obligations
under international human rights and refugee law.
The authorities made several attempts to forcibly return Lema Susarov, an ethnic Chechen, to Russia, even though he was recognized as
a refugee by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and would have been at risk of torture if returned. He was released in July 2008 and
allowed to take up an offer of asylum in Finland.
Most recently, on 28 November, Ukraine deported eight Afghan nationals to Dubai. The group of three adults and five children aged
between three and 15 years tried to join a family member granted refugee status in the UK
Ahmed Chataev was granted refugee status in Austria on 24 November 2003 and has lived there for several years with his wife and three
children, a 4-year old girl, a 5-year-old boy, both born in Austria, and a 7-year-old boy born in Chechnya. Ahmed Chataev’s wife will
give birth to another child in August.
He was wounded in the arm and stomach during fighting in Urus Martan in Chechnya in 2000, but before he could be taken to hospital
he fell into the hands of Russian forces.
Click here to read more »
Ukraine: Respect Independent Judiciary
Political Leaders Should Stop Using Court as Political Tool
October 28, 2008
(Moscow, October 21, 2008) - Ukrainian leaders should respect the independence of the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch said that President Viktor Yushchenko has improperly interfered with the judiciary as his political rivalry with
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has grown increasingly acute. Members of Tymoshenko's political party have also taken steps that
seem designed to intimidate the judiciary.
"Both groups are using the judiciary in a tug-of-war, and an independent judiciary will be the biggest loser," said Allison Gill, Moscow
office director at Human Rights Watch. "Both sides should stop interfering immediately."
On October 9, 2008, after his coalition with Tymoshenko's bloc collapsed, Yushchenko dissolved parliament and issued a decree calling
for early elections, on December 7. Tymoshenko appealed to the District Administrative Court of Kyiv to block election preparations. On
October 10, the court ruled in her favor, and issued an injunction the next day staying Yushchenko's decree, effectively crippling the
government.
On October 14, Yushchenko annulled his appointment of the administrative court judge and abolished the court. He then reorganized the
court into two new courts, requiring new judicial appointments.
But then, on the morning of October 17, Yushchenko reversed his October 14 decree abolishing the court. An hour later, he reversed
that decree, thus creating the two new courts - Central Administrative Court of Kyiv and Left Shore Court (Livoberezhny Sud). The
newly created Central Administrative Court of Kyiv annulled the October 10 injunction by the District Administrative Court.
"As president of a democratic country, Yushchenko should observe and respect the independence of the judiciary, and not interfere with
courts when they issue rulings he doesn't like," said Gill.
Yushchenko also appealed the District Administrative Court ruling to the Administrative Appeals Court. The chief of the appeals court
requested protection from the Ukrainian security service. But the security service was present in the judge's chamber during the
deliberations on the appeal, according to a report by a Kyiv-based nongovernmental organization, the Political and Legal Reforms Center.
Click here to read more »
Political Leaders Should Stop Using Court as Political Tool
October 28, 2008
(Moscow, October 21, 2008) - Ukrainian leaders should respect the independence of the judiciary, Human Rights Watch said today.
Human Rights Watch said that President Viktor Yushchenko has improperly interfered with the judiciary as his political rivalry with
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has grown increasingly acute. Members of Tymoshenko's political party have also taken steps that
seem designed to intimidate the judiciary.
"Both groups are using the judiciary in a tug-of-war, and an independent judiciary will be the biggest loser," said Allison Gill, Moscow
office director at Human Rights Watch. "Both sides should stop interfering immediately."
On October 9, 2008, after his coalition with Tymoshenko's bloc collapsed, Yushchenko dissolved parliament and issued a decree calling
for early elections, on December 7. Tymoshenko appealed to the District Administrative Court of Kyiv to block election preparations. On
October 10, the court ruled in her favor, and issued an injunction the next day staying Yushchenko's decree, effectively crippling the
government.
On October 14, Yushchenko annulled his appointment of the administrative court judge and abolished the court. He then reorganized the
court into two new courts, requiring new judicial appointments.
But then, on the morning of October 17, Yushchenko reversed his October 14 decree abolishing the court. An hour later, he reversed
that decree, thus creating the two new courts - Central Administrative Court of Kyiv and Left Shore Court (Livoberezhny Sud). The
newly created Central Administrative Court of Kyiv annulled the October 10 injunction by the District Administrative Court.
"As president of a democratic country, Yushchenko should observe and respect the independence of the judiciary, and not interfere with
courts when they issue rulings he doesn't like," said Gill.
Yushchenko also appealed the District Administrative Court ruling to the Administrative Appeals Court. The chief of the appeals court
requested protection from the Ukrainian security service. But the security service was present in the judge's chamber during the
deliberations on the appeal, according to a report by a Kyiv-based nongovernmental organization, the Political and Legal Reforms Center.
Click here to read more »
September 23, 2009
Statement by His Excellency Victor Yushchenko President of Ukraine at the General Debate of the 64th session of the UN
General Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Each year we all gather here on the high level in the General Assembly to present our own national views on the life of our Planet and its
peoples.
We are striving to get the feeling of the overall emotional setting and the pulse of human energy, ideas and quests.
The emotional setting of Ukraine is open, principled and tolerant. We have gathered here not to offend each other or emphasize insults.
We are here to resolve common problems.
I call upon all of us to use tolerance against bigotry, malignance and arrogance.
I am telling this on behalf of the nation whose last lustrum is unique in terms of challenges and progress.
We in Ukraine live in the atmosphere of strengthening freedom.
This process is both grand and complex. Its difficulties discourage idealists, nurture authoritarian forces, yet they render another alpine
peak for all enlightened minds and hands to move upwards.
The milestone of our nation today is the basis for moving forward to live a free and safe life, to revive our own millennium-old tradition,
its interrupted ties and to be again an active part of global civilization and its future.
Our democratic choice is irreversible.
As a free nation, we shall not accept any forms of interference into internal affairs of sovereign states, any pressure on them or
manifestations of authoritarian thinking in international relations.
We remember the price paid by our fathers for our freedom, for the freedom of Europe and the world, for the future independence of
Ukraine.
Click here to read more »
Statement by His Excellency Victor Yushchenko President of Ukraine at the General Debate of the 64th session of the UN
General Assembly
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Each year we all gather here on the high level in the General Assembly to present our own national views on the life of our Planet and its
peoples.
We are striving to get the feeling of the overall emotional setting and the pulse of human energy, ideas and quests.
The emotional setting of Ukraine is open, principled and tolerant. We have gathered here not to offend each other or emphasize insults.
We are here to resolve common problems.
I call upon all of us to use tolerance against bigotry, malignance and arrogance.
I am telling this on behalf of the nation whose last lustrum is unique in terms of challenges and progress.
We in Ukraine live in the atmosphere of strengthening freedom.
This process is both grand and complex. Its difficulties discourage idealists, nurture authoritarian forces, yet they render another alpine
peak for all enlightened minds and hands to move upwards.
The milestone of our nation today is the basis for moving forward to live a free and safe life, to revive our own millennium-old tradition,
its interrupted ties and to be again an active part of global civilization and its future.
Our democratic choice is irreversible.
As a free nation, we shall not accept any forms of interference into internal affairs of sovereign states, any pressure on them or
manifestations of authoritarian thinking in international relations.
We remember the price paid by our fathers for our freedom, for the freedom of Europe and the world, for the future independence of
Ukraine.
Click here to read more »
TRANSLATED FROM UKRAINIAN BY GOOGLE TRANSLATE
January 12, 2010
Nina Karpachova back faith in the justice weary pislyasudovoyu delays of five families of those killed in road accident in Kiev
Three-year tribulations orphaned families Chuhliba and cleanly from the village Babintsy in Kiev, who, having lost as a result of a horrible
accident five family members, could not by law receive compensation for the moral and material damage, soon to culminate in the
victory of justice because the protection of victims was strongly Ukraine ombudsman Nina Karpachova.
This unprecedented history had every reason to go to the European Court of Human Rights, because Ukraine has exhausted existing
national mechanisms voluntary implementation of the State Tax Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area decision Borodyanka District Court
of Kyiv region to pay the appropriate amount of funds to meet within the framework of criminal proceedings civil lawsuit victims. Last
resort, which returned exhausted to victims pislyasudovoyu delays faith in justice, became Commissioner for Human Rights.
It happened at personal reception of the Ombudsman of Ukraine. Satisfied in a very serious moral and financial situation of family
members Chuhliba and tidy, which miraculously survived in the tragedy as a result of the fatal collision the driver of the State Tax
Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area Yury Fedorov, ombudsman immediately opened her own conduct in this, seemingly hopeless case.
Although the Appellate Court of Kyiv region and the Supreme Court of Ukraine left the sentence Borodyanka district court without
changes caused by the driver (he was sentenced to imprisonment for a long time) the material and moral damage was never recovered.
Wherever neglected maimed in accidents everywhere they met a wall of indifference: no one denied, but no one helped. Then, while
continuing to protect human dignity and interests of the disadvantaged - Leonid cleanly, which he lost his wife became incapacitated and
disabled, his infant son, Elijah, and mother Chuhliba family who lost four of their relatives - Nina Karpachova addressed to the Chairman
of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine Serhiy Buriak. In his address Commissioner for Human Rights demanded to ensure voluntary
compliance tax court decision, which came into force a year and a half ago, for compensation for material and moral damage suffered.
Recently, in response to the request of the Ombudsman Nina Karpachova Head of STA of Ukraine Serhiy Buriak said the transfer of tax
administration of certain sums of money to the families of the victims. Furthermore, the head of the tax office informed of changes to
the estimated allocations for the maintenance of the State Tax Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area, according to which a significant
percentage of compensation determined by a court list the victims shortly. State Tax Administration also granted permission to
implement public service executive enforcement officer arrested the car DPI Shevchenko area of Kyiv, to direct the proceeds to pay the
victims families.
Click here to read more »
January 12, 2010
Nina Karpachova back faith in the justice weary pislyasudovoyu delays of five families of those killed in road accident in Kiev
Three-year tribulations orphaned families Chuhliba and cleanly from the village Babintsy in Kiev, who, having lost as a result of a horrible
accident five family members, could not by law receive compensation for the moral and material damage, soon to culminate in the
victory of justice because the protection of victims was strongly Ukraine ombudsman Nina Karpachova.
This unprecedented history had every reason to go to the European Court of Human Rights, because Ukraine has exhausted existing
national mechanisms voluntary implementation of the State Tax Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area decision Borodyanka District Court
of Kyiv region to pay the appropriate amount of funds to meet within the framework of criminal proceedings civil lawsuit victims. Last
resort, which returned exhausted to victims pislyasudovoyu delays faith in justice, became Commissioner for Human Rights.
It happened at personal reception of the Ombudsman of Ukraine. Satisfied in a very serious moral and financial situation of family
members Chuhliba and tidy, which miraculously survived in the tragedy as a result of the fatal collision the driver of the State Tax
Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area Yury Fedorov, ombudsman immediately opened her own conduct in this, seemingly hopeless case.
Although the Appellate Court of Kyiv region and the Supreme Court of Ukraine left the sentence Borodyanka district court without
changes caused by the driver (he was sentenced to imprisonment for a long time) the material and moral damage was never recovered.
Wherever neglected maimed in accidents everywhere they met a wall of indifference: no one denied, but no one helped. Then, while
continuing to protect human dignity and interests of the disadvantaged - Leonid cleanly, which he lost his wife became incapacitated and
disabled, his infant son, Elijah, and mother Chuhliba family who lost four of their relatives - Nina Karpachova addressed to the Chairman
of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine Serhiy Buriak. In his address Commissioner for Human Rights demanded to ensure voluntary
compliance tax court decision, which came into force a year and a half ago, for compensation for material and moral damage suffered.
Recently, in response to the request of the Ombudsman Nina Karpachova Head of STA of Ukraine Serhiy Buriak said the transfer of tax
administration of certain sums of money to the families of the victims. Furthermore, the head of the tax office informed of changes to
the estimated allocations for the maintenance of the State Tax Inspection of Kyiv Shevchenko area, according to which a significant
percentage of compensation determined by a court list the victims shortly. State Tax Administration also granted permission to
implement public service executive enforcement officer arrested the car DPI Shevchenko area of Kyiv, to direct the proceeds to pay the
victims families.
Click here to read more »
INTERIM REPORT No. 3 (23 December 2009 – 3 January 2010) of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human
Rights (Election Observation Mission in Ukraine)
8 January 2010
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• The 2009 funds for the preparation of the election were eventually transferred to the Central Election Commission (CEC) on 25
December, some two months after the legal deadline. District Election Commissions (DECs) are to return unspent funds for 2009 having
little time to spend it.
• On 24 December, parliament adjourned until after the 17 January election without considering amendments to the election law that
would have affected sections dealing with the voter register, mobile voting, results protocols and determination of final results.
• The CEC continues to work efficiently, meeting deadlines. The commission maintains its practice of holding closed pre-session
meetings and rejects many complaints on technical
grounds. Frequent changes in the composition of DECs and Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) negatively affect their work.
• The DECs have transferred the preliminary voter lists to the respective PECs, where they are available for public scrutiny until 10
January. The lack of a clear procedure and instructions for adding a voter to the voter list on election day by a PEC decision and a failure
to regulate it through CEC instruction, PEC manuals and other training materials in a consistent manner remains of concern.
• The campaign environment continues to be generally calm, however, three cases of arson targeting campaign premises and one
burglary of a campaign office took place. Alleged defamatory campaign material is in circulation in several regions. The frontrunners
have increased their campaign activities, while other candidates are significantly less visible.
• All five nationwide TV stations monitored by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM in their newscasts clearly favoured one or the other of the main
candidates in terms of the amount of airtime and tone devoted to covering their campaign. Broadcasters allow candidates to influence the
content of newscasts, thus undermining the fundamental principles of fairness, balance and impartiality in the news.
• The new head of the High Administrative Court has still not been appointed. This has caused confusion over who is actually
administering the court. This could potentially be used to question the legitimacy of any decision on challenges to the election results
especially as the issue has become more politicized.
II. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
According to article 38.4 of the Law on the Election of the President (hereinafter, election law) the election funds should have been
transferred to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by 22
October 2009. However, the 2009 funds for the elections were transferred to CEC on the evening of 25 December. Funds unspent by
31 December are returned automatically to the state treasury.
On 29 December, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine1 approved the 2010 election funds, expected to be transferred in the coming days.
Click here to read more>>
Rights (Election Observation Mission in Ukraine)
8 January 2010
I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• The 2009 funds for the preparation of the election were eventually transferred to the Central Election Commission (CEC) on 25
December, some two months after the legal deadline. District Election Commissions (DECs) are to return unspent funds for 2009 having
little time to spend it.
• On 24 December, parliament adjourned until after the 17 January election without considering amendments to the election law that
would have affected sections dealing with the voter register, mobile voting, results protocols and determination of final results.
• The CEC continues to work efficiently, meeting deadlines. The commission maintains its practice of holding closed pre-session
meetings and rejects many complaints on technical
grounds. Frequent changes in the composition of DECs and Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) negatively affect their work.
• The DECs have transferred the preliminary voter lists to the respective PECs, where they are available for public scrutiny until 10
January. The lack of a clear procedure and instructions for adding a voter to the voter list on election day by a PEC decision and a failure
to regulate it through CEC instruction, PEC manuals and other training materials in a consistent manner remains of concern.
• The campaign environment continues to be generally calm, however, three cases of arson targeting campaign premises and one
burglary of a campaign office took place. Alleged defamatory campaign material is in circulation in several regions. The frontrunners
have increased their campaign activities, while other candidates are significantly less visible.
• All five nationwide TV stations monitored by the OSCE/ODIHR EOM in their newscasts clearly favoured one or the other of the main
candidates in terms of the amount of airtime and tone devoted to covering their campaign. Broadcasters allow candidates to influence the
content of newscasts, thus undermining the fundamental principles of fairness, balance and impartiality in the news.
• The new head of the High Administrative Court has still not been appointed. This has caused confusion over who is actually
administering the court. This could potentially be used to question the legitimacy of any decision on challenges to the election results
especially as the issue has become more politicized.
II. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION
According to article 38.4 of the Law on the Election of the President (hereinafter, election law) the election funds should have been
transferred to the Central Election Commission (CEC) by 22
October 2009. However, the 2009 funds for the elections were transferred to CEC on the evening of 25 December. Funds unspent by
31 December are returned automatically to the state treasury.
On 29 December, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine1 approved the 2010 election funds, expected to be transferred in the coming days.
Click here to read more>>
| Click map for larger view |
| Click flag for Country Report |
Viktor Yanukovych
President since 25 February 2010
President since 25 February 2010
| TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS |
None reported.
Andriy Klyuyev
First Deputy Prime Minister
since 11 March 2010
First Deputy Prime Minister
since 11 March 2010
Volodymyr Semynozhenko, Borys Kolesnikov, Volodymyr Sivkovych, Serhiy
Tyhtpko, Viktor Tykhonov, Viktor Slauta
Deputy Prime Ministers since 11 March 2010
Tyhtpko, Viktor Tykhonov, Viktor Slauta
Deputy Prime Ministers since 11 March 2010
