Ukraine on the brink

by:
Justin Lynch

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/02/world/europe/02ukraine.html?scp=4&sq=Ukraine&st=cse

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/world/europe/08ukraine.html?_r=1&ref=global-home

I've always had an interest in the Ukraine for a few reasons. First, I'm part Ukrainian, so a while ago I decided to start following events in a country that's part of my heritage. Second, Ukraine has a pretty interesting story. Formerly part of the Soviet Union, Ukraine broke free and starting charting its own path as a mostly lower middle class and poor republic. In 2004, there was an election that dramatically changed Ukraine's history and brought its story to the forefront of international news. A rigged election led to protests of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians to gather throughout the country to call for a new one. In the closely watched legitimate election the reform candidate, Viktor Yushchenko, who had been earlier poisoned in an attempt that left permanent scars on his face, won.

Ukrainians are disenchanted and angry about Yushchenko's government, which has so far failed to deliver on reforms and on cleaning up corruption, all while the recession has hit Ukraine hard. Yushchenko is a good man, but with his inability to fix most of the problems important to his country, he may not be president much longer.