From Viktor to Viktor: Democracy and authoritarianism in Ukraine

Demokratizatsiya

Volumn 19, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 93-110

  Haran, Olexiy ^a  

^a NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF KYIV MOHYLA ACADEMY   (Ukraine)

Author keywords

authoritarianism; Orange Revolution; Ukrainian Russian relations; Viktor Yanukovych

Indexed keywords

AUTHORITARIANISM; DEMOCRACY; ELECTION; GOVERNMENT RELATIONS; POLITICAL RELATIONS; POPULAR PROTEST;

RUSSIAN FEDERATION; UKRAINE;

EID: 79958729780     PISSN: 10746846     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3200/DEMO.19.2.93-110     Document Type: Article

References (83)

1. See, for example, Taras Kuzio, "The National Factor in Ukraine's Quadruple Transition", Contemporary Politics 6, no. 2(June 2000):143-164;
2. Mykola Ryabchuk, "Ukrainian Postcommunist Transition: Between Dysfunctional Democracy and Nonconsolidated Authoritarianism", June 1, 2010, available at http://www.polit.ru/lectures/2010/06/01/ukraine.html (accessed March 25, 2011).
3. See Yanukovych's press conference in Russia on March 5, 2010, available at http://www.vesti. ru/doc.html?id=345688&cid=5 (accessed March 25, 2011).
4. On real, imagined, and cleavages artificially deepened by politicians, see "East-West Divide of Ukraine: Managing Regional Diversity to Promote the Formation of a National Identity", National Security and Defence 1, 2006, published by the Ukrainian Center for Economic and Political Studies (named after Olexander Razumkov).
5. See, for example, Anders Aslund, Michael McFaul, eds., Revolution in Orange. The Origins of Ukraine's Democratic Breakthrough (Washington DC: Carnegie Endowment, 2006);
6. Taras Kuzio, "The Orange Revolution at a Crossroads", Demokratizatsiya 14, no. 4(Fall 2006):477-492;
7. and Andrew Wilson, Ukraine's Orange Revolution (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2005).
8. and Andrew Wilson, Ukraine's Orange Revolution (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2005).
9. For more on this see "Consequences of Amendment of the Constitution of Ukraine, Rationale and Scenarios of Further Reformation", National Security and Defence 1, 2007.
10. Freedom in the World, 2006 Edition, available at www.freedomhouse.org/ template. cfm?page=15&year=2006.
11. For the English-language translation, see http://www.kmu.gov. ua/kmu/control/en/publish/article?showHidden=1&art-id=65224005&cat-id= 65222957&ctime=1170422634401 (accessed March 30, 2011).
12. For the text of the 2007 coalition agreement, see http://novynar.com.ua/ politics/10797 (accessed March 30, 2011).
13. Amendments to the law "On Election of the President of Ukraine" signed by Yushchenko on March 3, 2010, available at http://zakon. rada.gov. ua/cgi-bin/laws/main. cgi?nreg=474-14 (accessed on January 25, 2011).
14. For official results from the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, see http://www.cvk. gov. ua/pls/vp2010/WP0011 (accessed March 29, 2011).
15. The author of this article also shared this opinion: Ukraine in Europe: Questions and Answers, ed. Olexiy Haran (Kyiv: Stylos, 2009):57.
16. See also Adrian Karatnycky and Alexander Motyl, "The Key to Kiev", Foreign Affairs 88, Issue 3(May/June 2009), 119-120. Interestingly, after half a year of Yanukovych's rule their views diverged, which reflected the contradictions of Western policy towards Yanukovych regime.
17. See "Karatnycky: 'Yanukovych earned the benefit of our doubt in those areas where he has fallen short'", Kyiv Post, August 21, 2009, available at http://www.kyivpost.com/news/opinion/op-ed/detail/79315/ (accessed March 25, 2011);
18. and "Motyl's Response to Karatnycky: 'Would you buy a used car from Yanukovych?'", Kyiv Post, August 23, 2009, available at http://www.kyivpost.com/news/opinion/op-ed/detail/79447/ (accessed March 25, 2011).
19. This and the following section is an update of the policy memo: Olexiy Haran, "Is the Yanukovych Model of Governance Drifting toward Russian Shores?", PONARS Eurasia Policy Memo (George Washington University), No. 121, November 2010.
20. For the text of 2010 coalition agreement and its composition, see Ukrainska Pravda, March 16, 2010, available at http://www.pravda.com.ua/ articles/2010/03/16/4865875/ (accessed March 25, 2011).
21. The decision of Constitutional Court of Ukraine, N 1-40/2008, September 17, 2008, available at http://zakon. rada.gov. ua/cgi-bin/laws/main. cgi?nreg=v016p710-08 (accessed March 25, 2011).
22. The decision of Constitutional Court of Ukraine, N 1-33/2010, April 6, 2010, available at http://zakon. rada.gov. ua/cgi-bin/laws/main. cgi?nreg=v011p710-10 (accessed March 25, 2011).
23. Ihor Koliushko, Roman Kujbida, "The new law on the judiciary: a quick and poor justice from reasonable, but dependent judges", Ukrainska Pravda, July 15, 2010, available at http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2010/07/ 15/5222168/ (accessed March 25, 2011).
24. Parliamentary majority approved the draft law in the first reading on June 3, 2010, and only then submitted it to Venice Commission, several days before final approval on July 7, 2010. The verdict of the commission came in fall 2010 and stressed monopolization of the judicial power (See Maryna Stavnijchuk, "Judicial reform: a step forward and two back", Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, October 23, 2010, http://www.dt.ua/newspaper/articles/61293 (accessed March 25, 2011)).
25. Interview with former Rada's vice-speaker Viktor Musiyaka to Glavred, September 22, 2010, http://ua.glavred.info/archive/2010/09/22/085630-8.html (accessed March 25, 2011).
26. See the program of Party of Regions, http://www.partyofregions.org.ua/ meet/program/ (accessed on January 25, 2011);
27. and the statement of first vice-speaker of Ukrainian parliament Oleksandr Lavrynovych (at present the minister of justice) on March 16, 2009 (available at http://tsn. ua/ukrayina/lavrinovich-mriye-pro-parlamentsku-respubliku.html).
28. Ihor Koliushko, Yaryna Zhurba, "Constitutionalism or abuse of the Constitution?" Ukrainska Pravda, September 30, 2010, available at http://www.pravda.com.ua/articles/2010/09/30/5431397/ (accessed March 25, 2011).
29. See expert round table on October 5, 2010 at the Gorshenin Institute, available at http://www.spa.ukma.kiev. ua/article.php?story=20100927102456266 (accessed March 25, 2011).
30. The Law on Cabinet of Ministers, approved on October 7, 2010, available at http://gska2. rada.gov. ua/pls/zweb-n/webproc4-1?id=&pf3511=38680 (accessed March 25, 2011);
31. see also comments of former minister of defense Anatoliy Hrytsenko, available at http://blogs.pravda.com. ua/authors/grytsenko/4cab8b28d8dcd/ (accessed March 25, 2011).
32. For more on this, see Olexiy Haran and Petro Burkovsky, "War in Georgia and the Ukrainian Reaction", Russian Politics and Law 47, no. 3(May-June 2009):84-88.
33. Sociological polls of the Razumkov Center, available at http://razumkov.org.ua/eng/poll. php?poll-id=46 (accessed March 25, 2011).
34. After the "gas war" of winter 2009, Tymoshenko had to sign with Putin an agreement for a ten-year period. On the one hand, the non-transparent intermediary company, RosUkrEnergo, was removed from bilateral gas trade and specific formulas for calculating gas price and for transit tariffs were finally introduced. On the other hand, the so called "basic price" for calculation was one of the highest in Europe ($450 per 1, 000 cubic meters) and the "basic price" for transit tariffs-one of the lowest at $2.04 for 1, 000 cubic meters for 100 kilometers. Also, the Naftogaz company of Ukraine faces serious penalties if it reduces the country's gas consumption, while Gazprom faces no penalties if it supplies less than the agreed upon amount of gas to Ukraine. Therefore, this agreement was and is used by Moscow to pressure Kyiv.
35. Edward C. Chow, "Russia has whip hand in talks with Ukraine", Kyiv Post, May 13, 2010, available at http://www.kyivpost.com/news/opinion/op- ed/detail/66667/ (accessed March 30, 2011).
36. Text of the agreement on the Rada's official website: http://gska2.rada.gov. ua/pls/zweb-n/webproc4-2?id=&pf3516=0165&skl=7 (accessed March 30, 2011).
37. See video at http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/2025499.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
38. See Luzhkov's statement on July 25, 2010, available at http://finzah.com.ua/118/news/1953. html (accessed March 30, 2011).
39. For more on Kuchma's foreign policy see Roman Wolczuk, Ukraine's Foreign and Security Policy 1991-2000 (London and New York: RoutledgeCurzon Taylor & Francis Group, 2003). On new challenges under Yanukovych
40. see James Sherr, Mortgaging the Future of Ukraine (London: Chatam House, 2010):11-15.
41. According to the information of Zerkalo nedeli, an influential and well-connected Ukrainian weekly. Quoted in Ukrainska Pravda, September 3, 2010, available at http://www.pravda.com. ua/news/2010/09/3/5354886/ (accessed March 30, 2011).
42. See The 'Humanitarian Dimension' of Russian Foreign Policy in the C. I. S. and the Baltic States, ed. Gatis Pelnens (Riga: Center for East European Policy Studies, 2010).
43. See http://www.bbc.co.uk/ukrainian/news/2010/04/100427-yanukovych-pace- bt.shtml (accessed March 30, 2011).
44. See Ivan Dziuba, "Prokysli 'shchi' vid Tabachnyka", July 2, 2010, available at http://www.day.kiev. ua/301498 (accessed March 30, 2011);
45. and "Pavlychko vymahaje vid Yanukovycha zvilnyty Tavachnuka", UNIAN, Aug. 19, 2010, available at http://www.unian. net/ukr/news/news-391902. html (accessed March 30, 2011)
46. and "Pavlychko vymahaje vid Yanukovycha zvilnyty Tavachnuka", UNIAN, Aug. 19, 2010, available at http://www.unian. net/ukr/news/news-391902. html (accessed March 30, 2011)
47. The UOC (MP) enjoys autonomy, including the right to form its own Synod and appoint bishops without formal approval of the Moscow Patriarch. Some of its bishops support the idea of a united, autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Between 2007 and 2009, the UOC (MP) and UOC of Kyiv Patriarchate opened a cautious dialogue. In November 2008, the UOC (MP) Synod pronounced the Great Famine in Ukraine (1932-1933) to be genocide of the Ukrainian people, which strongly contradicts Russia's position (The 'Humanitarian Dimension' of Russian Foreign Policy in the C. I. S. and the Baltic States, pp. 282-284). But the course of new Moscow patriarch Kiril is aimed at reducing the autonomy of the UOC (MP).
48. During his press-conference on June 4, 2010, available at http://www.rbc.ua/rus/top/show/vyanukovich-ukraina-ne-priznaet-abhaziyu-i- yuzhnuyu-osetiyu-04062010151400 (accessed March 30, 2011).
49. See http://for-ua.com/politics/2010/03/11/062943.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
50. These documents were released on Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, January 14, 2011, http://docs.rferl.org/uk-UA/2011/01/14/original.pdf (accessed on January 30, 2011)
51. On comparison of the two countries see, Stephen White, Ian McAllister and Valentina Feklyunina, "Belarus, Ukraine and Russia: East or West?", The British Journal of Politics and International Relations 12(2010):344-367;
52. Mykola Ryabchuk, "Postsowiecka schizofrenia czy schizofreniczna postsowieckosc? Zjawisko ambiwalencji spolecznej na Ukrainie i Bialorusi", Studia Bialorutenistyczne 4(2010):73-90.
53. On October 31, 2010, the governmentally controlled Russian "First Channel" showed a parody of Viktor Yanukovych based on the movie "Bruce Almighty." See http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=wToY1ZgXRCs (accessed March 30, 2011).
54. This term appeared in Ukrainian media in the mid-1990s after tycoons emerged and began to openly combine their influence in the economy, politics, and media, including direct influence on political parties and parliamentary factions.
55. Only on December 16, 2010, after strong criticism from both within and outside the country Khoroshkovsky wrote a statement of resignation.
56. See Yanukovych statement during his press conference on June 4, 2010, available at http://zamkova.info/ukraine/7791-yanukovich-ne-chuv-pro-cenzuru-na- vas-nixto-ne.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
57. On September 23, 2010, after strong criticism from both within and outside the country, the opposition took over the committee.
58. Resolutions on Ukraine of the European Parliament, November 24, 2010, available at http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type= MOTION&reference=P7-RC-2010-0650&language=EN (accessed March 30, 2011);
59. and of Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, October 4, 2010, available at http://assembly.coe.int/Documents/WorkingDocs/doc10/edoc12357Add. htm (accessed March 30, 2011).
60. For the number of mandates received by political forces on party slates, see official data of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, available at http://www.cvk.gov. ua/pls/vm2010/wp001 (accessed March 30, 2011).
61. Komentari, N 43, November 12 2010;
62. Materials of the round table at "Ukrainian News Agency", November 17, 2010. It is important to stress that materials of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine deliberately provide combined statistics for all the radas, including village radas (where formally non-party candidates were allowed), thus covering up real redistribution of mandates in favor of Party of Regions.
63. "Try mil'jony vybortsiv rozcharuvalysja v parti? Yanukovycha", November 12, 2010, available at http://ua.politics.comments.ua/2010/11/12/ 136278/tri-milyoni-vibortsiv. html (accessed March 30, 2011).
64. Quoted from http://podrobnosti.ua/podrobnosti/2010/11/14/731116.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
65. Marc Rachkevych, "With IMF deal done, Yanukovych's challenges still ahead", Kyiv Post, July 29, 2010, available at http://www.kyivpost.com/ news/nation/detail/76038/ (accessed March 30, 2011).
66. Hanna Liuta, "A na pidtantsiovkakh u Gaspromy sam...", Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, December 11, 2010, available at http://www.dt.ua/newspaper/articles/ 61642 (accessed March 30, 2011).
67. See Oleksiy Mustafin, "Maidanne chajuvannia. Sproba N 1", Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, December 4, 2010, available at http://www.dt.ua/newspaper/ articles/61618 (accessed March 30, 2011);
68. and Dmytro Shurkhalo, "Persha peremoha Maidanu-2: Prezydent zavetuvav Podatkovyj kodeks", Radio Svoboda, November 30, 2010, http://www.radiosvoboda.org/content/article/2235184.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
69. Andrij Duda, "Holovne, shchob zvuchalo", Ukrainskyj Tyzhden, no. 51, December 17, 2010, 18-20.
70. Andrij Duda, "Holovne, shchob zvuchalo", Ukrainskyj Tyzhden, no. 51, December 17, 2010, 18-20.
71. "EU official warns Ukraine about 'selective justice", Kyiv Post, January 11, 2011, available at http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/ 94543/ixzz1CHQVfPKx (accessed March 30, 2011).
72. Here and below, for the number of mandates received by political forces on party slates, see official data of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine, available at http://www.cvk.gov. ua/pls/vm2010/wp001 (accessed March 30, 2011).
73. Olexiy Haran, "Tertium non datur", Glavred, November 4, 2009, available at http://www.glavred.info/archive/2009/11/04/140217-1.html (accessed March 30, 2011)
74. Olexiy Haran, "Tertium non datur", Glavred, November 4, 2009, available at http://www.glavred.info/archive/2009/11/04/140217-1.html (accessed March 30, 2011)
75. Alexa Chopivsky, "Can Ukraine Follow Georgia's Lead In Reforms?", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, November 28, 2010, available at http://www.rferl.org/content/commentary-georgia-ukraine-reform/2232963.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
76. Mykola Pysarchuk, Olena Mihachova, "Partia 'Svoboda' - viddushyna dlia znevirenykh chy tekhnologia bahatorazovoho vykorystannia", UNIAN, January 20, 2011, available at http://www.unian. net/ukr/news/news-417072.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
77. See, "Stop Censorship", Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, May 25, 2010, available at http://www.rferl.org/content/journalists-in-trouble-stop- censorship/2052132.html (accessed March 30, 2011).
78. See the ratings of Freedom House (http://www.freedomhouse.org/template. cfm?page=594).
79. th from 53d seat in 2008 (see http://graphics.eiu.com/PDF/ Democracy-Index-2010-web.pdf)
80. st in 2010 (see http://en. rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010, 1034.html).
81. See comments of Taras Chornovil on the role of RUE, Gazeta po-ukrainski, December 17, 2010, available at http://www.gazeta.ua/index.php?id=365504 (accessed March 30, 2011).
82. On problems of the EU's Eastern Partnership, see Nicu Popescu and Andrew Wilson, "Europe's East: Turning Presence into Power", European Council on Foreign Relations Policy Brief (forthcoming April 2011);
83. see also forthcoming book, Roman Solchanyk, The New Eastern Europe: Ukraine, Belarus, and Moldova.