As Ukraine Awaits Court Ruling, Kuchma Visits Moscow
December 02, 2004
Kuchma is said to have headed to Moscow for talks (file photo)
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2 December 2004 -- The Ukrainian Supreme Court is convening for a fourth day today to hear an opposition challenge to November's disputed presidential contest, while opposition protesters continue to gather in the capital Kyiv.
The
court's ruling took on even greater importance after
internationally mediated talks yesterday reportedly produced an agreement between opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the declared winner of the election, that they would respect the ruling.
A Supreme Court decision could come within hours or days.
Correspondents suggest that new voting now seems likely as part of a resolution to the crisis, but it is not clear whether in the form of a repeat of the second-round runoff, as Yushchenko has demanded, or a whole new election, as outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has reportedly
proposed.
Meanwhile, Interfax-Ukraine reported today that President Kuchma has flown to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who appeared to
favor Yanukovych in the run-up to voting.
Kuchma's press service said he will hold "political consultations" with Putin during his visit.
Moscow has exchanged
verbal barbs with many in the West over foreign governments' handling of the Ukrainian vote and its popular and political fallout.
Yushchenko yesterday called on his supporters to continue street protests. But it was unclear today whether protesters were complying with Yushchenko's request that they allow employees access to government and other key buildings, a concession that emerged from yesterday's negotiations.
(AP/AFP/Reuters)
[Click here for more RFE/RL coverage of Ukraine's disputed presidential election.]