Tuesday, December 27, 2005

After Ukraine, the empire strikes back


With hiccups, the Ukraine is a worthy example of good governance in its first year of democracy.

President Viktor Yushchenko should be congratulated!

Onésimo Alvarez-Moro

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When President Viktor Yushchenko took power in Ukraine's Orange Revolution a year ago he forecast the revolt would encourage democracy across the former Soviet Union.

Twelve months later, his prediction rings a bit hollow. The year that began with Mr Yushchenko's triumph has ended with the success of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the authoritarian president of Kazakhstan, who earlier this month won his third presidential election with 91 per cent of the vote. His victory was welcomed by the region's other authoritarian leaders, notably Russia's Vladimir Putin. The forces of anti-democracy are striking back.

The region's democrats must not despair. Even if revolution has now provoked an effective reaction, the campaign for political liberty in the former Soviet Union is not finished. But success will be a long time coming.

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