Contribution: George Dox
Camera:Wladimir Juldaschew
Edited by:Swetlana Somowa
In Ukraines presidential election, a field of more than 20 has been whittled down to the final two.
Many say there is little to pick between the two candidates, a feeling repeated in the polls. Both are accused of being little more than boring civil servants. However, the direction the two candidates look in for their lead, and the direction they will take Ukraine in, are poles apart. This election is key for the people of Ukraine.
Current Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is the hot favourite. He hails from the Russian east of the country and has the air of a traditional Soviet functionary.
His campaign office deluges the TV stations with instructions to broadcast daily updates on the things he does for the country. He has increased pensions and expressed personal concern over the harvest.
His opponent, Viktor Yushchenko is from the other, western, end of the Ukraine, closer to Europe. Yanukovych once made a public appearance in this area, only to be plastered with eggs.
Before succumbing to a mystery illness, the former Prime Minister made strong calls for an opening of the country towards the west, towards free-market economy and towards democracy.
In the middle of his election campaign, Yushchenko fell sick and displayed odd symptoms of having been poisoned. After lengthy treatment in Vienna he returned to hit the campaign trail. Spin doctors were quick to lay claim to a political assassination attempt, hoping to garner sympathy from the voters. But the national media almost completely ignored the claim, leaving Yushchenkos rallies the only place where the story could prosper.
His supporters expect a great deal from Yushchenko.
(INSERTS: Vladimir Malinkowitc, Political Scientist)
We have finally managed to shake off our soviet past. We are a democratic country, a free country. We have a free press that would be crushed in an instant in Moscow. On Channel 5 we have a very anti-government programme, Moscow doesnt have that. In Russia there is just Putins dictatorship, here there is such strong opposition it is impossible to say who will win.
Too true; the next incumbent into Kievs Marienpalace, is still an open debate. Snap polls and surveys show little between the candidates.
Ukraines last president Leonid Kutchma did everything in his power to pave the path for Yanukovych to follow on as his successor. Moscow has made it clear it would also prefer the malleable beauraucrat from the east of the Ukraine, yet whether Moscows plans for Yanukovych to win the election will succeed or fail remains uncertain.
(INSERTS: Vladimir Malinkowitc, Political scientist)
Now that the country is recovering economically, we need to consolidate democracy here, too. The country is in an economic upturn, we overcame the crisis. The standard of living is getting better, but we still have no democracy. What we have now is still a mixture of new and old Soviet functionaries. We must breakaway from this, away from this patriarchical Russian-Byzantine system, and on to more democratic forms.
Yushchenko is a world away from this ideal. The palace in Kiev is still the home of a patriarch, and down the street another one is in residence: the square is dominated by a huge statue of the Ukrainian military leader who led the Ukraine against Russia.
Ukrainian politics are never just domestic issues, the country has always sat on the border between different political ideals, and has been tugged from side to side. Since Ukraine has mooted interest in the EU and NATO, Moscow has invested heavily in its economic future.
Russia has invested a lot in the Ukraine, which has helped the economy, even if politically it is dangerous for us. But the West is just ignoring us. If only the European Union would say: We cannot accept your membership today, because we are not ready yet, and neither are you, BUT we can have a good relationship and will gladly welcome you if your democracy continues to develop as it has been. Instead, the west, at present, is making no suggestions whatsoever.")
Orchards dominate the Ukrainian landscape. Although no longer the bradbasket of Europe it once was, agriculture is still a dominant economic force here. With the decline of the USSR went the decline of collective farming and production ground to a halt. Today, the buying and selling of agricultural land is still outlawed.
Growing land now has to be leased, like this 900 hectare orchard, leased for 40 years.
These kinds of orchards produce fruit and fruit-juice for export to Russia. With 12 per cent economic growth this year, the fruit industry here is the fastest growing in Europe.
But despite such rapid improvement, the EU still refuses to classify the Ukraine as a free-market economy because of differing state price regulations.
Viktor Charkow, director Podillja-orchard)
What we need here is a clear and stable legal position. The law on land and agriculture is constantly being hijacked. On the 1st of January 2005, a new agricultural law should come into effect, but its just been put back a further 2 years. Such instability makes it impossible for us to invest. But whatever way the election goes will be good, because both candidates are interested in the positive economic development of the country."
Ivano-Frankovsk is the most affected province. There, the population speaks predominantly Ukrainian and Juschtschenko has a clear majority. Writer Juri Andurchovic lives in this region, which was named after the Habsburg Gauls. His website features a tool that allows him to communicate with his colleagues in Kiev Krakow, Lemberg and Cernowic. He has little time for the stereotypes of a divide between the East and West.
OT Andruchovych (German)
Its not a division between east and west, but rather between civil and uncivil society.
Juri Andruchowitsch is an author and wrote an eminent paper, in German, entitled The Last Territory. Like most intellectuals of the country hes rooting for the pro-Western candidate Viktor Juschtschenko:
OT Andruchowitsch
Whether a modernising power - represented by Yanukovych - can be elected without any resistance, is still open to debate. The election campaign was unfair and extremely dirty. At least there is an alternative to the powerful Yushchenko. On the 31 October, the people themselves decide.
Camera:Wladimir Juldaschew
Edited by:Swetlana Somowa
In Ukraines presidential election, a field of more than 20 has been whittled down to the final two.
Many say there is little to pick between the two candidates, a feeling repeated in the polls. Both are accused of being little more than boring civil servants. However, the direction the two candidates look in for their lead, and the direction they will take Ukraine in, are poles apart. This election is key for the people of Ukraine.
Current Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych is the hot favourite. He hails from the Russian east of the country and has the air of a traditional Soviet functionary.
His campaign office deluges the TV stations with instructions to broadcast daily updates on the things he does for the country. He has increased pensions and expressed personal concern over the harvest.
His opponent, Viktor Yushchenko is from the other, western, end of the Ukraine, closer to Europe. Yanukovych once made a public appearance in this area, only to be plastered with eggs.
Before succumbing to a mystery illness, the former Prime Minister made strong calls for an opening of the country towards the west, towards free-market economy and towards democracy.
In the middle of his election campaign, Yushchenko fell sick and displayed odd symptoms of having been poisoned. After lengthy treatment in Vienna he returned to hit the campaign trail. Spin doctors were quick to lay claim to a political assassination attempt, hoping to garner sympathy from the voters. But the national media almost completely ignored the claim, leaving Yushchenkos rallies the only place where the story could prosper.
His supporters expect a great deal from Yushchenko.
(INSERTS: Vladimir Malinkowitc, Political Scientist)
We have finally managed to shake off our soviet past. We are a democratic country, a free country. We have a free press that would be crushed in an instant in Moscow. On Channel 5 we have a very anti-government programme, Moscow doesnt have that. In Russia there is just Putins dictatorship, here there is such strong opposition it is impossible to say who will win.
Too true; the next incumbent into Kievs Marienpalace, is still an open debate. Snap polls and surveys show little between the candidates.
Ukraines last president Leonid Kutchma did everything in his power to pave the path for Yanukovych to follow on as his successor. Moscow has made it clear it would also prefer the malleable beauraucrat from the east of the Ukraine, yet whether Moscows plans for Yanukovych to win the election will succeed or fail remains uncertain.
(INSERTS: Vladimir Malinkowitc, Political scientist)
Now that the country is recovering economically, we need to consolidate democracy here, too. The country is in an economic upturn, we overcame the crisis. The standard of living is getting better, but we still have no democracy. What we have now is still a mixture of new and old Soviet functionaries. We must breakaway from this, away from this patriarchical Russian-Byzantine system, and on to more democratic forms.
Yushchenko is a world away from this ideal. The palace in Kiev is still the home of a patriarch, and down the street another one is in residence: the square is dominated by a huge statue of the Ukrainian military leader who led the Ukraine against Russia.
Ukrainian politics are never just domestic issues, the country has always sat on the border between different political ideals, and has been tugged from side to side. Since Ukraine has mooted interest in the EU and NATO, Moscow has invested heavily in its economic future.
Russia has invested a lot in the Ukraine, which has helped the economy, even if politically it is dangerous for us. But the West is just ignoring us. If only the European Union would say: We cannot accept your membership today, because we are not ready yet, and neither are you, BUT we can have a good relationship and will gladly welcome you if your democracy continues to develop as it has been. Instead, the west, at present, is making no suggestions whatsoever.")
Orchards dominate the Ukrainian landscape. Although no longer the bradbasket of Europe it once was, agriculture is still a dominant economic force here. With the decline of the USSR went the decline of collective farming and production ground to a halt. Today, the buying and selling of agricultural land is still outlawed.
Growing land now has to be leased, like this 900 hectare orchard, leased for 40 years.
These kinds of orchards produce fruit and fruit-juice for export to Russia. With 12 per cent economic growth this year, the fruit industry here is the fastest growing in Europe.
But despite such rapid improvement, the EU still refuses to classify the Ukraine as a free-market economy because of differing state price regulations.
Viktor Charkow, director Podillja-orchard)
What we need here is a clear and stable legal position. The law on land and agriculture is constantly being hijacked. On the 1st of January 2005, a new agricultural law should come into effect, but its just been put back a further 2 years. Such instability makes it impossible for us to invest. But whatever way the election goes will be good, because both candidates are interested in the positive economic development of the country."
Ivano-Frankovsk is the most affected province. There, the population speaks predominantly Ukrainian and Juschtschenko has a clear majority. Writer Juri Andurchovic lives in this region, which was named after the Habsburg Gauls. His website features a tool that allows him to communicate with his colleagues in Kiev Krakow, Lemberg and Cernowic. He has little time for the stereotypes of a divide between the East and West.
OT Andruchovych (German)
Its not a division between east and west, but rather between civil and uncivil society.
Juri Andruchowitsch is an author and wrote an eminent paper, in German, entitled The Last Territory. Like most intellectuals of the country hes rooting for the pro-Western candidate Viktor Juschtschenko:
OT Andruchowitsch
Whether a modernising power - represented by Yanukovych - can be elected without any resistance, is still open to debate. The election campaign was unfair and extremely dirty. At least there is an alternative to the powerful Yushchenko. On the 31 October, the people themselves decide.