Ukraine Looking Towards Re-Vote With Prayers, Concerns
After Ukraine’s rigged presidential election last month prompted thousands of demonstrators to pour into the streets in an 'Orange Revolution', the nation remains divided
After Ukraine’s rigged presidential election last month prompted thousands of demonstrators to pour into the streets in an 'Orange Revolution', the nation remains divided between Moscow-backed Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich and West-leaning opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko. Meanwhile, the crisis, which cranked up tensions between Russia and the West, still reverberates throughout Europe.
“Poised between Germany and Poland on one side and Russia on the other, Ukraine stands to gain or lose much in the election,” Illinois-based Russian Ministries stated in a recent statement. “The divide between West and East clearly marks the country, with much of Yuschenko’s support coming from the Western side of the country and the countries of the European Union, and Yanukovych’s support coming from the Eastern side and Russia, its giant neighbor to the East.”
Commenting on the current situation, Sergey Rakhuba, the organization’s vice president of ministries, pointed out a generational difference in the voting mix as well. “Families are divided between young and old,” Rakhuba said. “It’s not just about democracy. There are economic dimensions to the situation, with many pensioners voting to reward Yanukovych who, as prime minister, recently generously increased pensions.”
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According to the Religious Liberty Commission (RLC) of the World Evangelical Alliance, Ukrainian evangelicals have faithfully prayed throughout the 'Orange Revolution' which saw masses of protestors flood the streets for more than two weeks.
“God alone has kept Ukraine from bloodshed,” the RLC stated. “He has heard the prayers of the faithful Ukrainian believers who now ask us to join them in prayer as there are many bridges yet to cross.”
Now that the courts have found that the poll was marred by widespread and extravagant fraud, engineered by Ukraine's corrupt power brokers, a fresh poll will be held on Dec. 26.
However, news agencies reported Wednesday that Ukraine's parliament passed a controversial plan aimed at preventing election fraud before the Dec. 26 rerun of the rigged presidential election. Though the plan is expected to boost Yushchenko's chances of winning that poll, several news agencies reported that it would significantly weaken his powers in the post in case of victory.
AFP reports that while the law tightens controls on absentee ballots, in an effort to prevent multiple votes, it also includes provisions for the transfer of some important presidential powers to parliament—where opposition forces are now in a minority.
Under the reforms, the president loses the power to appoint all top posts except for the prime minister, defense and foreign ministers. His candidates for these three posts need to be approved by legislators as well.
Analysts say outgoing President Leonid Kuchma has pushed the measure in a bid to retain influence after he steps down after a decade of oft-authoritarian rule in the former Soviet republic.
Though Ukraine was a Soviet republic until the U.S.S.R. collapsed, Russian Ministries says the nation has been a stronghold of Christian faith in a predominantly secular Europe. “It ranks as number two as home to professing Christians among all nations of Europe,” the ministry stated.
RLC reported that “To challenge the stranglehold these pro-Soviet power brokers have, the Ukrainian opposition had to unite behind one man of integrity, and the people had to publicly support him.”
“If Ukraine's peaceful 'Orange Revolution' succeeds, it could become a model for other nations in the grip of corrupt pro-Soviet dictators, in particular Belarus which has a presidential election in 2005,” the RLC said.
Russian Ministries’ president, Anita Deyneka stated, “This is a pivotal time of learning for the state and church of Ukraine,” adding that “Christians there are asking us to unite in prayer on their behalf, especially for the re-election which will be held the day after Christmas.”
Grigori Kommendant, president of the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Ukraine and vice president of Baptist World Alliance, has also called for a time of prayer to unite the nation during this time of uncertainty.
