Viktor Yanukovych greets his supporters during a pre-election concert in Kiev on Feb. 5, 2010. (Vasily Fedosenko/Reuters)
Viktor Yanukovych completes his metamorphosis
Five years after his Orange Revolution defeat, Yanukovych won a democratic election for Ukrainian president.
KIEV, Ukraine — Viktor Yanukovych, the ursine eastern Ukrainian party boss who suffered a humiliating defeat five years ago, has triumphed in a presidential election on Sunday that was surprising not so much for its outcome as for its cleanliness.
After a brutal and bruising campaign during which both sides hurled accusations of corruption, incompetence and outright lying...
Recent on Russia and its neighbors:
Will Ukraine's east sway election?
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - February 7, 2010 17:02 ET
Yulia Tymoshenko must improve her standing in Dnipropetrovsk to beat Viktor Yanukovych.
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Opinion: The lessons of Yalta
Serhii Plokhii - Worldview - February 7, 2010 10:12 ET
What the Yalta Conference taught us in 1945, was to respect — and be wary of — ideological differences.
Opinion: Ukraine should turn west to move forward
Taras Kuzio - Worldview - February 6, 2010 12:14 ET
When Ukraine voters go to the polls on Sunday, they should stay true to the Orange Revolution.
Opinion: "We’ve got your back, Balts"
Michael Moran - Worldview - February 1, 2010 10:32 ET
NATO, after year of tip-toeing, promises a plan to defend its small, eastern-most members.
Goa's tourism boss links sexual assaults to bikinis
Jason Overdorf - India - February 1, 2010 06:45 ET
A shocking case provokes outrage. The local government blames swimwear.
Russia, Belarus oil tiff resolved — for now
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 29, 2010 07:14 ET
Belarus's Lukashenko has few cards to play in disputes with Russia.
Special Report
Thomas Mucha - Commerce - January 28, 2010 17:24 ET
20 correspondents, 20 countries and a world of pain. Meet the ground truth of the global economic crisis.
Ukraine election: free, fair and headed for a run-off
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 18, 2010 11:44 ET
Viktor Yanukovich will face-off with Yulia Tymoshenko in closely watched contest.
Opinion: Why a $3 bottle of vodka won't cut it
Kate Transchel - Worldview - January 18, 2010 11:14 ET
If state leaders truly cared about combating Russia's drinking problem, they would try to change attitudes — not price tags.
Ukraine elections could spawn chaos
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 17, 2010 16:28 ET
Ukrainian voters are in a foul mood as the field of 18 candidates campaigns before Sunday's vote.
Lithuania's new energy quandary
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 14, 2010 06:44 ET
The closure of Lithuania's nuclear power plant leaves the small EU country dependent on Russia — for now.
Inside the Khodorkovsky trial
Miriam Elder - Russia and its neighbors - January 11, 2010 17:54 ET
The founder of Yukos oil and his partner sit in a glass cage as their embezzlement trial slowly proceeds.
Can Belarus' communism-lite go on?
David L. Stern - Russia and its neighbors - January 7, 2010 06:29 ET
Minsk might give the impression of an idealized Soviet Union, but the recession has revealed cracks in Belarus' "market socialism."
Poles wary of Nord Stream pact
Tom Hundley - Poland - January 3, 2010 07:52 ET
In Poland, claims the "Molotov-Ribbentrop" natural gas pipeline is an attempt to weaken the EU and NATO, much as the Nazis and Soviets did to Poland in WWII.
Why Russian pedestrians warily step into crosswalks
Miriam Elder - Russia and its neighbors - January 2, 2010 10:08 ET
30,000 people died on Russia's roads last year, but the government claims it is improving road safety.
Mayor's pledge to spare Moscow snow fails
Miriam Elder - Russia and its neighbors - December 29, 2009 18:04 ET
Sure enough, there is snow in Moscow. And the locals aren't displeased about it.
8 wacky holiday traditions
Laurie Cunningham - America and the World - December 23, 2009 08:32 ET
Americans aren't the only ones whose traditions are a cause for raised eyebrows.
Bank robber hypnotized tellers
Kevin O'Flynn - Russia and its neighbors - December 14, 2009 06:56 ET
Russian police say hypnotism is not an uncommon criminal technique.
Is Turkmenistan's stability a myth?
Miriam Elder - Asia - November 28, 2009 10:11 ET
Heroin, arms trafficking and the Taliban all threaten Turkmenistan's status quo.
Global Blogs:
Challenges for the new president
Foreign Notes - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 19:07 ET
I liked this article written the day after the final round of the presidential elections by Viktoria Syurmar in 'U.P.' I've roughly translated portions below:"On the first day after the presidential elections there are several challenges for Ukraine which have to be addressed...
Dr. Strangelove has a cow: could a wayward bovine spark a war in Central Asia?
NewEurasia Tajikistan - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 16:06 ET
Photograph by Flickr user David Wild (CC-usage). Uzbek border guards say they were close to open fire killing 25 Tajik servicemen who, according to them, violated state borders of Uzbekistan and intruded to its territory. The press service of the Uzbek National Security...
The Minister of Health will stay
Lituanica Lituanica - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 12:25 ET
This morning the Lithuanian media reported that one more minister might submit a resignation letter to the Prime Minister Kubilius. The Minister concerned is Algis Caplikas, from the Centre and Liberal Party, who is heading the Ministry of Health. However, the Minister will...
SPARKY’S VALENTINE — EVRAZ CLEARED TO REOPEN COALMINE IN KEMEROVO
Dances with Bears - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 08:13 ET
By John Helmer in Moscow The federal mine inspectorate in Russia, Rostekhnadzor (RTN), has cleared Evraz’s mine subsidiary Yuzhkuzbassugol (YKU) to reopen the Esaulskaya mine, after a methane accident on January 20 led to a regional court-ordered closure on January 25....
Black PR vs. Black PR?
Sean Guillory - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 02:03 ET
As the Power Vertical's Robert Coalson explains, this is the way the game is played. Anyone familiar with Russian politics over the last 20 years, if not the last century, will not be surprised by the revelation a United Russia hatchet-men hired "spin doctors" to spread black...
February 10, 2010
The Russophobe Writing Team - Russia and its neighbors - February 8, 2010 21:45 ET
WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 10 CONTENTS (1) EDITORIAL: The Election in Ukraine (2) EDITORIAL: The Missiles of February (3) Yanukovich the Gangster (4) Goodbye Karelia! (5) Vladimir Putin and his...
I guess we are not the only ones missing the USSR …
Sovok of the Week - Russia and its neighbors - February 7, 2010 17:37 ET
“Dear Mr. Gorbachev”
Web 2.0 for Artists: 1 Twitter
Kaukasus Kaukasus - Russia and its neighbors - February 6, 2010 11:22 ET
1 Twitter Here are some of my experiences I'd to share about a few possibilities to use the Web 2.0 for your Art. Twitter describes its service very well: "Twitter is a real-time information network powered by people all around the world that lets you share and discover...
European Nations Cup 2010 – Fixtures and Preview
Siberian Light - Russia and its neighbors - February 3, 2010 13:45 ET
This weekend sees the resumption of the 2009-2010 European Nations Cup. As well as the glory of winning the cup, the winning team and second place team in this year’s ENC will qualify automatically for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. At the half-way mark, Russia...
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Reporter's Notebook
And in the end, it did indeed come down to money. Western news agencies report today that Kyrgyz and U.S. officials have reached an agreement to...Read more >
TBILISI — Georgian opposition leaders have given President Mikheil Saakashvili 24 hours to offer his resignation. Something tells me that they...Read more >
Last week saw a flurry of activity in Ukraine, which may lead to bigger developments on a number of fronts. First, the country’s parliament,...Read more >
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