2008 Ukrainian political crisis

2008 political crisis in Ukraine June 2020 The 2008 Ukrainian political crisis started after President Viktor Yushchenko's Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc (NU-NS) withdrew from the governing coalition following a vote on a bill (4 September 2008) to limit the President's powers in which the Prime Minister's Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) voted with the opposition Party of Regions. The bill would have required the consent of the Prime Minister for the appointment and dismissal of the Prosecutor General by the President, given the government power to appoint local heads of government if the President rejects the candidates,http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/04/148874 Rada clipping Yushchenko's wings by reassigning prosecutor general and heads of oblast and city administrations Western Information Agency 4 September 2008 11 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920080029/http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/04/148874 20 September 2008 live stripped from the President the right to reject a candidate for Prime Minister, dismiss the Defense, Interior and Foreign Ministers, and appoint a head of the State Intelligence Service. President Yushchenko stated that a clear position on the 2008 Russo-Georgian War was one of the conditions under which return to talks in the Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) was possible, as well as the repeal of all the constitutional laws adopted after 3 September.http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/11198.html President names conditions for resolution of situation in the VR Press office of President Victor Yushchenko 5 September 2008 5 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920113147/http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/11198.html 20 September 2008 dead Yushchenko claimed that a "de-facto coalition" was formed with 'no other aims but to conduct coup d'état and usurp power in the country'.http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/11271.html The new de-facto coalition was an attempt of coup d'etat – President Press office of President Victor Yushchenko 11 September 2008 11 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080915032745/http://www.president.gov.ua/en/news/11271.html 15 September 2008 dead Tymoshenko stated that the real intentions behind the President's party in 'declaring war on her' was to ensure his victory in the next presidential election, although she still called for a reformation of the coalition between the two parties.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/04/content_9772001.htm What fuels fresh political crisis in Ukraine Xinhua 4 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080907193317/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/04/content_9772001.htm 7 September 2008 dead She also reiterated her position on the Georgian conflict, claiming to be neutral and more in line with the European Union. On 16 September, the collapse of the BYuT/NU-NS coalition was officially announced.http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtUOmlRyOSVtaxRetvox2V-OZ_fQ Ukraine's pro-Western coalition collapses: speaker Agence France-Presse 16 September 2008 16 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080916205510/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jtUOmlRyOSVtaxRetvox2V-OZ_fQ 16 September 2008 dead Following the failure to re-create the coalition, the Ukrainian parliament was dissolved by president Yushchenko on 8 October 2008, giving way to the third parliamentary election in three years.Ukraine gets third election in three years Radio Netherlands 8 October 2008 http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5999526/Ukraine-gets-third-election-in-three-years 8 October 2008 https://archive.today/20081011032654/http://www.radionetherlands.nl/news/international/5999526/Ukraine-gets-third-election-in-three-years 11 October 2008 dead The crisis ended when the Orange Coalition was reformed on 9 December 2008, but including Lytvyn's Bloc after Volodymyr Lytvyn was elected as parliamentary speaker the day before.https://www.rferl.org/a/Ukrainian_PM_Says_Crisis_Over_Vows_New_Blood_In_Government/1358204.html Tymoshenko Says Ukrainian Crisis is over Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty Treason accusation During the conflict between Russia and Georgia, Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko issued a decree requiring advance notice of the movements of the Russian Black Sea Fleet into and out of the Ukrainian port of Sevastopol. He also came out strongly in support of Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili, condemning Russia's invasion in Georgia during the August 2008 Russo-Georgian War. Prime Minister Tymoshenko and her Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc put forward a less critical position towards Russia and the Prime Minister herself was out of public view during much of the conflict. On 18 August 2008 Yushchenko's office accused Prime Minister Tymoshenko of taking a softer position as a way to win the support of Russia during the 2010 Presidential election. Andriy Kyslynskyi, the president's deputy chief of staff, said Tymoshenko's actions showed "signs of high treason and political corruption" adding that documents supporting these allegations were being handed over to prosecutors.http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/ukraine-pm-accused-high-treason-georgia/article-174801?Ref=RSS Ukraine PM accused of 'high treason' over Georgia EurActiv 20 August 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920121724/http://www.euractiv.com/en/enlargement/ukraine-pm-accused-high-treason-georgia/article-174801?Ref=RSS 20 September 2008 dead Tymoshenko denied the accusationshttp://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jXHYKgM3583Rlhsa_hYLkIo5nBSA Ukraine PM rejects traitor accusations: report Agence France-Presse 20 August 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080921010516/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jXHYKgM3583Rlhsa_hYLkIo5nBSA 21 September 2008 dead and rejected the accusation that she was soft in her support for Georgia, saying that she supported the "sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia" but she does not agree with the president's tough stance on the Black Sea Ports and defends her position as being "in line with the European Union and not to drag Ukraine into conflicts".http://www.intv-inter.net/downloads/pdf/newsletter/BYuT_Inform_Newsletter_Issue_84.pdf Newsletter for the international community providing views and analysis from the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko 8 September 2008 8 September 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20081029054137/http://www.intv-inter.net/downloads/pdf/newsletter/BYuT_Inform_Newsletter_Issue_84.pdf 29 October 2008 Andriy Semchenko, an MP from the Tymoshenko bloc, called on the President and the head of the President's Secretariat Viktor Baloha to apologize to the Prime Minister before there could be constructive work in the coalition. He said it was not appropriate for the President and Baloha to spread information that Tymoshenko was a traitor.http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/02/172052.html BYuT demands Yushchenko and Baloha to apologize to Tymoshenko forUm 2 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080903012115/http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/02/172052.html 3 September 2008 dead Coalition collapses On 1 September 2008 Prime Minister Tymoshenko put forward draft legislation which would facilitate the procedure for impeachment, though she insisted it would not affect President Yushchenko and was meant for future presidents.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-270322.html Tymoshenko "calms down" Baloha saying his chief must not be concerned Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 1 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080914183607/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-270322.html 14 September 2008 live When the legislation came to a vote two days later, Tymoshenko's bloc voted together with the Party of Regions and Communists to pass it. They also approved legislation limiting the powers of the President while increasing the powers of the Prime Minister. In particular the parties approved legislation which would strip the President of the right to reject a candidate for Prime Minister, dismiss the Defense, Interior and Foreign Ministers and appoint a head of the State Intelligence Service. Yushchenko promised to veto the legislation.http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1838848,00.html Why Ukraine's Pro-Western Coalition Split Time 4 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080908011536/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0%2C8599%2C1838848%2C00.html 8 September 2008 dead https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601085&sid=avVAAysbcd8I&refer=europe Yushchenko May Dissolve Ukraine Parliament, Call Vote Bloomberg 3 September 2008 10 September 2008 Following the vote President Yushchenko's bloc pulled out of the governing coalition saying Tymoshenko was colluding with the opposition and the President warned he would call a snap election if a new coalition was not formed within the required time. He further accused Tymoshenko of trying to set up a "dictatorship of the prime minister" and calling the parliamentary vote "a political and constitutional coup d'état." Tymoshenko rejected the allegations and said the real reason the president "declared a war against me is to ensure his victory in the next presidential elections." In spite of this Tymoshenko has called for restoring the coalition between the two groups. She also defended her position on Georgia saying it was "in line with the European Union and it is not to drag Ukraine into conflicts." Parliament further increased the powers of the Prime Minister by passing legislation requiring the appointment and dismissal of the Prosecutor General by the President to receive the consent of the Prime Minister and giving the government power to appoint local heads of government if the President rejects the candidates. On 8 September, Our Ukraine MP Andry Parubij claimed Tymoshenko and Regions had already reached a deal on forming a new government and were dividing up posts for a new cabinet (a claim Tynoshenko has deniedhttp://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/08/149203 BYUT and Regions have divided posts in new cabinet – Our Ukraine lawmaker claims Western Information Agency 8 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920080035/http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/08/149203 20 September 2008 live). He also said that if a coalition is formed between Tymoshenko's bloc and Regions, Our Ukraine would appeal to the Constitutional Court to assess the legality of the December 2004 changes made in the constitution which, if successful, would restore wide powers held by the office of president. During the "Freedom of Speech" program on 9 September 2008 Tymoshenko said she was "categorically against" the decrees made by Yushchenko on the Russian Black Sea Fleet saying they risked provoking a response from Russia.http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/09/content_9878587.htm Ukrainian PM firmly against president's decree restricting Russia's fleet movement Xinhua 9 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080912030914/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-09/09/content_9878587.htm 12 September 2008 dead On 10 September, Tymoshenko reiterated her call for the coalition to be restored, but said she would not accept any preconditions for Our Ukraine to return.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-272168.html Tymoshenko again asks Yushchenko to resume coalition Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 10 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080913183132/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-272168.html 13 September 2008 live She also said at the moment they were not discussing any other coalition. Tymoshenko added that a snap poll would "destroy the normal life of the country" so it was not a way out of the crisis.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-272173.html BYuT does not discuss any new coalitions in parliament Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 10 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080917095935/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-272173.html 17 September 2008 live The same day Yan Bernazyuk, Yushchenko's liaison to the government of Tymoshenko, said representatives of the Presidential Secretariat were not allowed to attend the government session. Bernazyuk claimed the reason was because the government was discussing four issues which had a "clear Kremlin face" concerning "permits on use of mineral products without any contests, sales, and tenders."http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/10/150057.html Tymoshenko did not allow Yushchenko's people to attend Cabinet's session forUm 10 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920070524/http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/10/150057.html 20 September 2008 dead Yushchenko urged representatives and members of the regional, city and district councils to unite against the formation of a new coalition by retaining the "democratic coalition" in the local governments as well as for all other "national forces" to unite. He said the new relationship between the Tymoshenko bloc and Regions was a "serious threat for democratic choice of Ukraine" which was in danger of reconsidering "national priorities to principles of democratic governing, including the local one."http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/10/164538.html Yushchenko urges local councils to struggle against new majority forUm 10 September 2008 10 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920070529/http://en.for-ua.com/news/2008/09/10/164538.html 20 September 2008 dead Officials from the Party of Regions accused Yushchenko of planning to impose direct presidential rule by dissolving the parliament without calling early elections. At the same time members of the Central Election Commission sympathetic to Yushchenko would resign prolonging the time without an acting parliament.http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/09/149351 Yushchenko will opt for direct presidential rule if he strikes a deal with generals – Taras Chornovil Western Information Agency 9 September 2008 10 September 2008 Another claim said Yushchenko had secretly instructed the oblast governors and leaders of NGOs to request the imposition of a direct presidential rule by Yushchenko and that he would launch a military coup.http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/09/10/149505 Yushchenko hatching military coup, says Regions lawmaker Kolesnychenko Western Information Agency 10 September 2008 10 September 2008 Yushchenko denied planning to resolve the crisis with force saying Ukraine can resolve the crisis in a "democratic way" through dialogue.http://unian.net/eng/news/news-272512.html Yushchenko rules out strong-arm scenario of solving crisis in Ukraine Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 16 September 2008 16 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080915093340/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-272512.html 15 September 2008 live On 16 September, the collapse of the BYuT/NU-NS coalition was officially announced. Yulia Tymoshenko unleashed one of her harshest attacks on Yushchenko yet, accusing the President of destroying the gains of the Orange Revolution, sinking hopes of rebuilding the coalition. "Since 2004, this president has managed to destroy everything: people's faith in the ideals of the revolution and faith in the president himself – only 5 percent still support him," she told reporters after a cabinet meeting. "Unfortunately, this president will leave a legacy of shattered remnants of the 'orange' promises and democratic coalitions, of his own team and even of his friends and his own political standing.""Ukraine PM fires broadside at Yushchenko". Reuters. Kyiv Post. 17 September 2008. Tymoshenko also blamed Yushchenko for "everything bad that will happen in relations between Ukraine and Russia" calling for Ukraine to pursue a more "balanced" policy towards Russia.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122166260238348007?mod=googlenews_wsj Ukrainian PM refuses to stand down and assails president The Wall Street Journal 17 September 2008 19 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920081943/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122166260238348007.html?mod=googlenews_wsj 20 September 2008 dead Yushchenko accused Tymoshenko and the Party of Regions of trying to create a two party system in parliament. The two blocs joined forces in drafting and registering a new law in parliament on 17 September that would introduce a two-round election system for parliament which would likely lead to BYuT and Regions being the only parties in parliament after the next election.http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/29773 Yushchenko, Tymoshenko split bitterly Kyiv Post 18 September 2008 19 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920083214/http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/29773 20 September 2008 live Viktor Yanukovich said his party did not want to initiate early elections and added "The Constitution must be changed so as to provide efficient operation of authorities."http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?show=news&newsid=1295770&lang=EN Ukrainian Regions Party Not to Initiate Early Elections: Party Leader Trend News Agency 16 September 2008 22 September 2008 13 August 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250813163410/http://news.trendaz.com/index.shtml?newsid=1295770&lang=EN&show=news dead Yuri Lutsenko leader of Civil Movement "People's Self-Defense" (part of the Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc) said on 17 September 2008 that the breakup of the coalition was provoked by the Secretariat of the President and that "People's Self Defense" was categorically against it.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-273398.html Lutsenko is not about to send in his resignation Ukrainian Independent Information Agency 17 September 2008 17 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080918100054/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-273398.html 18 September 2008 live On 18 September, Yulia Tymoshenko refused to resign as prime minister as agreed under a coalition pact saying "The coalition has not collapsed.... It's the president and part of his team betraying the democratic coalition who have left it unilaterally."http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gN8u0Bl7M7gtGylhr5WoFuRCvuuQ Ukraine PM refuses to resign as crisis deepens Agence France-Presse 18 September 2008 19 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080921042414/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gN8u0Bl7M7gtGylhr5WoFuRCvuuQ 21 September 2008 live She also made reference to the alleged poisoning plot that almost killed President Viktor Yushchenko in 2004 by saying "The main poisoning is the poisoning with unlimited power, a serious intoxication in the presidential secretariat."http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2008/0919/1221773888371.html Ukrainian PM refuses to stand down and assails president The Irish Times 19 September 2008 19 September 2008 Yushchenko accused Tymoshenko of not providing adequate funding for Ukraine's military and asked when she would show respect to Ukraine's soldiers.http://www.kyivpost.com/world/29789 Ukraine president blasts rival PM over army Kyiv Post 18 September 2008 19 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080920083250/http://www.kyivpost.com/world/29789 20 September 2008 live President Yushchenko later said Tymoshenko was working with the Party of Regions, and the Communist Party on decisions aimed at destabilizing the country in order to establish a new political regime. Yuriy Yekhanurov, Ukraine's Defense Minister and member of Yushchenko's Our Ukraine bloc, said he and his political force would take all effort necessary to maintain the stability of the country.http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/29830 Yushchenko accuses Tymoshenko of betraying Ukraine's national interests Kyiv Post 21 September 2008 22 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080923135544/http://www.kyivpost.com/nation/29830 23 September 2008 live On 19 September Yulia Tymoshenko called the information about the existence of an informal coalition between BYuT, the Party of Regions and Communist Part of Ukraine "black political propaganda". The Premier believed that the spreading of such information was aimed at changing the arrangement of political forces leading up to the Ukrainian presidential elections in 2010. She also stated: "I think that this (the creation of a coalition of a different format) can be a last resort and forced step before the dissolving of the Verkhovna Rada, the Communists have nothing to do with this".http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/6277/ Yulia Tymoshenko: The creation of a new coalition will be a last resort and forced step Personal web site of Yulia Tymoshenko 19 September 2008 19 September 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20080924000544/http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/6277/ 24 September 2008 dead On 22 September Our Ukraine issued a statement which said: "People's Union Our Ukraine call on everybody, for who the values of independence and freedom are more important than personal or group interests, to unite around President of Ukraine Victor Yushchenko, as a guarantor of the national state, and around Our Ukraine, as the only real force defending Ukrainian interests in the current Verkhovna Rada" and called on BYuT members to "put interests of nation before the interests of party leaders, to refuse being accomplices of the plot (to revise the Ukrainian Constitution and give all power to the hands of the pro-Kremlin parliamentary oligarchs), and to take part in the unification process of Ukrainian democratic forces".http://unian.net/eng/news/news-274239.html Our Ukraine calls on BYuT members to repudiate Tymoshenko UNIAN 22 September 2008 22 September 2008 On 26 September 2008, Tymoshenko suggested holding early parliamentary and presidential elections as a way out of the crisis.https://www.rferl.org/a/Ukraines_Tymoshenko_Suggests_Twin_Polls_As_Way_Out_Of_Crisis/1291854.html Tymoshenko Suggests Twin Polls as Way Out of Crisis Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty Tymoshenko said in parliament she would accept any conditions of Our Ukraine "in order to preserve Ukraine's strategic orientation, to preserve the parliament and not to throw the country into a new crisis."http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK21echxa04A5KOGXgd4I3VFtfMA Ukraine PM says ready to revive pro-West coalition Agence France-Presse 1 October 2008 1 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081014235942/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5gK21echxa04A5KOGXgd4I3VFtfMA 14 October 2008 dead Talks were on track to reforge the orange coalition by early October 2008.https://www.rferl.org/a/Tymoshenko_Says_Parties_On_Track_To_Restore_Orange_Coalition/1293748.html Tymoshenko Says 'Orange' Coalition Ready to Reunite Radiofreeeurope/Radioliberty But no coalition was formed on 8 October and in the evening of 8 October while visiting Italy President Yushchenko announced Ukraine's third general election in less than three years in a pre-recorded speech on Ukrainian television.http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7660058.stm Snap election called in Ukraine BBC News 8 October 2008 8 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081011022502/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7660058.stm 11 October 2008 live Opposition to Presidential decree Most politicians, besides the president's closest allies, denounced the decree,Although on 13 October 2008 the main opposition party (Party of Regions) declared although the party did not support the idea of carrying out a snap poll it wanted the snap parliamentary poll to take place as soon as possible http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-278244.html Yanukovych: this is a catastrophe UNIAN 13 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081202113258/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-278244.html 2 December 2008 live. with even some Yushchenko sympathisers and allies from the Presidents own party, http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/154442.html Five OU-PSD Parties: Appointment of Early Parliamentary Elections Is Mistake Ukrainian News Agency 9 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081120093039/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/154442.html 20 November 2008 dead vowing to challenge his action in the courts.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-277640.html People's Self-Defense not to bloc with Our Ukraine at snap poll 9 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081120074835/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-277640.html 20 November 2008 livehttps://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE4986BQ20081009 Ukraine president says Dec election is "no tragedy" Reuters 9 October 2008 16 December 2008 On 10 October the People’s Self-Defense (PSD) leader Yuriy Lutsenko announced that all democratic forces should unite into a single democratic bloc on basis of BYuT at the snap poll.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-277835.html All democratic forces should unite on basis of BYuT – Lutsenko UNIAN 10 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081202112303/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-277835.html 2 December 2008 live Although other PSD members disagreed and rather continued to collaborate with Our Ukraine.http://unian.net/eng/news/news-277881.html Riot in People's Movement of Ukraine UNIAN 10 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081202053656/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-277881.html 2 December 2008 live International reactions were also negative: the European Union did hope beforehand that there will be no snap elections http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/152813.html European Union Hopes There Will Be No Snap Elections in Ukraine Ukrainian News Agency 2 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://archive.today/20130205105856/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/152813.html 5 February 2013 dead and Poland’s former President Aleksander Kwaśniewski, stated that by dissolving the Verkhovna Rada, Yushchenko "shot himself in the foot.""There was a chance to create a wide democratic coalition of BYuT, OU-PSD and the Lytvyn Bloc, and we were working on it. Pres Yushchenko 'may suffer a substantial pratfall'", Poland’s former President Aleksander Kwaśniewski stated. http://zik.com.ua/en/news/2008/10/09/152848 Yushchenko shoots himself in the foot – Aleksander Kwasniewski Zik 9 October 2008 9 October 2008 On 16 October, after resistance,http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/6407/ Yulia Tymoshenko: There is no money in the reserve fund for elections Personal web site of Yulia Tymoshenko 14 October 2008 16 December 2008 September 2018 InternetArchiveBot yes the cabinet endorsed amendments to the 2008 national budget to finance the snap elections.http://www.interfax.com.ua/en/news/main-news/176875/ Cabinet endorses amendments to budget to fund early elections to Rada Interfax-Ukraine 17 October 2008 16 December 2008 Proposal by (19 October) by Yulia Tymoshenko to create a "megacoalition" and by Viktor Yanukovych (23 October) to create an "anti-crisis government" in the Ukrainian Parliament and postpone the snap elections until the threat of the 2008 financial crisis had passed lead to nothing.http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/6440/ Tymoshenko to propose creating "megacoalition" during NSDC meeting Personal web site of Yulia Tymoshenko 20 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081231020848/http://www.tymoshenko.com.ua/eng/news/first/6440/ 31 December 2008 deadhttp://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-279498.html Yushchenko says Tymoshenko's proposal to form new coalition untimely UNIAN 20 October 2008 16 December 2008 http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157843.html Yanukovych Calls For Formation of Anti-Crisis Cabinet To Replace Existing Cabinet Ukrainian News Agency 23 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://archive.today/20130205085402/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157843.html 5 February 2013 dead On 29 October the Ukrainian parliament (Verkhovna Rada) voted against a bill to finance the early elections.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-281358.html Parliament blocks funds for snap election UNIAN 29 October 2008 16 December 2008 http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/159390.html Rada Refuses To Allocate UAH 417.5 Million For Snap Rada Elections Ukrainian News Agency 29 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://archive.today/20130205071116/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/159390.html 5 February 2013 deadhttp://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-281544.html Verkhovna Rada resembles court of Madrid (photo-report) UNIAN 30 October 2008 16 December 2008 On 31 October, the Verkhovna Rada refused to include a provision on funding snap parliamentary elections into a bill on immediate anti-financial crisis measures.http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/161768.html Yatseniuk Supporting Agreement on Temporary Interaction Between Yuschenko, Cabinet And Rada Factions Ukrainian News Agency 10 November 2008 https://archive.today/20130205111148/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/161768.html 5 February 2013 dead Juridical challenge of Presidential decree The Kyiv District Administrative Court on 11 October 2008 suspended Yushchenko's election call, responding to a lawsuit filed by BYuT MPs.Kiev court annuls presidential decree to dissolve parliament https://web.archive.org/web/20081212034207/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/world-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=10&dd=11&nav_id=54157 12 December 2008 B92, 11 October 2008 Tymoshenko refused to approve funds for the election, stating that Ukraine couldn't afford an early election and that she expected parliament to refuse the necessary funds, as well.Ukraine PM says no to early elections Associated Press, 11 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081031043609/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5icD-TS1PWv-LA7R3qFWfYJhXmf_AD93NQT6G0 31 October 2008 Yushchenko appealed the suspension on the basis that he had fired the judge who gave the order beforehand. Prime Minister Tymoshenko and President Yushchenko dispatched rival security forces to the appeals and Tymoshenko's supporters planned to hold a round-the-clock vigil at the court to prevent illegal action from taking place.https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB122377764418126275?mod=googlenews_wsj Ukraine's Leaders Battle Over Early Elections The Wall Street Journal 11 October 2008 12 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081015062720/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122377764418126275.html?mod=googlenews_wsj 15 October 2008 dead On 13 October President Yushchenko liquidated the Kyiv District Administrative Court altogether.http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/155397.html Yuschenko Liquidates Kyiv District Administrative Court Ukrainian News Agency 13 October 2008 13 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081015215637/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/155397.html 15 October 2008 deadhttp://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156098.html Supreme Court Asking Yuschenko To Cancel Decree on Liquidation of Kyiv District Administrative Court Ukrainian News Agency 16 October 2008 16 October 2008 https://archive.today/20130205053432/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156098.html 5 February 2013 dead On 15 October, Kyiv Regional Administrative Court suspended the president decree on liquidation of the Kyiv District Administrative after the Supreme Court of Ukraine had asked Yushchenko to cancel the decree on liquidation of the Kyiv District Administrative Court. So on 15 October Yushchenko liquidated the Kyiv District Administrative Court again.http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156447.html Yuschenko Again Liquidates Kyiv District Administrative Court Ukrainian News Agency 17 October 2008 17 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081019204008/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156447.html 19 October 2008 dead On 17 October The Kyiv Central Administrative Court has overturned the ruling of the Kyiv District Administrative Court.http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156454.html Court Upholds Decree on Rada Dissolution Ukrainian News Agency 17 October 2008 17 October 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081019161742/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/156454.html 19 October 2008 dead On 28 October The Kyiv Appeal Administrative Court cancelled the suspension of Yushchenko's election decision by the Kyiv District Administrative Court.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-281122.html Presidential Secretariat has won trial on snap poll UNIAN 28 October 2008 16 December 2008 http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/159151.html Court Drops Consideration of Appeal Against Rada Dissolution Decree Ukrainian News Agency 17 October 2008 28 October 2008 https://archive.today/20120914030324/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/159151.html 14 September 2012 dead End of crisis On 22 October, President Yushchenko stated that the precise date for the early election could not be set until parliament (work in parliament was blocked by protestshttp://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-279953.html BYuT faction blocks parliament's presidium and rostrum UNIAN 22 October 2008 16 December 2008 http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157406.html Rada Closes meeting Ukrainian News Agency 22 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081024063920/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/157406.html 24 October 2008 dead from 21 October till 24 Octoberhttp://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/158160.html BYT Unblocks Rada Ukrainian News Agency 24 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081026223538/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/158160.html 26 October 2008 dead) approved finances for the pollhttp://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-280038.html BYuT not to support draft laws on financing snap poll – Tymoshenko UNIAN 22 October 2008 16 December 2008 and voted for legislation to help Ukraine through the 2008 financial crisis.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-280065.html Ukraine election date is uncertain, says president UNIAN 22 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081230202710/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-280065.html 30 December 2008 livehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7680916.stm Finance crisis delay Ukraine vote BBC News 20 October 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081217031450/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7680916.stm 17 December 2008 live So far parliament hasn't approved funding.http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/2979/ Presidential Secretariat urges parliament to include early election funds in 2009 budget Interfax-Ukraine 15 December 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081230212126/http://www.interfax.com.ua/eng/main/2979/ 30 December 2008 dead On 12 November 2008 Yushchenko stated in an interview published in the Warsaw daily Rzeczpospolita that the election could no longer take place this year because anti-crisis actions had to be undertaken first.http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-284007.html Ukraine's president says no election this year UNIAN 12 November 2008 16 December 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081230202945/http://www.unian.net/eng/news/news-284007.html 30 December 2008 live Early December 2008 there were negotiations between Bloc Yulia Tymoshenko (BYuT) and Party of Regions to form a coalitionExperts Admit Party Of Regions-Tymoshenko Bloc Coalition If Pliusch Nominated For Speaker's Position https://web.archive.org/web/20090108152605/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/166617.html 8 January 2009 , Ukrainian News Agency (3 December 2008) but after Volodymyr Lytvyn was elected Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament of Ukraine) 9 December 2008 he announced the creation of a coalition between his Lytvyn Bloc, BYuT and Our Ukraine–People's Self-Defense Bloc (OU-PSD).Ukraine coalition set to reform, BBC News (9 December 2008) After negotiationsNew parliamentary majority receives name, UNIAN (11-12-2008)https://archive.today/20121208222050/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/168815.html Lavrynovych Speaking About Majority Between BYuT, OU PSD, Lytvyn Bloc And Communist Party Faction At Rada, Ukrainian News Agency (13 December 2008) "Lytvyn announced about creating a coalition between BYuT, the Our Ukraine – People's Self-Defense Bloc faction and the Lytvyn Bloc. However, the coalition agreement has not been signed so far." the three parties officially signed the coalition agreement on 16 December.Tymoshenko Bloc, OU-PSD, And Lytvyn Bloc Sign Rada Coalition Agreement https://web.archive.org/web/20090122235938/http://www.ukranews.com/eng/article/169237.html 22 January 2009 , Ukrainian News Agency (16 December 2008) See also 2007 Ukrainian political crisis 2007 Ukrainian parliamentary election References 30em Category:Political scandals in Ukraine Political crisis Ukrainian Ukrainian Category:Yulia Tymoshenko Category:Viktor Yushchenko