In a new runoff held on December 26, 2004, Yanukovych was soundly defeated. "Today politics is conducted not in the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) or in the cabinet, but here, on the square," said Yuriy Lutsenko, a former "Orange" interior minister. Oleksander Galaka, head of GUR (military intelligence) made calls to "prevent bloodshed". The presidential election of 2004 brought Ukraine to the brink of disintegration and civil war. The scale of the demonstrations in Kyiv was unprecedented. The driving force behind each was a youth protest movement that used catchy There was nothing inevitable about any of this. Yet some of the key anti-Yanukovych slogans are still there: "Out with the gang!" Social networks are full of images and videos of riot police beating demonstrators and journalists. The local councils in Kyiv, Lviv,[31] and several other cities passed, with the wide popular support of their constituency, a largely symbolic refusal to accept the legitimacy of the official election results, and Yushchenko took a symbolic presidential oath. Apparently (in particular) the Party of Regions, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" and Svoboda had applied for a permit to demonstrate there. Independent standpoint on Ukraine:Dismissal of Prosecutor-General, Closure of Poroshenko Case Create New, Draft Campaign Program of the Party of Regions, The upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine [Summary], BEREZOVSKY HOPES TO SELL ORANGE REVOLUTION TO RUSSIA, 'Orange' methods will fail in South Ossetia, , Putins aide calls opinion that all Ukrainians want European integration "sick self-delusion", New Extremely Right-Wing Intellectual Circles in Russia: The Anti-Orange Committee, the Isborsk Club and the Florian Geyer Club, International Relations and Security Network, "Putin said that the Russian Federation was not given a chance to build normal relations with the Ukrainian people", http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415688369/, Six questions to the critics of Ukraine's orange revolution, U.S. Money has Helped Opposition in Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition leader calls for police and army to join revolution, Ukraine opposition candidate Yushchenko is suffering from a Dioxin intoxication, doctors say, Orange Winter, a feature documentary about the Orange revolution, Role of Internet-based Information Flows and Technologies in Electoral Revolutions:The Case of Ukraines Orange Revolution, 20202022 Ukrainian constitutional crisis, 2014 Euromaidan regional state administration occupations, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orange_Revolution&oldid=1165853636, Articles with Russian-language sources (ru), Articles with unsourced statements from February 2022, Articles with Ukrainian-language sources (uk), Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Ukrainian-language text, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2017, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Articles with unsourced statements from December 2008, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2007, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from December 2015, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, All articles that may contain original research, Articles that may contain original research from December 2012, Articles with Italian-language sources (it), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, Disputed results of the second round of the, Special press-conference "Vladimir Putin. Six years later, the target was Ukraine. "Results of Voting in Ukraine Presidential Elections 2004". Since first appearing in spring 2005, St. Georges ribbons have established themselves at the heart of an increasingly fanatical victory cult as the Putin regime has sought to justify its own authoritarianism via ever more extravagant forms of WWII reverence. known as the Orange Revolution, forcing a re . Despite several clashes with police, which left dozens of people injured, the general mood of the protesters is rather peaceful. . It was to prove a spectacular miscalculation, arousing indignation among many previously apolitical Ukrainians who sensed their countrys newfound independence was under threat. Some observers argued that this symbolic presidential oath might have been useful to the Yushchenko camp should events have taken a more confrontational route. Read about our approach to external linking. Quiz. Oxfordshire, UK: Routledge (2013). Parliamentary elections, at first scheduled for December, later were canceled, and Yushchenkos and Tymoshenkos parties agreed to form a new coalition, together with the smaller Lytvyn Bloc, headed by Volodymyr Lytvyn. Pukach was arrested in 2010[17] and was sentenced to life in prison in 2013. This resulted in the creation of Nashi, a pro-Putin youth movement that was formed in April 2005 and enjoyed close ties to the Russian establishment. It is also a welcome development for Ukraine but less so for Russia. Because of Kuchma's scandalous behaviour, he lost many of his supporters with high ranking government positions. The fact that this didnt happen is down to the millions of ordinary Ukrainians who took to the streets in November 2004 and demanded to be heard. In September 2004 Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning under mysterious circumstances. AI quiz: Can you tell which person is real? [33], In total 18.4% of Ukrainians have claimed to have taken part in the Orange Revolution (across Ukraine).[1]. Because neither had won a majority of votes, a runoff poll was held on February 7. In this alternative reality, Ukraine might well have remained within Russias exclusive sphere of influence, allowing Putin to gradually consolidate his hold over the former Soviet Union. Winning 48.95 percent of the votea narrow lead over Tymoshenkos 45.47 percentYanukovych took the presidency. 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The Eurasia Centers mission is to enhance transatlantic cooperation in promoting stability, democratic values and prosperity in Eurasia, from Eastern Europe and Turkey in the West to the Caucasus, Russia and Central Asia in the East. The ensuing power struggle between the president and the prime minister, whose political role had been enhanced by a constitutional reform that took effect in 2006, led Yushchenko to call for another round of parliamentary elections in 2007. A weekly column by Atlantic Council President and CEO Frederick Kempe, Inflection Points focuses on the global challenges facing the United States and how to best address them. protests that were dubbed the Orange Revolution, and the runoff results were overturned by the Ukrainian Supreme Court. While he survived and returned to the campaign trail, the poisoning undermined his health and altered his appearance dramatically (his face remains disfigured by the consequences to this day[update]). As a resolution, the court ordered a revote of the run-off to be held on 26 December 2004. Indeed, it is no accident that while Moscows own actions have grown more and more belligerent, the Kremlin has continued to accuse Western countries of plotting a so-called color revolution inside Russia. Timeline of the Orange Revolution. During the events of the Orange Revolution, Tymoshenko was a key figure, passionately denouncing Viktor Yanukovychs presidential election campaign and the alleged electoral fraud that resulted in Yanukovychs victory being overturned. Once again the presidents party finished behind both Yanukovychs and Tymoshenkos parties. The next morning after the certification took place, Yushchenko spoke to supporters in Kyiv, urging them to begin a series of mass protests, general strikes and sit-ins with the intent of crippling the government and forcing it to concede defeat. As part of the Orange Revolution, the Ukrainian constitution was changed to shift powers from the presidency to the parliament. The stakes are clear for Ukraine, and the success of the Orange Revolution will have impacts beyond Ukraine's borders. In 2019, Yanukovych was found guilty of treason and sentenced in absentia to 13 years in prison. Peter Dickinson is the Editor of the Atlantic Council's UkraineAlert Service. Orange Revolution: Directed by Steve York. However, Yushchenko soon found himself beset by infighting and was unable to lead Ukraine decisively towards Euro-Atlantic integration during what proved to be a hugely frustrating five-year term in office. On the eve of Ukraines fateful 2004 presidential election, Russian President Vladimir Putin was so confident of his ability to influence the outcome that he actually traveled to Kyiv and lectured Ukrainians on the need to back his chosen candidate. [49] You have understood one thing. "Transitions from Postcommunism. After a clear lack of faith in the government had been instilled in the Ukrainian population, Yushchenko's role had never been more important to the revolution. Some of them are dedicated supporters of the ultra-nationalist Svoboda (Freedom) party, which is one of three opposition forces in parliament. 152159 for background. Corrections? Ukraine: The Orange Revolution and the Yushchenko presidency. VideoThe surprising truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island, Jane Birkin: Artist and style icon's life in pictures, How world-record mania has gripped Nigeria. This was a key factor behind the decision to attack Ukraine in the immediate aftermath of the 2014 Euromaidan Revolution, and it is the main reason why Russia is currently backing dictator Alyaksandr Lukashenka in his struggle to suppress a pro-democracy uprising in neighboring Belarus. UkraineAlert "[50] According to him, this is one of the great achievements of the Orange Revolution. [1] It has been suggested that since the Orange Revolution was impactful enough to interest people of all ages it increased the overall unity of Ukraine. It not only undermined the peoples' respect for Kuchma as a president but also for the elite ruling class in general. Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. First, the event . Within weeks of Putins ill-judged visit, the Orange Revolution was underway. Belarus has emerged from its post-Soviet slumber and has set out on the road to democracy. Putin did not give full voice to the changing tone in Russian foreign policy until two years after the Orange Revolution, when he articulated his opposition to American dominance in a famous February 2007 speech to the Munich Security Conference. Within two years, Nashi claimed to have recruited over 100,000 members and had drawn unflattering comparisons with the Soviet-era Komsomol and the Hitler Youth. The final results showed a clear victory for Yushchenko, who received about 52% of the vote, compared to Yanukovych's 45%. "[35], The 26 December revote was held under intense scrutiny by local and international observers. As a result, President Viktor Yushchenko had to deal with a powerful Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych who had control of many important portfolios. Ukraine's parliament voted to remove Yanukovych from office, and he left Ukraine for Russia. The effects of the . [25]), On 2 July 2004, Our Ukraine and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc established the Force of the People, a coalition which aimed to stop "the destructive process that has, as a result of the incumbent authorities, become a characteristic for Ukraine" at the time President Kuchma and Prime Minister Yanukovych were the "incumbent authorities" in Ukraine. Nov 17, 2020. New Atlanticist is where top experts and policymakers at the Atlantic Council and beyond offer exclusive insight on the most pressing global challengesand the United States role in addressing them alongside its allies and partners. No politician suffered a more humiliating rejection than the former leader of that revolution and the . McFaul, Michael. [48] Incumbent President Viktor Yushchenko got a dismal 5.45% of votes during the election. Klitschko unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Kyiv twice, and in 2010 he became the leader of the Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR; its acronym in Ukrainian spelled punch) political party. Without the Orange Revolution, it is entirely plausible that the recent history of Eastern Europe would have followed a completely different trajectory. The Orange Revolution had enough popular impact that it interested people of all ages.[22]. The Kremlins initial response to events in Kyiv was a mixture of indignation and disbelief. When major global news breaks, the Atlantic Councils experts have you covereddelivering their sharpest rapid insight and forward-looking analysis direct to your inbox. The Communists also supported these measures. Itwasbothasymbolandasymptomof the revolution that rippled across Ukraine last week. Capital: Kyiv (Kiev). Nevertheless, the Ukraine of 2010 was a very different proposition to the country Yanukovych had first sought to rule six years earlier. which became known as the Orange Revolution, followed a runoff round in which Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, backed by Kuchma and generally considered pro-Russian and cool toward western Europe as compared with Yushchenko, had been declared the winner. That is miles away from the romantic feeling of the Orange Revolution. Viktor Yushchenko (first round) percentage of total national vote, Viktor Yanukovych (first round) percentage of total national vote, Viktor Yushchenko (second round) percentage of total national vote, Viktor Yanukovych (second round) percentage of total national vote, Protests began on the eve of the second round of voting, as the official count differed markedly from exit poll results which gave Yushchenko up to an 11% lead, while official results gave the election win to Yanukovych by 3%. The burnt out villages at frontlines of India violence, Nigeria's 'tax collectors': Menacing and mafia-like, The Capitol rioters who regret saying sorry, The surprising truth behind the 'walking' statues of Easter Island. [69], During Alexander Lukashenko's inauguration (ceremony) as President of Belarus of 22 January 2011 Lukashenko vowed that Belarus would never have its own version of the Orange Revolution and Georgia's 2003 Rose Revolution. The state of Ukraine during the 2004 presidential election is considered an "ideal condition" for an outburst from the public. Read about our approach to external linking. In view of the success of using colour as a symbol to mobilise supporters, the Yanukovych camp chose blue for themselves. In Kyiv, estimates put the number of protestors at 100,000 making it the largest demonstration in Ukraine since hundreds of thousands took to the streets during the Orange Revolution in late . But it was an important symbolic gesture meant to demonstrate the resolve of the Yushchenko campaign not to accept the compromised election results. In April 2010, following a fractious parliamentary debate, Ukraine agreed to extend Russias lease of the port at Sevastopol, originally set to expire in 2017, until 2042. Yanukovych cancels Freedom Day on 22 Nov. Yanukovych abolishes Day of Liberty on 22 November, "Ukrainians to celebrate Day of Dignity and Freedom on November 21, Unity Day on January 22", Understanding Ukrainian Politics:Power, Politics, And Institutional Design, International observers say Ukrainian election was free and fair, European Parliament president greets Ukraine on conducting free and fair presidential election, Ukraine on its meandering path between East and West. This was Oleksandr Moroz's price for his decisive role in winning Yushchenko the presidency. [30] On 10 January 2005 the Election Commission officially declared Yushchenko as the winner of the presidential election[30] with the final results falling within 0.01% of the preliminary ones. The Orange Revolution and U.S. Policy At a pivotal moment in their nation's history, the Ukrainian people rejected a stolen election and chose freedom, democracy, and the rule of law over corruption and intimidation. Ukraine - Ukraine - Orange Revolution, Yushchenko, Presidency: The presidential election of 2004 brought Ukraine to the brink of disintegration and civil war. In time, the Kremlin would have found itself once more in control of a powerful authoritarian empire capable of rivaling the economic might of the democratic world. What a sense of deja vu! Another two parties involved in the protests are Fatherland, of the imprisoned former Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, and Udar (Punch), led by heavyweight world boxing champion Vitali Klitschko. (See: This page was last edited on 17 July 2023, at 21:00. While the legacy of the Euromaidan Revolution has been buried under an avalanche of Kremlin disinformation, the earlier Orange Revolution has been increasingly forgotten. As the Yanukovych administration continued its pivot towards Moscow, EU leaders expressed concern about the preservation of the rule of law in Ukraine. By the Constitution of Ukraine, the non-confidence vote mandated the government's resignation, but the parliament had no means to enforce a resignation without the co-operation of Prime Minister Yanukovych and outgoing President Kuchma. As the scale of the disaster became apparent, the mood turned to bitterness over Ukrainian treachery and anger at what was seen as a grave betrayal on the part of Russias European and North American partners. In 2004, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Ukraine numerous times. The protests did not have national participation, but mostly was joined by western and central Ukrainians. Wilson, Andrew. Additional evidence of Yushchenko's popularity and at least partial support among the SBU officers is shown by the fact that several embarrassing proofs of electoral fraud, including incriminating wiretap recordings of conversations among the Yanukovych campaign and government officials discussing how to rig the election, were provided to the Yushchenko camp.