KIEV, Ukraine – Russian President Vladimir Putin injected himself directly into the election crisis in this former Soviet republic Thursday, strongly attacking the opposition’s central demand for a new presidential runoff and cautioning the West against getting too involved.
Putin made his comments while meeting with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma at an airport outside Moscow, as tens of thousands of opposition supporters waving Ukrainian flags and wearing orange armbands, sweaters and scarves rallied for the 11th straight day in Kiev’s Independence Square.
The protesters, awaiting a supreme court ruling on whether to throw out the results of the disputed election, listened to rock bands and watched large-screen televisions broadcasting the court sessions.
Putin issued a warning to the West.
“Neither Russia, nor the European Union, nor international organizations will solve the problems,” he said. “They all can play the role of mediators, but the Ukrainian people have the last word.”
Following Putin’s remarks, President Bush issued a warning that appeared to be directed at Russia. If there is to be a new election, it “ought to be free from any foreign influence,” Bush said in comments that were considered more forceful than those he has made in the past.
Putin had openly supported Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych in the election. The Kremlin fears that a victory by opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko, who favors closer ties with the West, could drag this country of 48 million out of Moscow’s orbit and generate pressure for greater democracy in Russia.
The Supreme Court is considering an appeal by Yushchenko’s campaign to invalidate the result of the runoff, which the Central Election Commission said Yanukovych won by about 900,000 votes. The appeal centers on claims of widespread violations across the prime minister’s strongholds in the east and south, near Russia.
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