Massive Protests and Electoral Uncertainty in Ukaine

This week, Ukraine underwent presidential elections in the first election since the Orange Revolution that put Viktor Yushchenko into power. Yushchenko's election as the pro-Western, anti-Russian populist economist that would save the country has failed to turn around problems in the country. Due to widespread national disillusionment, he has lost virtually all political capital, and the recent election was between his one-time ally and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and his old rival in the 2004 election, Viktor Yanukovich.

In a startling turn of events, Yanukovich was declared the winner by 3.5%, turning the country virtually completely around. Yanukovich was the strongly pro-Russian candidate, and he has already declared that the top foreign policy priority of his administration would be rebuilding relations with Russia and the CIS, with a return to "common culture and economic interests".
As of yet, Tymoshenko has refused to recognize the results of this election, and hasn't been seen in public or made any statements since the results were announced. She is expected to call for a partial recount, but Yanukovich has already called for her to step down from her current position as Prime Minister to allow him to establish political unity in the government.

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