Putin and the Children

Yanukovych could try to usurp power using the Belarus scenario to offset his plummeting popularity and growing pressure from abroad

Following in Lukashenka’s Footsteps

Economic initiatives by the so-called “young reformers” confirm that the government is following a Belarusian model adjusted to fit the Family’s interests

Three Years of Promises

In the three years of his presidency, Viktor Yanukovych has failed to meet his election promises. Instead, he has offered Ukraine a slew of large-scale pseudo reforms and virtual national projects

EU-Ukraine Summits: 16 Years of Wheel-Spinning

One of the most successful EU-Ukraine summits was the December 2005 summit under then President Viktor Yushchenko. But in the eight years since then, EU-Ukraine relations have not improved to any significant extent.

Phantoms From the 90s

The Shcherban Case trial against Tymoshenko shows yet again that, just like in Soviet times, the government is ready to prove anyone guilty of anything, if necessary

Another Former Official Finds Asylum Abroad

The Danish government is granting political asylum to former Defence Minister Valeriy Ivashchenko. In an exclusive interview for The Ukrainian Week, Mr. Ivashchenko talks about renewed pressure from Ukrainian prosecution and fear for his family as his motivation for leaving Ukraine

The Battle for Kyiv

As the Kyiv mayoral and city council elections draw closer, the government is searching for political tactics to offset its poor ratings in the capital

Taking a Break as a Strategy

Yanukovych is trying to provoke the EU into not signing the Association Agreement

Colossi With Feet of Clay

Ukrainian oligarchic conglomerates dictate their own rules of the game to the country, but they could collapse at any time, causing unpredictable consequences for Ukraine’s economy and the country as a whole

Game of Endurance

The Party of Regions` attempts to intimidate the opposition with early elections or responsibility for the breakdown of European integration have not given the desired result so far, so an escalation of resistance can be expected in the near future

The “Window of Opportunity” for European Integration Will be Closed by Ukraine

The EU is signalling that it is prepared to soften its requirements for the Association Agreement with Ukraine, but Kyiv seems to be willing to abandon European integration altogether

Oleksandra Kuzhel: “Yanukovych is digging a hole for himself by putting pressure on his own men and the oligarchs”

Oleksandra Kuzhel, an opposition MP, speaks about the politically motivated murder of Yevhen Shcherban, the role of Yevhen Marchuk in that case, the "greedy" Pavlo Lazarenko, Leonid Kuchma as a “Sixtier”, the composition of the current Cabinet of Ministers, Serhiy Tihipko's future, Yulia Tymoshenko's mindset and the fight to monopolize the Ukrainian economy

The Unfinished Gongadze Case

Oleksiy Pukach is sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Georgiy Gongadze but says that Kuchma and Lytvyn should be behind bars too

Acting Leader

The leader of the biggest opposition faction in parliament appears too inconsistent and unpredictable to inspire trust in the majority of Ukrainian voters

A Crack in the United Opposition?

Centrifugal tendencies in the united camp - the battle for mutual destruction has not begun yet, but the preconditions for it are in place

The Sabotage of European Integration

The actions of Ukrainian enforcement authorities look like efforts to disrupt the signing of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, but they could eventually prove futile

Tymoshenko’s “Killer” Case

The Prosecutor General’s Office must have been looking forward to charging – or serving a notice on the suspicion of a crime, as stated in the new Code of Criminal Proceedings – Yulia Tymoshenko with contracting a murder.

The Azarov/Arbuzov Government

The new Cabinet of Ministers appointed by President Yanukovych on 24 December 2012, proves that the Family has once more reinforced its position under the guise of Azarov’s reappointment as Premier.

Old Comrades in the New Government

The latest reshuffles in the top offices of key government institutions have reinforced the Family – to no one’s surprise – and highlighted an interesting trend: people with Russian background are being appointed to the government en masse.

The Battle for Inheritance

The trend of the past two years whereby the Family has been increasing its weight in the conglomerate in power turned into a dominating objective in 2012. Reshuffles in the conglomerate in power fuels conflicts within oligarchic groups.

Decision Time

It will be ever-more difficult for Yanukovych to walk the geopolitical tightrope. Moscow and Brussels will force him to make a definitive decision as early as 2013

Ban on the Sale of Ukraine’s Black Earth Extended

The existing moratorium on the sale of agricultural lands has been extended until as late as 2016. The Ukrainian Week looks at possible beneficiaries

Taming the Oligarchy

In late December, The Ukrainian Week hosted a public discussion on oligarchic capitalism in Ukraine with members of parliamentary opposition parties. MPs from Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda share their ideas and initiatives on freeing the Ukrainian economy from the yoke of the oligarchs and creating a favourable environment for free and competitive business. Below is an overview of the opposition’s plans and comments from newly-elected MPs.

Referendum Sleight-of-Hand

The Viktor Yanukovych regime plans to hold a referendum on constitutional amendments to increase manoeuvrability in repressing political opponents while securing a long period of immunity for the president

The US Bans Visa for Prosecutor General

The West begins to launch sanctions against some representatives of the Yanukovych regime, but the first “victim” appears to be a provocateur

Dangers to Ukraine’s Independence

The country’s sovereignty will be challenged through a combination of domestic turmoil, Western estrangement, and Russian assertiveness