KIEV — Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has dismissed the idea that a January election should be delayed because of flu fears and appeared to accept that there would be no more IMF funds forthcoming until after the vote.
An aide to Yushchenko, Ihor Popov, wrote Friday that the presidential election, which Yushchenko looks very likely to lose, could be postponed to May if a state of emergency was declared because of an outbreak of swine flu.
When asked whether he should impose a state of emergency on Ukraine, delaying any election, Yushchenko told Channel 5 television in an interview Sunday, "No — there are no reasons for this."
Popov also accused Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's government of being taken unawares by the flu epidemic that has killed more than 100 people in the past three weeks.
Tymoshenko, former Foreign Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk and parliamentary Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn have objected to Popov's idea. Former Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who with Tymoshenko is a leading presidential candidate, has stayed silent on the issue.
Meanwhile, International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn said Saturday that the fund, which has delayed the release of a $3.8 billion tranche because of plans to raise wages, would only renew cooperation after the presidential election.
Ukraine, deep in a recession, has been surviving on a $16.4 billion lifeline from the IMF; more than $10 billion of this bailout has been released, propping up the hryvna and shoring up state finances.
On Sunday, Yushchenko shirked any blame for the suspension of the IMF program, saying the government had broken four out of five promises it had made to the IMF.
"I am convinced that the IMF will not give Ukraine the tranche," he told the news channel.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.