Original article in Ukrainian by Oxana Kovalenko, UP
Who could have ever thought it! Two Viktors – Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych, two diametrically opposite persons from head to foot, are in the same harness.
They run Ukraine together. Where? Let’s leave the question open.
For the time being, let’s recall the recent presidential campaign, when one shook with fever even thinking of Yushchenko-Yanukovych alliance.
It was 2004. Presidential campaign. A life-and-dearth struggle was at its height.
The democratic forces, fighting against the former President Kuchma’s regime and Yanukovych who personified it, nominated Yushchenko for the president.
At that time, two candidates didn’t properly choose words.
Yanukovych about Yushchenko
It goes back to 2003. Then Yushchenko had no permission to hold a meeting with public in Donetsk. Moreover, one could see everywhere the billboards comparing Yushchenko with a fascist, allegedly hung by the firm that belongs to Yanukovych’s son.
The then Prime Minister was angry with such charges. He advised Yushchenko:
“Everybody, who is involved in politics today and seeks adventures not considering opinion of Ukrainian people, should provide himself with pampers and give up politics.
However, the worst was still to come: the presidential campaign was looming on the horizon.
The remark about goats became Yanukovych’s trademark.
In October 2004, Prime Minister Yanukovych promised that his team came to power for a long time and nobody would be able to put obstacles on its way:
“I believe that Ukraine has many strong and healthy people and such goats that always poke their nose into our affairs are in minority!”
Later, in Orange Revolution’s time, during the meeting, he tried to offend Yushchenko, challenging him to a debate, but he seemed to have watched no cartoons for a long time and mixed the heroes up:
“From this stage I invite this naughty Cat Leopold Mr. Yushchenko for a meeting.” [Cat Leopold is hero of “The Adventures of the Cat Leopold”, a series of Russian cartoon films about a peace-loving cat and naughty mice who scheme against him].
“Everybody knows that Yushchenko is a windbag. Whatever Yushchenko says, he always retracts his words. I have already said that I challenge him to a debate.”
Later that month, asked why ‘Orange wolves are still at large’, he replied: “I am against the expression “orange wolves’, as a wolf is a noble animal and I respect it. ‘Orange rats’ sounds better.”
During the TV debate, Yushchenko demanded satisfaction for these words. Regionals cannot apologize, as Yanukovych’s words had another meaning. He justified himself explaining his remarks as a response to the insults concerning his wife.
“I have a wife. She is an ordinary woman…when somebody offended her, I thought if they had a right to act so…My friends cheered me up, “Take it easy, Victor Fedorovych! Now we can say for sure that the wife will never guide our president.” Though, I love her very much.”
I forgave everybody for the insulting remarks about me. I said it in front of the icon in the church. I repeat it now…”
Yushchenko about Yanukovych
As early as 2004, Yushchenko criticized Yanukovych in every way, as well as blamed his government in the ever-arising crises.
“Yanukovych is filled with remorse for the disappointment of Ukraine people,” declared Yushchenko on Miner Day in Luhansk.
“Ukraine suffers the grain, bread, energy and foreign-policy crises. It is Yanukovych’s team which is to blame. I don’t understand their logic,” he said.
“I give no hint to Victor Fedorovych, but Ukraine has one more subject for repentance: the five generations of Ukrainians built the national steel company Kryvorizhstal…it was stolen for one night…The disparity between the best bid and the price of Kuchma’s son-in-law and Donetsk clan amounts UAH 5 billion,” marked Victor Andriyovych.
“Meanwhile, they try to convince a teacher that they lack money for increasing the minimal wages to UAH 237. It is a subject for remorse,” added Yushchenko.
Now Yushchenko does not seem to mind Yanukovych’s incompetence and thefts…
“There is no place for cheaters and criminals in politics. One can’t base his policy on lie and plunder. In my judgment, it’s not an opposition,” said Yushchenko about Party of Regions.
During the pre-election campaign Yushchenko said that the then power acted as ‘bandits in dark corners at night’.
“Their means of fight against the rivals are the violent incidents, the closed doors of the state institutions, the thugs who went round the square. Whether Yanukovych knows about it or not, but he is the head of government and he is fully responsible for what is happening in the country. They want to turn Ukraine into a prison camp,” declared Yushchenko in Berdyansk accusing the power of the provocations at his meetings.
He blamed the government for spying on him and his relatives. He considered it as a criminal offence. “It is this government – Yanukovych’s government which has control over the Interior Ministry and the Interior Minister Mykola Bilokon – that is involved in the crime,” affirmed Yushchenko.
Yushchenko reminded about Yanukovych’s convictions many times.
“I doubt that the person, who enjoys a bad reputation, has a right to claim a government post,” told Yushchenko.
“I hate the criminal power. I hate the power that lives by ‘the rules of underworld’,” he stated.
“Ukraine has two sorts of Prime Ministers: those who were in prison, and those who were not. As for me, I am the Prime Minister who didn’t serve the sentence in prison,” said Yushchenko in the summer of 2004.
“Shame on you! You are the only power’s nominee! Your nomination was accepted in Kuchma’s office. You are Kuchma III. You are his best child. What are you saying about Ukraine’s President? As known, cast no dirt in the well that gives you water,” he pointed out during the TV debate watched by all Ukraine people.
At the same time, Yushchenko was annoyed that Yanukovych didn’t consider other opinions.
“I wish you didn’t hide behind the backs of your supporters. You can’t listen to. Thus, you are not able to change your position. You look like a wood grouse singing at a mating place.”
This conversation between the deaf and the blind was a success: the tracks with fragments of the Victor’s speeches were set to music.
In Orange Revolution’s times, Yushchenko accused Yanukovych and his comrade-in-arms Sergiy Kivalov of the election fraud. The accusation was always followed by a well-known Maidan’s slogan “A criminal must go to jail!”
In December 2004, Yanukovych strongly objected the possibility of Yanukovych-Yushchenko union:
“We do not concede the variant: Yushchenko is the president and Yanukovych – the prime minister or a government official,” he declared then.
Two years passed. Yushchenko and Yanukovych forgot about ‘rats’, ‘goats’ and ‘bandits’ for Ukraine’s sake. It is a kind of an alliance between a grass-snake and a hedgehog.
Understandable enough, if Yushchenko and his team were able to act, Ukraine would have never needed Yanukovych…
