Sun, Nov 20, 2005 - Page 6 News List

Ukrainians disillusioned about orange revolution

BROKEN PROMISES Ukraine infighting and widespread disillusionment mar the one-year anniversary of the country's uprising against corruption and electoral fraud

THE GUARDIAN , KIEV

"You could call that agreement many things and betrayal is one of them," says Andriy Bondarenko, 34, an activist who pitched the first tent on Kiev's central street, Khreshchatyk.

"We expected the bandits who led the election fraud would be put behind bars but that didn't happen because of political deals behind the scenes," he said.

Claims that Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky funded the orange camp were another blow. And Yushchenko was forced to apologize for calling a journalist an "information killer" for exposing the lavish lifestyle of the president's 19-year-old son. In all, the scandals have put a big dent in Yushchenko's popularity. A poll published last week showed support for his actions have plunged to 33 percent, down from 48 percent in February.

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