Interviews with Viktor Yushchenko

Indeed, it was absolutely the manifestation of people’s will. No technology, nor any amount of money, can mobilize people’s spirit. People had hope. People were ready to hold on for one day, and hold on for two days – not to mention 2 to 3 weeks. It is why this absolute solidarity of the people gave answers to a lot of things, which occurred during the time of those events. When the Maidan [Square, the focal point of the Orange Revolution protests] was alive, there were two competing ideas. One was radical – people cannot hold on forever; we have to storm the presidential headquarters and the government building.

I categorically opposed this idea, because it, as a whole, discredits our democratic legitimacy. What a harm it would be to the democratic process, unleashing animosities in Ukraine – employing forceful methods in the takeover of power. During the first several days we took over the trade union building – in order to provide a place for several hundred thousand people to be able to get some sleep for three minutes, or three hours, or for some additional hours. We took over the House of Ukraine building – it is in part a museum, in part – a public building. And one palace – a cinema.

These three buildings were not related to the government in any way – they are public premises. It was a matter of principle for me to not allow any forceful takeover of the public government buildings – that would start our descent. That would turn us into them. There are 300,000 people demonstrating in Kyiv – you can turn them upside down and take them along with President and Prime Minister. And we had several serious, major, unpleasant conflicts with those who demanded my giving orders to take over, for instance, the Cabinet building of Ukraine. This gives the other side an excuse to open fire – we should not do that.

Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a Ukrainian economist and politician. He served as President of Ukraine from 2005 to 2010. Yushchenko was born in 1954 in Khoruzhivka, Ukraine. Both his parents were teachers.

Educated as an economist, Yushchenko worked in banking and finance for much of his career. After Ukrainian independence was restored in 1991, he became chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine from 1993 to 1999. President Leonid Kuchma appointed Yushchenko prime minister. Yushchenko served in that post from 1999 to 2001. Freedom House and other watchdog groups noted a marked deterioration in civil liberties and human rights under President Kuchma, including restrictions on the media, government efforts to undermine the political opposition, political violence and even murder.

Yushchenko became active in electoral politics, winning a seat in Ukraine’s parliament in 2002. That same year, he became leader of the Our Ukraine political coalition, the leading bloc of the democratic opposition to Kuchma.

In 2004, Yushchenko launched his campaign for president, quickly becoming the leading opposition candidate. Yushchenko faced formidable odds, with little access to the media. In September 2004, Yushchenko became seriously ill with what was later diagnosed as dioxin poisoning. Though gravely wounded, Yushchenko continued his political campaign. In the October 31, 2004 first round of elections, he narrowly edged Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych. Since neither Yanukovych nor Yushchenko won 50 percent of the vote, they met in a runoff election on November 21. Irregularities and fraud were widespread and the government proclaimed Yanukovych the winner. Public outrage led to the nonviolent demonstrations and protests of the Orange Revolution. After several weeks of protests, the government acceded to demands for a new round of elections. On December 26, 2004, Viktor Yushchenko defeated Viktor Yanukovych to become president of Ukraine.

As president, Yushchenko sought to improve Ukraine’s economy and democratic institutions. He worked to strengthen ties with the European Union and NATO. Throughout his presidency, Yushchenko was challenged by political infighting and fractious coalition governments. He unsuccessfully sought reelection in 2010, but lost to his 2004 rival, Viktor Yanukovych.

Since completing his term, Viktor Yushchenko has remained active in public affairs and politics. He currently serves as the founder and head of the Viktor Yushchenko Institute in Kyiv.

http://yushchenkoinstitute.org/en/