Democracy may be faltering in Iraq, but it has taken root in what was the heart of the Soviet Union In Kiev, protests against the results of the Ukrainian presidential election on Nov. 21 have drawn international attention to the Ukraine. The movement, echoing Georgia's 2003 peaceful revolution, is a reminder of the powerful attraction democracy holds to those who have only lived under dictatorships.
While thus far non-violent, the crisis threatens to split the country into two. It would be a tragedy for the Ukraine to be split apart, right as it gains a closer relationship to its western neighbors and become a true democracy.
Like the United States, support for the presidential nominees bitterly divides the country. Viktor Yushchenko, the opposition candidate, draws backing from the western part of the country, which is more agricultural and Ukrainian-speaking. Viktor Yanukovych, current prime minister and disputed president-elect, gets support from the industrial, ethnically Russian eastern part of the country. Yushchenko is viewed as the U.S. candidate and joining the European Union is part of his platform.
This is attractive to many from the western part of the country who want to lessen dependence on Russia. In the eastern half, there are fears that ethnic Russians will be treated as second-class citizens and that the Ukraine's economy will falter from lessened relations with Moscow.
This is an oversimplification of Ukrainian politics, but gives an idea of the country's divisions. Yanukovych declared victory by three percent of the vote, but the country's top court has not allowed the results to be finalized or published.
Yushchenko accuses the government of intimidating voters and repeat voting during the election. Western leaders have come to Yushchenko's support - including Secretary of State Colin Powell - citing fraud and abuse. Russian president Vladimir Putin, however, congratulated Yanukovych, even though the results are not yet final.
On Saturday, the Ukrainian parliament denounced the election results. The supreme court meets today to decide if re-elections should be held. In the midst of this uncertainty, the eastern province of Donetsk wants to gain autonomy if Yushchenko becomes the victor.
If Donetsk becomes autonomous, who knows what will follow. Perhaps all of the regions will split into the respective camps, and the Ukraine will emulate those "United States of Canada" and "United State of Texas" maps floating around the Internet since Nov. 2.
But, if the Ukraine wants to become a western-style democracy, it should not allow dissenting regions to secede.
Thus far, Ukrainians have reacted correctly. Supporters on both sides have taken their demonstrations to the streets and acted nonviolently. Threats of a general strike by opposition followers would be a continuation of the peaceful protests that have drawn the world to Yushchenko's side.
No matter what the outcome of the challenges to the final tally, neither the opposition nor the current government should resort to violence. But the Yanukovych supporters should not be forgotten in the wayside.
Today, the Ukrainian people have the opportunity to change the direction of their country. The Ukranian Supreme Court should decide to hold another election, this time under the scrutiny of even more international observers. Hopefully, the wishes of the Ukrainian people will be heard and the deserved politician will be elected this time.
This will set the Ukraine on the path to true democracy, and serve as a reminder to the autocratic leaders of countries like Belarus and Azerbaijan that the people will not stay quiet forever.
