Perhaps despite expectations, Pavlo Lazarenko's arrest has become a
topic for discussions not only in corridors of power, but also in stores
and on public transportation. The Day correspondents made an inquiry
into what various people think about this. They were suggested to answer
the following questions: 1. The press called Pavlo Lazarenko's arrest in
Switzerland a sensation. Did this news excite you personally? Which of
the reported facts you thought was of major importance: i) suspecting Pavlo
Lazarenko of money laundering; or ii) that he had a Panama passport when
arrested. 2. Do you think that Lazarenko's arrest will decrease the popularity
rating of the Left? Did this event affect your personal attitude toward
the Leftist bloc?
Valery (45), an
engineer in a Defense Ministry machine building plant: "Of course,
the suspicion of money laundering is most important. I have no doubt that
Lazarenko had already long ago taken care of himself. Even the attempts
on his life were arranged, so I think that this arrest was also engineered.
He won't stand trial in Ukraine: he will pay off and quietly live in clover.
To my mind, not all Hromada members are like Lazarenko. There are some
quite decent people who remain in opposition, but they are in no case Left.
That's a party for the rich."
Hanna (75), a
World War II veteran: "At last, this has happened. As Premier Lazarenko
took away our hard-earned savings, making us wretched. He is a criminal
whom they cover: just look how Verkhovna Rada defends him, despite even
the fact that he was caught with a foreign passport. I follow carefully
the TV and radio programs and I think that many will benefit from this
sensation. Yes, the majority in Hromada are rich, but there are also some
persons I support. For instance, Yuliya Tymoshenko - such an extraordinary
budget was not adopted because something else suited the rich."
Illia (25), unemployed:
"I feel sorry for Lazarenko: he got caught so stupidly, while he could
have become President in a few months. As far as his foreign passport is
concerned - well, he has lived indecently for a long time, and nobody thought
him a saint. I have never liked Hromada, and I think that Lazarenko's interrogations
will drag in quite a lot. In particular, among the Left. But this will
only add to their popularity."
Tetiana, housewife,
a young mother: "It is neither an event nor a sensation for me. What
happened has long been expected. For it is no secret that he [Lazarenko]
has been living according to other rules than most of us. Lazarenko and
his party are all alike, and people will vote not for them."
Antonina (40),
public service employee: "It is very upsetting that he had a foreign
passport when arrested. A man who once was the Prime Minister has such
a contempt to this country. Perhaps, almost everyone in our government
has foreign accounts, and we, ordinary citizens, can only guess that."
Olena, philosophy
instructor: "Everything that happened to Lazarenko is engineering and
money dealings. Both the passport and money are disgusting. This world
is criminal through and through. If the deputies were divested of their
immunity, many of them would think how to live. Sure, this is another turn
in the pre-election game. What confidence one can have in this fat cats'
party? One was caught, but there is no guarantee that he will be tried
in this country: he will pay off. And his money party will help him, I
have no doubt about that."
Oleksandr BRYHINETS,
President of the A Territory Art Agency: "To me Pavlo Lazarenko's arrest
is long expected news, rather than a sensation. The courts will decode
if he was really laundering dirty money. And the fact concerning the Panama
passport can mean that he had dual citizenship. Perhaps, the feeling that
the land was burning under his feet in Ukraine prompted him to take that
step? However, such actions are indecorous of a People's Deputy. And it
is hard to make any predictions concerning a decrease in the popularity
of the Hromada and Socialist Party bloc. After the Bill Clinton - Monica
Lewinski scandal, the US President has gained much support. The elections
will clear up everything. Historically, no poll in this country could produce
a full picture: we say one thing, and do (when casting ballots) absolutely
different. In Lazarenko's case, the personal attitude of Ukrainian citizens
toward him is a very important factor. Here people love those who are persecuted.
But in any case I support the principle that everyone should be equal under
law. If you are guilty you should be called to account!"
Oleksandr ZLOTNYK,
composer: "The surprising was not the arrest of the People's Deputy,
but the fact that representatives of the Ukrainian Embassy in Switzerland
have so far not visited Pavlo Lazarenko. We are a sovereign country, our
citizen is held in prison, and diplomats and law enforcement bodies are
not acting. Instead, they spend much time explaining to us why. The very
fact of arresting a person of such caliber, ex-Premier, opposition leader,
and the deputy, casts a shadow on Ukraine. I was astonished with "Pavlo
Ivanovych"'s having a Panama passport. How does he manage to care for the
interests of so different countries? After this arrest his political image
will significantly drop."
Diana KLOCHKO, Tetyana POLISHCHUK, The Day.
P.S. Of course, "interviewing the street" and giving the views of
some celebrities is not a public opinion yet. However, the above statements
reflected some specific details: the confidence in the authorities - "everyone
is stealing", faith in the local justice- "he will grease himself off anyway",
Ukrainian politics - "dirty tricks, engineering, indifference to the future
of the people and the state". One can't but notice that when commenting
on the political fact, normal persons use criminal argot. However, the
shock and an uncomfortable feeling over the Lazarenko case, that were expressed
in some of the statements, show that the image of the state can depend
not on the owners of Panama passports only.














