Executive Branch Rallies Round Platform of Fear 

Mr. Symonenko believes that "criminal oligarchies, by creating conditions rendering our television and radio companies financially dependent, are turning them into their slaves." He further maintains that "we need not only the right sort of laws protecting freedom of expression, but also a change in the political regime." The Red leader went on to accuse the Ukrainian President of laying waste to Ukraine, making this country lose its "cultural values" and betraying its national interests.

There is an unconstitutional coup being accomplished in Ukraine. This country is actually ruled by a criminal junta that will soon show itself for what it really is: a gang, says Socialist leader and major presidential candidate Oleksandr Moroz, adding that even the United States has realized that "today's Ukraine is one private joint stock company with four originating clans," and openly admits that "we have turned Leonid Kuchma into a democrat, but he has remained a Leftist criminal authority."

Mr. Moroz stressed that "there is no salvation for Ukraine, unless Leonid Kuchma and his criminal entourage are removed from office."

The Socialist leader believes that "not a single normal political system could function under the current regime," and that today's parties are being used as notices over the entrances of the clans. "Ukraine lives at a time when the information space is being purposefully blocked all the way, so much so that if one wants to be heard, one has to turn to the Western media."

Presidential candidate Yevhen Marchuk stated that "the executive, led by Leonid Kuchma, is more and more rallying round a platform of fear, and committing unlawful acts," Interfax Ukraine reports.

Addressing an all-Ukraine media conference last Monday, Mr. Marchuk declared that "none of those currently ruling Ukraine has actually got on with running the country. The President makes every effort to win his campaign and the Prime Minister is all out setting up parties and Zlahoda-like alliances or holding conferences about how to topple the Speaker (courtesy Interfax Ukraine), while oblast state administration heads are digging trenches, to be able keep a low profile if worse comes to worst, for they know better than anyone else that the current regime is doomed."

Mr. Marchuk stressed that the current executive is increasingly cultivating legal nihilism, so that top-level bureaucrats feel free to act as they please, ignoring the law, abusing their offices, and building their personal fortunes at the nation's expense. "Regrettably, law enforcement agencies - including the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Security Service, General Prosecutor's Office, State Auditing Commission, and Tax Service - are getting increasingly involved in  their dirty games... These bureaucrats seem to forget that all such criminal acts will eventually be exposed, and that after November 15 (perhaps in the event of a runoff - courtesy Interfax Ukraine) they will all be brought to account as provided by law. A professional opposition has been formed in Kyiv and these people will be in a position to make them answerable, in full measure."

Yevhen Marchuk believes that "today's executive is absolutely out of control... no one has had an opportunity to deal with them and mete out just punishments for their violations of civil and property rights and freedoms in Ukraine." He thinks that the Verkhovna Rada is also to blame, in that it has not performed in full conformity with its mandate.