The State Election Committee of Odesa resolutely refused a runoff after the mayor’s election. On May 21, contrary to the ruling of the Kirovohrad Regional Court, confirmed by the Supreme Court, invalidating the election of the Mayor of Odesa, SEC Chairman Leonid Kapeliushny declared at a session of the City Council: “Eduard Hurvyts was lawfully elected Mayor of this city.” Deputy Borys Lytvak proposed a city referendum for June 28 to confirm the mayor’s legitimate position.
As for Mr. Hurvyts (also present at the session), he stated that if he were to choose between Parliament and the City Council, he would “surely choose Odesa.”
As became known the day before yesterday, Mr. Hurvyts began a suit in the Pechersk district court of Kyiv against Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Ukraine Vitaly Boiko for upholding the Kirovohrad oblast court decision invalidating Hurvyts election as Mayor of Odesa.
Mr. Hurvyts stated in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine that the decision had not been made legally but was merely by means of a personal letter without adjudication. The whole controversy could be a step toward direct presidential rule in Odesa, giving President Leonid Kuchma access to the Odesa oil terminal through which Caspian oil will flow, the profits from which according to the “Seven Days” television program would otherwise be used to finance the Communist Party of Ukraine.






