Russia backed neither side in Ukraine poll – Duma speaker

Russia backed neither side in Ukraine poll – Duma speaker

RIA news agency, Moscow
15 Dec 04

YEREVAN

In the presidential elections in Ukraine Russia supported none of the
candidates for the post of head of state, State Duma speaker Boris
Gryzlov, who is on a visit to Armenia, told journalists on Wednesday
[15 December].

“Russia did not champion any of the candidates in the presidential
elections in Ukraine. I am stating that officially,” Gryzlov said.

He said that the Ukrainian Supreme Court had exceeded its powers when
it passed an unprecedented ruling that the results of the second round
of the presidential elections should be deemed void. In his view,
under existing legislation this decision could only have been taken by
the Ukrainian Central Electoral Commission.

Gryzlov believes that there was obvious strong-arm pressure by one
side against the other after the second round of the presidential
elections.

He also noted that only talks between Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor
Yanukovych helped to avoid bloodshed in Ukraine.

According to the State Duma speaker, events in Ukraine are influencing
the situation in the CIS as a whole.

Gryzlov also said that Russia would work with the elected president of
Ukraine.