Kyslynsky’s clumsy statement gives black eye to Yushchenko – Taras Stetskiv

August19200820:08

Although the purpose of Aug. 18 statement by the presidential secretariat was to discredit Yulia Tymoshenko in the run-up to the presidential election, the statement has backfired on the incumbent, prominent NUNS lawmaker Taras Stetskiv told ZIK Aug. 19.

“It is a totally clumsy statement, discrediting its authors. It is not supported by any facts. It has seriously undermined the prestige of the democratic coalition as has the international image of Ukraine,” Stetskiv claims.

If the incumbent has any questions as regards the premier’s attitude toward the conflict in S Ossetia, he has to ask them publicly and the premier has to answer them also publicly. “Groundless, flimsy statements discredit the president in the first place. The spin doctors that put Yushchenko up to such statements just do a great disservice to him,” Taras Stetskiv is convinced. Such statements will never affect the rating of Tymoshenko while lowering voter support for Yushchenko.

According to Stetskiv, in September the presidential secretariat and the party of Regions might push for Tymoshenko’s resignation – not on the ground of the current accusations of her conspiracy with the Kremlin. “No one will dare to cash in on Tymoshenko’s alleged pro-Russian stand: the Regions will never vote if this scenario is played out as they are a pro-Kremlin force,” the lawmaker says. Those who want Tymoshenko dismissed will look for other arguments, specifically related to the socio-economic sector.

Comment by ZIK

President’s secretariat deputy head Andry Kyslynsky stated Aug. 18 that he has information that Russian leaders are seriously considering throwing their weight behind Yulia Tymoshenko in the forthcoming presidential elections in Ukraine – in exchange, he claims, for her passive attitude toward the military crisis in S Ossetia.

Kyslynsky also said that Tymoshenko’s election campaign in 2010 will be run from a Moscow-based center headed by Viktor Medvedchuk. Her campaign team, he said, also includes Serhy Kliuyev, Grigory Surkis, Oleksandr Zadorozhny. Humanitarian aspects of the campaign will be monitored by Dmytro Tabachnyk, Kyslynsky revealed. One billion dollars has already been funneled to Tymoshenko’s war chest, the official said.
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