Andrei Sannikov: “Choice of Ukraine is decisive step towards democracy strengthening”

Yanukovych’s Viktory in the presidential vote in Ukraine vividly demonstrates illegitimacy of the Belarusian authorities, believes the leader of “European Belarus”.

According to official results of the presidential election in Ukraine, the leader of the Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovych has won and become a new president of the country. It was stated by the Central Election Commission of Ukraine on February 14.

Charter97.org website has asked the leader of the civil campaign “European Belarus” Andrei Sannikov to comment of this event.

“Ukraine can be congratulated with the new president and Viktor Yanukovych on the Viktory,” noted Andrei Sannikov. “This country is so important for the global politics and for the balance of powers in the world that before and after the elections commentators are trying to analyze how the Ukrainian choice would influence the relations with Russia, with Europe, with the US, with Belarus”.

However, the politician believes, the influence of this election on Ukraine itself is the most important thing.

“The choice of Ukraine is first of all a decisive step towards strengthening of democracy. Chances of a politician in this country are weighed up at democratic elections, and only in this way the nation chooses its leaders or refuse credence to them,” the leader of “European Belarus” is convinced.

As said by Andrei Sannikov, Viktor Yanukovych ’s election vividly demonstrates illegitimacy of the Belarusian regime which have horror of any elections.

“Viktor Yanukovych wins for the second time. The first time [he won] at the parliamentary elections in 2006. Before that he was taking part in the change of power which scenario was far from democratic, and he lost the vote. He proved his strength in the democratic election. It is a democratic legitimacy of a leader that allows him speaking with the world as equals, advancing national interests and welding the nation.

On the basis of his own political experience the 4th president of Ukraine in the contemporary history has all chances of becoming also a nation-wide leader of Ukraine and a powerhouse of democratic changes in the region,” Sannikov believes.