News.Az interviews Vadim Karasev, director of the Institute of Global Strategies and Ukrainian political scientist.
The second round of presidential elections will be held in Ukraine on February 7. Who do you think will win?
It is possible to state now that the leader of the Party of Regions Viktor Yanukovich will gain victory in the presidential elections. He will win in the second round and there will be no third round.
How will Ukraine develop with President Viktor Yanukovich?
Revolution is always followed by restoration. History proves this. The orange revolution occurred in Ukraine in 2004. It is now 2010-the time of restoration. It will start with Yanukovich as the Ukrainian president. But I consider it important to note that Ukraine is currently facing great many problems and challenges which Yanukovich will be unable to overcome as the president.
What will be the further destiny of working President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko and Premier Julia Timoshenko?
Viktor Yushchenko will decide his further destiny himself. This mostly depends on the policy to be conducted by the next president of Ukraine. On the whole, I do not rule out that Viktor Yushchenko will be present in big policy. Julia Timoshenko will also remain in the big policy. I think these two politicians will struggle for championship in the opposition campus. Considering the challenges and problems facing Ukraine and which Yanukovich will fail to overcome on the post of the country’s president, the position of the leader of the Ukrainian opposition seems quite promising.
Viktor Yanukovich has already stated that the activity of GUAM is currently not actual. Does it prove possible withdrawal of Ukraine from GUAM in case of Yanukovich’s presidency?
Naturally, the Russian-Ukrainian relations will improve dramatically in case Viktor Yanukovich comes to power in Ukraine. This, in turn, will influence the relations between Ukraine and all other countries and its membership in different organizations. We all know that the relations between Russia and Georgia, which is one of the GUAM members, are complicated. Therefore, we should not rule possible withdrawal of Ukraine from GUAM. Meanwhile, this will not affect the Azerbaijani-Ukrainian relations. They are merely doomed to further comprehensive development.
Akper Hasanov
News.Az