Current events in Ukraine are painfully reminiscent of the October 1993 tragedy in Russia. There's the same kind of confrontation between the parliament and the president. The opponents are just as unwilling to listen to each other's
arguments. The two camps are just as bitter, accusing each other of usurping power and violating the Constitution.

All the same, most people in Kiev are trying to remain optimistic, trying to convince themselves by repeating their hopes over and over, like a charm: armed force will not be used, there won't be any bloodshed, matters won't reach the point of shelling the parliament building, like in Moscow, and the politicians will be able to reach agreement.

In fact, the politicians spent all of April 3 trying to reach agreement. President Viktor Yushchenko, who signed a decree dissolving the Supreme Rada the previous day, held talks with Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, who is refusing to comply with that decree. What did they talk about? Did they manage to agree on anything at all? The meeting lasted four-and-a-half hours, and no
official statements were released about its results. The media, the demonstrators on Kiev's streets, and potential voters can only guess when this dual power situation will come to an end - and whether it will be resolved in anyone's favor.

The Constitutional Court's stance will be decisive. It will have to rule on whether Yushchenko's decree is legitimate. Meanwhile, a "war of demonstrations" continues in Kiev. The two "armies" are assembled on Independence Square (50,000 opposition supporters) and Mariinsky Park (40,000 parliament
supporters).

Paradoxically enough, Yushchenko's Orange supporters are outraged by his decision to hold the new election on May 27 - at a time when so many people are busy with their vegetable gardens. "We ought to be voting right now," says the Orange crowd.

Leaflets of jokes are circulating around the tents set up by pro-Yushchenko protesters: "I don't get the punchline, says Yanukovych. I won the election, I formed a coalition government, but I'm still not a single hryvnia closer to power." 

Folk dancers perform on a stage set up by the Regions Party in Mariinsky Park. Between dances, discussion focuses entirely on "current events." In addition to the usual claims that "Yushchenko and Tymoshenko are to blame," some new themes are also coming through. And some new names - including foreign names.

It's all Ambassador Taylor's fault
A man carrying a blue-and-white banner seems quite certain that he knows all the secrets of Ukrainian-American relations: "Do you really think this was Yushchenko's own idea? The Americans were involved. Tymoshenko had her reasons for visiting Washington.

Besides, why would the president keep meeting with [US Ambassador] William Taylor?" This young man's name is Dmitri, and he's from Donetsk. He was brought to Kiev by bus as part of an organized effort to transport pro-Yanukovych demonstrators from other cities.

Indeed, Ambassador Taylor has been meeting with Yushchenko often - suspiciously often. And he supports Yushchenko on most issues - including a promise to help Ukraine join NATO as soon as 2008. At one point, Taylor even called on Ukraine to break off its gas agreements with Russia.

A middle-aged woman in the blue-and-white crowd remarks: "It's all part of Yushchenko's repertoire. He almost dissolved the Rada once before, but changed his mind at the last moment. He realized that it would be unconstitutional. And eventually he recognized the anti-crisis coalition, agreeing to Yanukovych's appointment as prime minister. He considered it lawful at the time - but now it turns out to be unlawful. This is crazy. And what's all this about people defecting from one party to another? Since when is it forbidden to change one's political views?"

Meanwhile, Tymoshenko's supporters are installing a high platform on Independence Square. The loud Ukrainian music is supposed to remind Yanukovych of his turbulent youth, which included two convictions for burglary and causing bodily harm.

Yanukovych was very active on April 3. He met with the visiting US Congress members, he had a telephone conversation with President Vladimir Putin, and he made a speech in parliament.

Dressed in a blue suit to match his party's banner, Yanukovych thanked the 20 courageous lawmakers who decided to spend the night in the Rada building, preventing the police from closing it off.

Actually, the police deny having any such malicious plans. If anyone is proposing to "sort things out in the parliament," it's only the most radical of the Orange guys on Independence Square. Politicians are sure that matters won't go as far as radical measures. Or are they just saying that to reassure the people?

Izvestia