Ukraine: everybody lost in the second round

0 Neither of them is worried about the possibility that the third round may not produce a clear winner again, and then it will logically have to be followed by a fourth, fifth and then other rounds.

A closer look at the post-second round battlefield shows that everyone lost in the Ukrainian elections - both the direct participants and those who were involved accidentally. Russia lost because the Kremlin rushed to congratulate the winner, Viktor Yanukovich, and Russian spin doctors played a proactive role in the first two rounds but failed to provide their client with the required result. The West lost too because it interfered in Ukraine's affairs even more tactlessly and blatantly than Moscow. Its only achievement so far has been to bring Ukraine to the brink of a split, while its own democratic chastity is now as doubtful as Salome's.

The outgoing Ukrainian president, Leonid Kuchma is another loser, because he has failed to hand over his powers in a calm and civilized manner.

The Ukrainian economy lost in the elections as well. It has already sustained $1 billion-losses, and the political games are not over yet. The image of Ukraine as an independent and sovereign nation has been tarred, as it has proved incapable of dealing with its domestic disputes in private and washed its dirty linen in public.

The foreign intermediaries lost too. Yushchenko's supporters are not implementing the agreements they brokered: all the government buildings remain surrounded by protesters. Moreover, camouflaged adults with an obvious military bearing have appeared among the protesting youngsters. They dictate the rules today. These people are not carrying arms yet, but, as the phrase goes, the night is still young.

The white-and-blue east of Ukraine supporting Yanukovich lost as well. Their candidate, who was about to win the presidential race, was not recognized as the winner, and the interests of eastern Ukrainians, who mostly provide for western Ukraine, are being completely disregarded, which is unfair, humiliating and only breeds hatred for the west of Ukraine and the West in general.

The orange side lost too. Despite its protests, Mr. Yanukovich remains prime minister. The same election committee that failed in the second round will organize "the third round". Finally, the orange leaders seem to be on the verge of a split. Yulia Timoshenko, the Joan of Arc of the orange revolution, is a lady with the most radical views and is permanently discontent with her far more moderate king, Mr. Yushchenko. She has already made the orange leader violate his "king's word" (compromise agreements were not breached by the yellow-and-blue supporters but by the orange ones), which has put his word under a question mark. Mr. Yushchenko's signature no longer has any force unless it is backed with the signature of the "street", or Ms. Timoshenko. Compromises inside the opposition bloc have likewise been disregarded, which led the Socialists and their leader, Mr. Moroz, refusing to support the orange side during the latest voting in the Rada.