Three years ago I took part in a 1 May gathering of democratically-minded people on Lubyanka in Moscow. A particularly democratically-memorable, moving, etc, etc and yet again etc moment was when equally democratically-minded people from SPS (Union of Right Forces) and from Yabloko both spoke of the need to unite against the attack on democracy.

Since that time Putin’s KGB-tinged understanding of democracy has become rigidly entrenched and recent “court” trials and attempts to stifle NGOs show that a certain spectre is on the roam yet again.
And the democratically-minded people from SPS and Yabloko? Who knows? The moving (etc) speeches remained just that, and at the last State Duma elections democratic forces lost any representation at all. For those who have followed laws emerging from the State Duma of late, the consequences do not need to be spelled out.

Or do they?
Ukrainians understood the consequences of “managed democracy” and of living under a corrupt and criminal regime just over one year ago. In their millions they came out onto the streets to say “enough!”.
And they achieved their goal.
No, not happiness, justice and general prosperity in Ukraine.
Much more modest – a President whom they had chosen.
So far, so trite – nothing at all needs to be spelled out.
Or does it?
Certain democratically-minded people in Ukraine have expressed fastidious disdain for the less than noble tactics of certain political parties.
No argument – IF one is talking about private distaste.
IF, however, these democratically-minded people then call on others to vote against all such candidates, then, I’m afraid, there is a very big argument.

THE CONSEQUENCES
These are that democratically-minded voters will fastidiously reject all candidates or stay at home.
Those with different views will cast their vote for the Party of the Regions, and for Yanukovych. The latter has been “cleaned up” by American PR experts, is less inclined to use prison slang to describe his opponents, etc, but surely nobody seriously believes that the change is anything but cosmetic?
Or again, is that so very obvious?

Democratically-minded I am, but I’m not overly naïve. One can hope that the information campaign “Informed Choice” will have an impact; however the down side of democracy is that most people have very short memories and are influenced by the cosmetic appearances.
And the latter, I’m very sorry, are not promising, with the Party of Regions seeming to stand firm and predictable in a whirlwind of mutual attacks and recriminations.
Perhaps if all those now at each others’ throats could sit down and think what “predictable” really means with regard to Yanukovych and his cronies, they might understand the danger they are subjecting the country to.

SPELL IT OUT!
Halya Coynash