Sergei Kupriyanov, Gazprom's spokesman, shocked Ukrainians and other Europeans on Oct. 2 when he declared that Ukraine owed Gazprom $1.3 billion and threatened that unless this debt was paid by the end of October, gas deliveries to Ukraine would be reduced.

Ukraine should follow the Western example of forming party lists on the basis of preliminary elections in order to make its political parties "more effective and democratic", according to Natalia Shapovalova of the International Centre for Policy Studies in Kyiv.

Ukraine’s parliamentary elections on September 30 are unlikely to bring overwhelming victories for either the “orange” camp of Our Ukraine-Self Defense and the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc or the “blue” camp of the Party of Regions. Ukraine’s regional and linguistic divide makes such a landslide unlikely; instead, both camps will remain in the 45-55% range. Nevertheless, there are trends that do reflect changes in electoral geography and voter intentions.

The absurd, partisan-instigated problems with registering BYUT candidates by the Central Election Committee proves that, this time, Yanukovich is prepared to do anything to remain in power.