Outside the Beltway

Yanukovych Quits as Ukraine PM

James Joyner · Saturday, January 1, 2005 · 1 comment

Yanukovych quits as Ukraine PM (BBC)

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych has resigned from his post. “I have made the decision and am formally submitting my resignation,” he said in a televised address. However, Mr Yanukovych refused to admit defeat in Ukraine’s re-run presidential election, which was declared in favour of Western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko. He is preparing an appeal to Ukraine’s Supreme Court. “We are still fighting but I don’t have much hope,” he said in his New Year’s Eve address.

He said he could not work with people loyal to Mr Yushchenko. “I find it impossible to occupy any post in a government headed by these authorities,” he said.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court rejected Mr Yanukovych’s complaints against the conduct of the election.

Excellent news.