Blackwell Reference Online

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Ukrainians responded to corruption and electoral fraud in the second round of the 2004 presidential elections with massive protests. Thousands of hardcore activists occupied the center of Kiev, where they set up residence in tents and organized sit-ins, strikes, and various forms of non-violent protest to demand a revote in the run-off between opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko and the ordained successor of outgoing President Kuchma, Viktor Yanukovych. International reports of fraud and widespread public perception of intimidation and abuse by the authorities in favor of the government's candidate resulted in an enormous outpouring of support for Yushchenko and democratic change. Hundreds of thousands of citizens filled the capital, with the number of demonstrators reaching as many as 1 million on November 27, 2004. Mass strikes and rallies took place around the country. As a result of the protests the election results were voided and a revote was ordered by the Ukraine Supreme Court at the end of December. Yushchenko won 52 percent of the vote in the new election to become the third president of the Ukraine. These events were designated the Orange Revolution because orange, the color Yushchenko had chosen for his campaign, came to symbolize discontent with the Kuchma regime. Opposition supporters wore orange scarves and ribbons, while supporters of the president-backed candidate, ... log in or subscribe to read full text