President accuses Tymoshenko of embezzling public money to hold rally in Kyiv

Ukraine is sinking into a pre-election quagmire of lies and empty promises which will never be fulfilled, UNIAN reports Yushchenko as saying.

“Aren’t you ashamed of returning to paid-for rallies, something we didn’t have in the horrendous 2004? Isn’t it a shame to be paid the miserable 100 hryvnias to attend a rally on Ukraine’s sacred square, Maidan, and to participate in a show arranged by Tymoshenko and costing several tens of millions of dollars? Don’t you feel humiliated?” Pres Yushchenko questioned his audience.

The president added that in so doing “public money is embezzled and the freedom of Ukrainians stolen.” All this can lead to irrevocable processes, the incumbent warned.

“We have two choices: either to let the clock be turned back to 2004 into a national drama we won. However, today the situation may arise and make the present moment irreversible. That is why I will run for president,” Yushchenko said. [This is a literal translation of Yushchenko’s words – Ed.]Meanwhile, Pres Yushchenko has announced an open-air rally on Sunday, Nov. 1 to be held on the Sofijska square in Kyiv, his press secretary Iryna Vannykova said.

At the rally, Yushchenko will outline his election agenda. The rally is scheduled for the morning of Nov. 1, Vannykova said.