Post-Soviet republics need economic integration - Victor Yushchenko

Former Ukrainian president and one of the leaders of the 2004 Orange Revolution Victor Yushchenko told the Moscow-based Ekho-Moskvy radio station that post-Soviet republics need economic integration and common economic space, but such initiatives won't be successful until Russia establishes a stable democratic political system.

Ekho-Moskvy's correpondent also asked Victor Yushchenko about his attitude to the decision of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (who is the main sponsor of the common economic space intiative and the Eurasian union project) to run for presidency in 2012. The Ukrainian politician answered that the Russian people will decide who will be their next president, but added that it will indeed be a great mistake.

The remarks came right after Yulia Tymoshenko, former prime minister and another prominent figure of the 2004 democratic revolution in Ukraine, was allowed by the Kiev court to leave prison for a hospital. Yulia Tymoshenko, who received 49 per cent of the votes in the second tour of the previous presidential elections in Ukraine, was found guilty of excess of power and sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment. The European Union and the United States said they are suspicious of political motivation of the case.

At the same time Victor Yushchenko still believes that the great achievements of the Orange Revolution won't be spoiled by President Yanukovich's authoritarian course. "We are a free nation, and our nation has a right to choose its future. The nation does even have a right for a mistake," Victor Yushenko said.