VIEW FROM THE TREMBITA LOUNGE: More than just another clan (10/23/05)

VIEW FROM THE TREMBITA LOUNGE

by Taras Szmagala Jr.

More than just another clan

"You guys in to observe the elections?" a gruff voice inquired from two tables away. He posed his question in fluent, if accented, English. And, as he was the only other person in the restaurant, he was impossible to ignore. "No, we're here in Dnipropetrovsk on Christmas Eve for the excellent foie gras," was what I initially intended to say, but I thought better of it. "Yes," I replied, "is it that obvious?"

It was. We were in eastern Ukraine as election observers, and we were busy at work. Our team leader, Peter, was on the phone arranging for lodging and drivers in Kryvyi Rih, while Natalia, a talented young Ukrainian Canadian attorney, mapped out voting locations and collated checklists. We were using the hotel restaurant as our planning office, which was not difficult given that we were alone in the place.

Alone, that is, except for Ruslan. A native Ukrainian, Ruslan now called New York home and operated some sort of import/export business. He was a nice guy, with a wife and kids at home, and a direct and engaging personality. But he was also sincerely puzzled why we felt so strongly about these elections.

"Don't worry, your guy will win," he reassured us. "He's not our guy," was Peter's quick response, "we just want to see an impartial election."

"Come on," Ruslan pressed, "you can't tell me that you don't want Yushchenko to win."

"What we want is the voice of the Ukrainian people to be heard," was my (admittedly sanctimonious) reply. "The development of democracy in Ukraine is the most important thing."

"Oh, please!" Ruslan laughed. "You three are attorneys and you're naive enough to believe this is about democracy? This election has nothing to do with democracy. It has to do with clan. Your guy will win, and just replace the current clan with his clan. That's all. Trust me - you'll see."

The discussion never really developed much from there. While he viewed himself as a "realist," we viewed Ruslan as a mere cynic. And surely he saw us not as "idealists," but as naive pawns of a clan of Ukrainian oligarchs. "You'll see" were his closing words to us on that Christmas Eve and, as the infighting among the Orange Revolutionaries increased during the past weeks, I have to admit that I heard Ruslan's raspy voice all the way from Brooklyn saying "I told you so."

It's unlikely that I will ever again darken the doorstep of that restaurant in Dnipropetrovsk (despite its foie gras, which actually was pretty good). And so it is unlikely that Ruslan and I will ever again cross paths. But what if we did? Would I be forced to concede defeat? Aren't recent events, culminating with President Viktor Yushchenko's deal with Viktor Yanukovych, proof that Ruslan was right after all?

I think not. For Mr. Yushchenko's election was not about Mr. Yushchenko himself - it was about accountability. Mr. Yushchenko was not elected because he was the most dynamic candidate (he wasn't), or even the strongest leader. Rather, he was elected because of his pledge to make government transparent and accountable for its actions.

President Yushchenko has fulfilled his pledge. Now, I am not contending that his administration is free from impropriety - certainly the evidence suggests otherwise. The extent to which his staff and ministers abused their offices remains to be seen. But the promise of the Orange Revolution was not perfection. Rather, it was the strengthening of the democratic process through transparency and accountability. When faced with this recent crisis, Mr. Yushchenko addressed the issues head-on, publicly and clearly, without "eliminating" journalists or arranging for his opponents to have an unfortunate meeting with a Kamaz truck.

"But your guy just granted amnesty to those he claimed stole the elections," Ruslan's voice echoed in my head. "How can you argue that your 'revolution' wasn't betrayed?" It's a good point. And certainly many who took to the streets last November do feel betrayed. Yet by doing what he did, President Yushchenko demonstrated that his administration was about moving forward, not looking back. In fact, if he had focused on zealously prosecuting his old political foes, he would merely be doing the same thing his predecessors did. The fact that Mr. Yushchenko has not followed this approach suggests to me that Ruslan was wrong - this is not about clan. It's about a new way to govern.

Ukraine's president has made many decisions during the past few months. Was it a good move to dismiss his popular prime minister, whose incredible ego and individual magnetism threatened to create a "cult of personality" that many thought to be threatening to Ukraine's fledgling democracy? Was it foolish or cowardly to "cut his deal" with Mr. Yanukovych in exchange for his support of a moderate, competent new prime minister? Time will tell. But these decisions were made boldly and directly, with no question as to where the buck stops. And if Ukraine's voters don't approve of these choices, they can say so when they elect a new Parliament next March.

So, my dear Ruslan, no - I don't concede defeat, even if I can't claim total victory. Democracy - the true, transparent, "free-press" kind - is often ugly and even painful. To me, Ukraine's political turmoil does not mean we were wrong. And it certainly does not mean that the Orange Revolution was betrayed. On the contrary, I think we are witnessing true democracy, with all its warts and imperfections. And that's what the Orange Revolution was really all about.

Taras Szmagala Jr. may be reached at Szmagala@yahoo.com.

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