Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dissolved the country's parliament, triggering early elections that will come during a pivotal time in Russo-Ukrainian relations.
Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko formally dissolved the country’s parliament Oct. 8, clearing the way for early elections that could be held as soon as December. The move, which has been expected for weeks, is the third parliamentary dissolution since the 2004 Orange Revolution. That color revolution put Ukraine on a more pro-Western path; however, since then, the country has been in utter chaos politically over just how far it could move away from its former master, Russia. The Russo-Georigan war in August redefined the debate within Ukraine and led the majority of Ukrainian citizens and politicians to abandon their pro-Western aspirations.
Since the Orange Revolution, Ukraine has been divided more or less into three political groups (with a myriad of smaller parties) that have cycled through four government coalitions in less than four years: