Ukraine votes to elect new president

Ukrainian voters have started to cast their ballots in the country’s first presidential election since the Orange Revolution in 2004.

A total of 18 candidates are contenders in Sunday’s election, including the incumbent President, Viktor Yushchenko, and two leading contenders, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Premier Viktor Yanukovich.

Opinion polls suggest that Yushchenko is facing a big challenge after years of turmoil, crisis and the current economic downturn.

The opposition Party of Regions leader, Yanukovich, however, is expected to command a comfortable lead in the ballot as he enjoys the support of wealthy businessmen, analysts say.

There has been significant mudslinging between Tymoshenko and Yanukovich, with both politicians ridiculing each other.

However, both Yanukovych and Tymoshenko have promised to boost ties with Russia, which have been marred because of Kiev’s NATO bid, disputes over natural gas prices and Ukraine’s support for Georgia in the August 2008 war with Russia over South Ossetia, Russia’s RIA Novosti reported.

Yet, Yanukovych has demonstrated more pro-Russia inclinations and pledged to recognize the independence-seeking South Caucasus regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia if elected. He has also criticized activists who accuse Russia of creating Ukraine’s so-called ‘Holodomor’ (mass starvation) in 1932-33 in which millions reportedly lost their lives.

Despite her positive perspective on relations with the Kremlin, Tymoshenko seeks to join the European Union and has vowed to push with her bid if elected.

The country’s next president will be leading a nation of 46 million people. The 2004 Orange Revolution overthrew the government of Leonid Kuchma over allegations of electoral fraud, corruption and misuses of power.