Over a thousand opposition supporters protested outside Central Electoral Commission in Kiev 5 Nov against alleged fraud during 28 Oct parliamentary elections; opposition parties called for partial recount, threatened to boycott parliament.

Preliminary results show President Yanukovych’s Party of Regions won 30% of vote in parliamentary elections, likely to control at least 187 out of 450 seats and lead parliamentary majority; Fatherland party of jailed opposition leader Tymoshenko won 25%/103 seats. OSCE 29 Oct said vote marred by abuse of power and “excessive role of money”, said “democratic progress appears to have reversed in Ukraine”; U.S. Sec State Clinton called elections “a step backward”.

Ahead of 28 Oct parliamentary elections, parliament passed law limiting political rallies, put on hold law criminalising libel following criticism by opposition, OSCE, media watchdogs.

High Court 29 Aug rejected former PM Tymoshenko appeal against abuse of office conviction, embezzlement; tax evasion trial delayed 14 Aug to 11 Sept on health grounds; court 15 Aug upheld decision banning Tymoshenko, former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko from registering as candidates in Oct parliamentary elections. Lutsenko, already serving 4-year conviction, found guilty 18 Aug of improperly extending anti-corruption investigation. Govt 17 Aug suspended extradition to Russia of Chechen accused of plotting assassination of Russian President Putin following European Court of Human Rights recommendation; 25 Aug extradited alleged Kazakh national co-conspirator.

Tymoshenko tax trial postponed to 14 Aug following her refusal to appear in court. As part of effort to strengthen people- to-people contacts in context of strained political relations, EU, Ukraine 23 July signed amended visa facilitation agreement improving mobility; Secretary of National Security and Defence Council Adriy Kluyiev 25 July described move as important step on road to European integration. Parliament 30 July rejected opposition proposals to amend Bill giving Russian status of official language in certain regions; opposition staged walkout in protest.

President Yanukovych early June indicated willingness to pardon jailed ex-PM Tymoshenko, but said amnesty beyond his legal authority; Deputy Prosecutor 19 June announced plans to charge Tymoshenko in connection with 1996 murder of MP; EU ambassador to Ukraine 18 June barred from visiting Tymoshenko in hospital; Tymoshenko 25 June announced refusal to appear for tax-evasion trial, citing health concerns. Protesters, police clashed in Kiev after 5 June parliamentary approval of bill allowing use of Russian in 13 of 27 regions.

4 coordinated bomb blasts 29 April in Dnipropetrovsk injured 30 civilians; govt condemned acts as “terrorism”; 2 men arrested 31 May after allegedly seeking to extort money from govt for not proceeding with bombing. President Yanukovych 20 May ruled out releasing jailed opposition leader Tymoshenko for medical treatment abroad, new corruption case postponed to 25 June, but authorities claim Tymoshenko is “material witness” in 1996 murder case; Tymoshenko remained in hospital recovering from hunger strike after alleged prison beating in April; EU leaders postponed 11-12 May Ukraine summit over concerns about Tymoshenko treatment; European Parliament 16 May received clearance to send doctors.

Jailed former PM Tymoshenko 24 April went on hunger strike to protest alleged beating by prison guards; Tymoshenko 19 April appeared in court on additional corruption charges, possible 12 year sentence. Deputy PM Khoroshkovskiy said Parliament could pass “extraordinary” legislation to free Tymoshenko if all other hurdles in Ukraine-EU relations resolved. European Court of Human Rights 17 April began hearings on whether former imprisonment of Interior Minister Lutsenko politically motivated.

Parliament 20 March accused jailed ex-PM Tymoshenko of “high treason” for agreeing price increase for Russian natural gas; prosecutor 28 March announced Tymoshenko to stand trial in April on new tax evasion charges. European Court of Human Rights 16 March called on Ukrainian govt to ensure “adequate medical treatment” for Tymoshenko after denial of medical leave

Former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, who served under jailed former PM Tymoshenko, sentenced 27 Feb to 4 years prison for abuse of office; opposition denounced verdict as politically motivated. Ukraine 24 Feb rejected Russian deal to reduce gas prices as insufficient. Russia’s Gazprom CEO 22 Feb accused Ukraine of siphoning off gas destined for Europe, announced intention to bypass Ukraine entirely with future pipelines.