Back to the brink in Ukraine NINA KHRUSHCHEVA

Back then, a peaceful and honest result was reached in the end because Ukraine's President Leonid Kuchma refused to heed Yanukovich's call to use violence to defend his rigged election.  This time it appears that Yanukovich is prepared to do anything to remain in power.

The dirty tricks began in the midnight hours of August 11th, when Ukraine's Central Election Commission (which is packed with Yanukovich placemen) refused to certify the largest opposition party, the bloc of former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, to participate in the election.