In recent weeks there has been some very interesting commentary from several of the participants of this site:
http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html
These are some of the more pertinent articles:
http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html?art=1024
http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html?art=1008
http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html?art=1082
http://www.untimely-thoughts.com/index.html?art=1059
I can't find the one I want — it examines how (pre-election) it doesn't matter who wins in Ukraine. Russia needs Ukraine as an ally to act as a conduit through which to improve relations with the rest of Europe, and Ukraine needs Russia as an ally for political, social and economic reasons. They may now be separate countries, but they are still joined at the hip, in many ways.
Anyway, I share your disappointment at how events have been depicted in western media. It may well be the case that the election was fraudulent, but it is being portrayed very superficially, thirty-second sound bites, emotion and sensationalism, rather than any exploration of the recent history or relationship between the two countries.
It may just be me, but I am always eager to find out "why". Why did Putin feel the need to derail the election? Why do people in different regions support Yushchenko and not Yanukovych, and vice-versa? Why is the western media presenting the story as simplistically as the do — to they not recognize that this is about
power, not "democracy" (whatever that is!)? Neither Yushchenko nor Yanukovych will be calling the shots, regardless of the final decision. Who is pulling their strings? Whose interests will they advance? Who stands to gain — certainly not the Ukrainian people, regardless of the outcome. It boils down to a battle between the oligarchs who control things now and those who want to usurp them. That's my 2 kopeek.
Cheers