| UKRAYINSKA PRAVDA: AMERICAN SPIN DOCTORS AT RINAT AKHMETOV’S SERVICE 
Ukrayinska Pravda found sufficient evidence that the US spin doctors headed by Paul Manafort were not just advisors but Rinat Akhmetov’s agents affecting the work of the Party of Regions (PRU) campaign headquarters and personally Viktor Yanukovych.
The main achievement of the US spin doctors was a maximal approximation of the party’s popularity with Viktor Yanukovych’s ratings. It was because of the PM’s popularity that the independent and integral political party brand was formed.
Now Americans pursue more strategic goals. The Party of Regions understands that it will not be able to receive 51% of seat in parliament. Thus, they do everything possible to prevent any political force from receiving 150 seats that could disable the Verkhovna Rada.
Several days ago mass media spread information that the Party of Regions top management fired chief American advisor Paul Manafort due to the decrease of the party ratings by 5-7%.
There was no official confirmation of this fact. Moreover, in the evening on the same day when mass media spread such rumors, Paul Manafort and his closest ally Phillip Griffin were peacefully walking in the building of the PRU campaign headquarters.
In several months it will be their third year of work in Ukraine.
A group of American political technologists appeared in Ukraine long before the parliamentary election campaign in 2006. According to our sources, in mid-2005, Rinat Akhmetov, being in exile, had a number of meetings with several American consultants, including Paul Manafort.
They mostly talked about providing some services to the SCM Holdings to prepare and place the company’s shares in Western stock markets. The version that from the very beginning the Americans were invited to serve the SCM has almost become official. Even Rinat Akhmetov sticks to it.
“In 2005, the SCM was facing the following task: we needed to develop a corporate communications strategy. To complete this task, the company invited several consultants, including Mr. Manafort. In addition, we also invited a group of consultants that included the worldclass company Burson-Marstellar and the European company MMD,” - Mr. Akhmetov told us during his interview with Ukrains’ka pravda.
Though some sources from within the Party of Regions insist that Paul Manafort first visited Donetsk at the beginning of December 2004 – between the second and third rounds of the presidential election.
“We only started to talk about the SCM at the beginning of 2005,” - tells us one of the leaders of Victor Yanukovych’s presidential election campaign.
“From the very beginning Paul Manafort was invited to the election, to be precise, for the third round. But because there were only two weeks left, Paul stated that it was impossible to influence the campaign in any way. According to Rinat Akhmetov, “one of the American law firms” advised him to use Paul Manafort’s services. But according to one of the theories, the American was backed up by Russian businessman Oleh Derypaska.
Mr. Manafort is linked to several companies that provide services of lobbying and political consultations. He is also a co-founder of “Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.,”Davis, Manafort & Stone,” and “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”.
According to our sources, SCM Holdings signed a contract with “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”, which mainly specializes in economic lobbying.
In business circles the company is also known as an exclusive consultant of “Phillip Morris”. Mr. Manafort dealt with the Party of Regions in the name of the other company –“Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.” Nevertheless, it is unknown whether this company signed any direct contract with the Party or only worked through its representatives.
Mr. Manafort and his partners gained popularity after their active participation in political campaigns in Third World countries in the first half of 1980s. The companies and the specialists that now work with Victor Yanukovych previously consulted the governments of Kenya, Somali, Angola (UNITA movement headed by Jonas Savimbi), Nigeria and Congo.
Mr. Manafort, the head of the consultation group of Victor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions, is also believed to be the head of the successful campaign for Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1981. In order to conduct the campaign, Marcos, disturbed by the growing international isolation of the Philippines, revoked the military condition of the state and announced a general election. Later the election was called, by the Western press, “one of the dirtiest in the history of the Philippines.”“There was all-out knavery, the threatening of voters, the falsification of voters’ lists, and very questionable vote counting,”- the press wrote then.
“We only started to talk about the SCM at the beginning of 2005,” - tells us one of the leaders of Victor Yanukovych’s presidential election campaign. “From the very beginning Paul Manafort was invited to the election, to be precise, for the third round. But because there were only two weeks left, Paul stated that it was impossible to influence the campaign in any way.
According to Rinat Akhmetov, “one of the American law firms” advised him to use Paul Manafort’s services. But according to one of the theories, the American was backed up by Russian businessman Oleh Derypaska.
Mr. Manafort is linked to several companies that provide services of lobbying and political consultations. He is also a co-founder of “Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.,”Davis, Manafort & Stone,” and “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”.
According to our sources, SCM Holdings signed a contract with “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”, which mainly specializes in economic lobbying.
In business circles the company is also known as an exclusive consultant of “Phillip Morris”. Mr. Manafort dealt with the Party of Regions in the name of the other company –“Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.” Nevertheless, it is unknown whether this company signed any direct contract with the Party or only worked through its representatives.
Mr. Manafort and his partners gained popularity after their active participation in political campaigns in Third World countries in the first half of 1980s. The companies and the specialists that now work with Victor Yanukovych previously consulted the governments of Kenya, Somali, Angola (UNITA movement headed by Jonas Savimbi), Nigeria and Congo.
Mr. Manafort, the head of the consultation group of Victor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions, is also believed to be the head of the successful campaign for Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1981.
In order to conduct the campaign, Marcos, disturbed by the growing international isolation of the Philippines, revoked the military condition of the state and announced a general election. Later the election was called, by the Western press, “one of the dirtiest in the history of the Philippines.”“There was all-out knavery, the threatening of voters, the falsification of voters’ lists, and very questionable vote counting,”- the press wrote then.
Paul Manafort started his career in the team of America’s 38th President, the Republican Gerald Ford. Mr. Ford was known for being the only president in the history of the United States that became the head of the state as a result of a scandal, not an election. Occupying the position of Vice-President, in 1974 he solemnly entered the Oval Office after his predecessor Richard Nixon was forced to resign over the famous Watergate scandal.
After 1974, Mr. Manafort’s name could be found among the staff of almost all forthcoming Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984) and George Bush Sr (1988).
“This fellow is a business card of the Republican Party. He opens doors in Washington and to the Bush people,”– Charles Lewis wrote about Manafort in his book The Buying of the President 2004. “Today, for the first time in a half century, the Republican Party controls all government. You only need a GOP- passe-partout [GOP stands for Grand Old Party – the unofficial name of the Republican Party]. And Manafort is the guy you need!”
To be honest, the only time Paul Manafort acted as a main top-strategist of an election campaign and not as a member of the staff, his client, the candidate for the president of the United States, Bob Dole got knocked down. In 1996, he was defeated by Bill Clinton. Later Bob Dole was seriously criticized by the Republicans for the lack of a clear platform during the election.
Today Mr. Akhmetov does not deny that he himself initiated a cooperation between the Party of Regions and Paul Manafort and his colleagues.
“At some point, Mr. Manafort, because of his supplementary experience, was recommended as a specialist that could help the Party during the presidential election, - Akhmetov told Ukrains’ka pravda. “When the Party of Regions decided to use Mr. Manafort’s services, the SCM fully severed its relations with him.
Mr. Akmetov also insists that he did not cover the expenses of attracting Mr. Manafort to the electoral campaign staff."
Paul Manafort started his career in the team of America’s 38th President, the Republican Gerald Ford. Mr. Ford was known for being the only president in the history of the United States that became the head of the state as a result of a scandal, not an election. Occupying the position of Vice-President, in 1974 he solemnly entered the Oval Office after his predecessor Richard Nixon was forced to resign over the famous Watergate scandal.
After 1974, Mr. Manafort’s name could be found among the staff of almost all forthcoming Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984) and George Bush Sr (1988).
“This fellow is a business card of the Republican Party. He opens doors in Washington and to the Bush people,”– Charles Lewis wrote about Manafort in his book The Buying of the President 2004. “Today, for the first time in a half century, the Republican Party controls all government. You only need a GOP- passe-partout [GOP stands for Grand Old Party – the unofficial name of the Republican Party]. And Manafort is the guy you need!”
To be honest, the only time Paul Manafort acted as a main top-strategist of an election campaign and not as a member of the staff, his client, the candidate for the president of the United States, Bob Dole got knocked down. In 1996, he was defeated by Bill Clinton. Later Bob Dole was seriously criticized by the Republicans for the lack of a clear platform during the election.
Today Mr. Akhmetov does not deny that he himself initiated a cooperation between the Party of Regions and Paul Manafort and his colleagues.
“At some point, Mr. Manafort, because of his supplementary experience, was recommended as a specialist that could help the Party during the presidential election, - Akhmetov told Ukrains’ka pravda. “When the Party of Regions decided to use Mr. Manafort’s services, the SCM fully severed its relations with him.
Mr. Akmetov also insists that he did not cover the expenses of attracting Mr. Manafort to the electoral campaign staff.
“The only services that were paid by my company were the services Mr. Manafort provided to the SCM,” the richest Ukrainian insists and adds: “The SCM did not pay for any political services, provided by Mr. Manafort to the Party of Regions.”
Anton Pryhorods’kyi, Akhmetov’s business partner and one of the closest friends of the Premier, claims that the services of the Americans were paid “exclusively from the Party’s budget."
However, the full information about the costs of the services provided by the Americans remains undisclosed – the MPs speak about the amount of 2 to 20 million dollars for the whole campaign. To compare, in the United States similar information about the cost of PR services or for political lobbying is available for access.
When Americans first came to assist in the election campaign, it was not easy for the entourage of Yanukovych and Akhmetov, as their interests conflicted.
On July 3, 2005, Yanukovych announced the appointment of MP Vasyl Khara as a Chief of Election Staff. Mr. Khara represented the old nomenklatura of “Regionals” that was loyal to the leader of the Party. Just then Akhmetov was actively negotiating with “Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly.”
At the end of summer 2005 Victor Yanukovych for the first time was introduced to Paul Manafort and his colleagues in Karlovy Vary [Czech Republic]. At that time there were some rumors in the Party that Rinat Akhmetov and his followers rose in opposition against the Party’s cooperation with radical Russian political technologists, such as Hlib Pavlovskyi.
In 2005 Yanukovych himself understood that he needed a qualitatively new strategy for the new parliamentary election. However, Akhmetov’s suggestion to hire American companies was treated as direct encroachment on the Party’s power.
Nevertheless, the change of political technology was formally agreed. The only task left was to introduce Paul Manafort and his team to the Head Management of the Election Staff. At this point Vasyl Khara all of a sudden opposed the new strategists.
“The only services that were paid by my company were the services Mr. Manafort provided to the SCM,” the richest Ukrainian insists and adds: “The SCM did not pay for any political services, provided by Mr. Manafort to the Party of Regions.”
Anton Pryhorods’kyi, Akhmetov’s business partner and one of the closest friends of the Premier, claims that the services of the Americans were paid “exclusively from the Party’s budget.”
However, the full information about the costs of the services provided by the Americans remains undisclosed – the MPs speak about the amount of 2 to 20 million dollars for the whole campaign. To compare, in the United States similar information about the cost of PR services or for political lobbying is available for access.
When Americans first came to assist in the election campaign, it was not easy for the entourage of Yanukovych and Akhmetov, as their interests conflicted.
On July 3, 2005, Yanukovych announced the appointment of MP Vasyl Khara as a Chief of Election Staff. Mr. Khara represented the old nomenklatura of “Regionals” that was loyal to the leader of the Party. Just then Akhmetov was actively negotiating with “Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly.”
At the end of summer 2005 Victor Yanukovych for the first time was introduced to Paul Manafort and his colleagues in Karlovy Vary [Czech Republic]. At that time there were some rumors in the Party that Rinat Akhmetov and his followers rose in opposition against the Party’s cooperation with radical Russian political technologists, such as Hlib Pavlovskyi.
In 2005 Yanukovych himself understood that he needed a qualitatively new strategy for the new parliamentary election. However, Akhmetov’s suggestion to hire American companies was treated as direct encroachment on the Party’s power.
“We only started to talk about the SCM at the beginning of 2005,” - tells us one of the leaders of Victor Yanukovych’s presidential election campaign. “From the very beginning Paul Manafort was invited to the election, to be precise, for the third round. But because there were only two weeks left, Paul stated that it was impossible to influence the campaign in any way.
According to Rinat Akhmetov, “one of the American law firms” advised him to use Paul Manafort’s services. But according to one of the theories, the American was backed up by Russian businessman Oleh Derypaska.
Mr. Manafort is linked to several companies that provide services of lobbying and political consultations. He is also a co-founder of “Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.,”Davis, Manafort & Stone,” and “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”.
According to our sources, SCM Holdings signed a contract with “Black, Manafort, Stone & Kelly”, which mainly specializes in economic lobbying.
In business circles the company is also known as an exclusive consultant of “Phillip Morris”. Mr. Manafort dealt with the Party of Regions in the name of the other company –“Davis, Manafort & Freeman, Inc.” Nevertheless, it is unknown whether this company signed any direct contract with the Party or only worked through its representatives.
Mr. Manafort and his partners gained popularity after their active participation in political campaigns in Third World countries in the first half of 1980s. The companies and the specialists that now work with Victor Yanukovych previously consulted the governments of Kenya, Somali, Angola (UNITA movement headed by Jonas Savimbi), Nigeria and Congo.
Mr. Manafort, the head of the consultation group of Victor Yanukovych and the Party of Regions, is also believed to be the head of the successful campaign for Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos in 1981.
In order to conduct the campaign, Marcos, disturbed by the growing international isolation of the Philippines, revoked the military condition of the state and announced a general election. Later the election was called, by the Western press, “one of the dirtiest in the history of the Philippines.”“There was all-out knavery, the threatening of voters, the falsification of voters’ lists, and very questionable vote counting,”- the press wrote then.
Paul Manafort started his career in the team of America’s 38th President, the Republican Gerald Ford. Mr. Ford was known for being the only president in the history of the United States that became the head of the state as a result of a scandal, not an election. Occupying the position of Vice-President, in 1974 he solemnly entered the Oval Office after his predecessor Richard Nixon was forced to resign over the famous Watergate scandal.
After 1974, Mr. Manafort’s name could be found among the staff of almost all forthcoming Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984) and George Bush Sr (1988).
“This fellow is a business card of the Republican Party. He opens doors in Washington and to the Bush people,”– Charles Lewis wrote about Manafort in his book The Buying of the President 2004. “Today, for the first time in a half century, the Republican Party controls all government. You only need a GOP- passe-partout [GOP stands for Grand Old Party – the unofficial name of the Republican Party]. And Manafort is the guy you need!”
To be honest, the only time Paul Manafort acted as a main top-strategist of an election campaign and not as a member of the staff, his client, the candidate for the president of the United States, Bob Dole got knocked down. In 1996, he was defeated by Bill Clinton. Later Bob Dole was seriously criticized by the Republicans for the lack of a clear platform during the election.
Today Mr. Akhmetov does not deny that he himself initiated a cooperation between the Party of Regions and Paul Manafort and his colleagues.
“At some point, Mr. Manafort, because of his supplementary experience, was recommended as a specialist that could help the Party during the presidential election, - Akhmetov told Ukrains’ka pravda. “When the Party of Regions decided to use Mr. Manafort’s services, the SCM fully severed its relations with him.
Mr. Akmetov also insists that he did not cover the expenses of attracting Mr. Manafort to the electoral campaign staff."
Paul Manafort started his career in the team of America’s 38th President, the Republican Gerald Ford. Mr. Ford was known for being the only president in the history of the United States that became the head of the state as a result of a scandal, not an election. Occupying the position of Vice-President, in 1974 he solemnly entered the Oval Office after his predecessor Richard Nixon was forced to resign over the famous Watergate scandal.
After 1974, Mr. Manafort’s name could be found among the staff of almost all forthcoming Republican presidents, including Ronald Reagan (1980, 1984) and George Bush Sr (1988).
“This fellow is a business card of the Republican Party. He opens doors in Washington and to the Bush people,”– Charles Lewis wrote about Manafort in his book The Buying of the President 2004. “Today, for the first time in a half century, the Republican Party controls all government. You only need a GOP- passe-partout [GOP stands for Grand Old Party – the unofficial name of the Republican Party]. And Manafort is the guy you need!”
To be honest, the only time Paul Manafort acted as a main top-strategist of an election campaign and not as a member of the staff, his client, the candidate for the president of the United States, Bob Dole got knocked down. In 1996, he was defeated by Bill Clinton. Later Bob Dole was seriously criticized by the Republicans for the lack of a clear platform during the election.
Today Mr. Akhmetov does not deny that he himself initiated a cooperation between the Party of Regions and Paul Manafort and his colleagues.
“At some point, Mr. Manafort, because of his supplementary experience, was recommended as a specialist that could help the Party during the presidential election, - Akhmetov told Ukrains’ka pravda. “When the Party of Regions decided to use Mr. Manafort’s services, the SCM fully severed its relations with him.
Mr. Akmetov also insists that he did not cover the expenses of attracting Mr. Manafort to the electoral campaign staff.
“The only services that were paid by my company were the services Mr. Manafort provided to the SCM,” the richest Ukrainian insists and adds: “The SCM did not pay for any political services, provided by Mr. Manafort to the Party of Regions.”
Anton Pryhorods’kyi, Akhmetov’s business partner and one of the closest friends of the Premier, claims that the services of the Americans were paid “exclusively from the Party’s budget.”
However, the full information about the costs of the services provided by the Americans remains undisclosed – the MPs speak about the amount of 2 to 20 million dollars for the whole campaign. To compare, in the United States similar information about the cost of PR services or for political lobbying is available for access.
When Americans first came to assist in the election campaign, it was not easy for the entourage of Yanukovych and Akhmetov, as their interests conflicted.
On July 3, 2005, Yanukovych announced the appointment of MP Vasyl Khara as a Chief of Election Staff. Mr. Khara represented the old nomenklatura of “Regionals” that was loyal to the leader of the Party. Just then Akhmetov was actively negotiating with “Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly.”
At the end of summer 2005 Victor Yanukovych for the first time was introduced to Paul Manafort and his colleagues in Karlovy Vary [Czech Republic]. At that time there were some rumors in the Party that Rinat Akhmetov and his followers rose in opposition against the Party’s cooperation with radical Russian political technologists, such as Hlib Pavlovskyi.
In 2005 Yanukovych himself understood that he needed a qualitatively new strategy for the new parliamentary election. However, Akhmetov’s suggestion to hire American companies was treated as direct encroachment on the Party’s power.
Nevertheless, the change of political technology was formally agreed. The only task left was to introduce Paul Manafort and his team to the Head Management of the Election Staff. At this point Vasyl Khara all of a sudden opposed the new strategists.
“The only services that were paid by my company were the services Mr. Manafort provided to the SCM,” the richest Ukrainian insists and adds: “The SCM did not pay for any political services, provided by Mr. Manafort to the Party of Regions.”
Anton Pryhorods’kyi, Akhmetov’s business partner and one of the closest friends of the Premier, claims that the services of the Americans were paid “exclusively from the Party’s budget.”
However, the full information about the costs of the services provided by the Americans remains undisclosed – the MPs speak about the amount of 2 to 20 million dollars for the whole campaign. To compare, in the United States similar information about the cost of PR services or for political lobbying is available for access.
When Americans first came to assist in the election campaign, it was not easy for the entourage of Yanukovych and Akhmetov, as their interests conflicted.
On July 3, 2005, Yanukovych announced the appointment of MP Vasyl Khara as a Chief of Election Staff. Mr. Khara represented the old nomenklatura of “Regionals” that was loyal to the leader of the Party. Just then Akhmetov was actively negotiating with “Black, Manafort, Stone and Kelly.”
At the end of summer 2005 Victor Yanukovych for the first time was introduced to Paul Manafort and his colleagues in Karlovy Vary [Czech Republic]. At that time there were some rumors in the Party that Rinat Akhmetov and his followers rose in opposition against the Party’s cooperation with radical Russian political technologists, such as Hlib Pavlovskyi.
In 2005 Yanukovych himself understood that he needed a qualitatively new strategy for the new parliamentary election. However, Akhmetov’s suggestion to hire American companies was treated as direct encroachment on the Party’s power.
Up to March 2006 they were consulting the Party of Regions staff and personally Viktor Yanukovych getting them ready for the parliamentary election which turned out historic for the PRU.
After the election campaign the US spin doctors partially left the PRU campaign headquarters.
According to information obtained by Ukrayinska Pravda, the PRU top management represented by Rinat Akhmetov and his close friend Boris Kolesnikov signed another agreement with Paul Manafort’s team in the end of February.
Americans had to re-structure the party and renew its image both in Ukraine and abroad.
Obviously, as a result of this operation the customer Rinat Akhmetov had to considerably intensify his influence on the party.
Presidential decree to dissolve parliament simply accelerated this process. Rinat Akhmetov has been trying to achieve it during several years. But eventually, it happened during several days.
During the election campaign the PRU lived through a small revolution as a result of which Andriy Klyuev and Viktor Yanukovych’s entourage was suspended from power in the party.
Moreover, making up the party election list, Mr. Akhmetov laid foundations of his future influence in the PRU parliamentary faction.
With Boris Kolesnikov’s coming to the PRU election staff the role of the US advisors has changed.
If in 2006 Paul Manafort and his team had to prove efficiency of each step, now they have a carte blanche in strategic planning.
At this stage, all relationship nuances between the PRU leaders became obvious.
Now, the US advisors promote not only Yanukovych’s image on a blue-and-white background but a political brand with its symbolism and stylistic.
Current campaign of the blue-and-white has been largely impersonal. There was no Yanukovych in TV ads. Only the last ads contained Mr. Yanukovych’s speeches.
Advisors in action
Ukrayinska Pravda managed to receive copies of the PRU internal documents and resolutions issued by the US spin doctors.
Two reports of Paul Manafort’s team contain information on the action plan for the last two weeks of the election campaign.
Both documents were translated from English. That is why some proposals and nuances of the American team remain unclear.
On September 8, 2007 the US advisors worked out a very detailed document with the “Main conclusions of Gallup Polls regarding the political situation in Ukraine.”
The report was worked out for the following three men in the PRU: Rinat Akhmetov, Boris Kolesnikov and the Prime Minister.
The US spin doctors analyzed legacy of the Orange Revolution. The results must have pleased the PRU: according to Gallup Polls, 60% of Ukrainian-speaking and 80% of the Russian-speaking population think that the revolution has failed.
As such, the number of voters who believe that the Orange leaders will be ever able to cooperate is decreasing. Only 24% respondents believe in the ‘Orange unity’.
This was the main thesis proclaimed in the recent political ads of the Donetsk-based party.
There is a large section dedicated to a special public opinion survey. People were asked questions about the three political leaders: Viktor Yushchenko, Yulia Tymoshenko and Viktor Yanukovych.
Thus, according to the document, 35% of the population sympathizes with President Yushchenko, 42% supports Yulia Tymoshenko while the PM received the highest popularity rating – 49%.
At that, Mr. Yushchenko’s rating tends to decrease with the coming election at the rate of 6% every two weeks. Tymoshenko and Yanukovych’s rating decrease by 1% every two weeks.
The report says that Mrs. Tymoshenko has successfully separated herself from President Yushchenko having formed her own public image different from the president’s one.
Tymoshenko’s popularity among supporters of Our Ukraine is higher than Mr. Yushchenko’s popularity among the BYuT followers.
Section “Conclusions and Strategic Recommendations” is the most interesting part of the document.
The PRU staff is worried over unification of the ‘orange voters around the BYuT’ which, according to Paul Manafort’s team, is an additional difficulty for the PRU.
“Our message that the Orange cannot collaborate is less effective at this stage, because voters start perceiving Mrs. Tymoshenko apart from the Orange Revolution,” says the report.
In the end, Paul Manafort suggests:
1. Change the election messages. Instead of the Orange leaders, Mrs. Tymoshenko must become the target. It is a typical race of the two leaders. That is why the election campaign must be organized accordingly.
2. To neutralize Mrs. Tymoshenko’s success our campaign must follow strict discipline of messages. We must constantly state 3-5 negative traits of Mrs. Tymoshenko and her political force.
3. It is necessary to work out and implement messages targeted at anti-Russian policy in target regions.
Paul Manafort gives even more precise instructions to Boris Kolesnikov.
The report dated September 13 on “buying air-time on TV in the end of an election campaign” reminds Mr. Kolesnikov that the party needs to produce and broadcast the following political ads:
1. “Anti-Tymoshenko ad” enumerating all her failures. It is emphasized that the Orange are incapable of working together.
2. Interviewing people in the streets. People complain of the poor life under the Orange government.
3. Referendum ad.
In general, having read this document one may think that the PRU is more interested in dispersing the Orange votes than in increase of own popularity.
At that, it is stated that increase of the BYuT supporters who became disappointed in Our Ukraine must alert the PRU.
According to Ukrayinska Pravda sources, the main goal of the Party of Regions is to prevent the BYuT from receiving 150 seats in the Verkhovna Rada.
Obviously, the PRU is afraid that the BYuT may refer to the successful experience of disabling the Verkhovna Rada through resignation of 150 MPs.
Mastafa NAYEM
“Ukrayinska Pravda”, September 29, 2007
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