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Democracy Threatens

Former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma and other statesmen discuss Putin's role in the rigged 2004 Ukrainian elections and the impact of the Orange Revolution that followed.

Vladimir Putin, after eight years as president of Russia and four more as prime minister, is stubbornly holding on to power. He has announced his intention to return as president and declared his party the winner in parliamentary elections that are widely seen as fraudulent. In Moscow 100,000 protesters have taken to the streets in the largest demonstrations since Putin took office.

Putin began his career as a KGB spy but when he became president, he made himself a valued ally of the West. How did he do it? And what made Washington and London turn against him?

The second episode includes an extraordinary interview with former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma, who was widely thought to be responsible for murder, corruption and sanctions-busting. He tells how, in the 2004 election, he set about getting his chosen successor elected president - with the help of Putin and his Kremlin advisers.

The opposition candidate, Victor Yushchenko, tells what it was like to be poisoned during the election campaign. It won him many voters and exit polls gave him a clear lead, but the Putin/Kuchma-backed candidate was still declared the winner. This result sparked the Orange Revolution.

Kremlin officials tell how they made sure that Putin would not face a similar revolution at home. It is claimed critics of Putin, including the British ambassador, were intimidated and some were even murdered. Tens of thousands of young Russians were mobilised to fight the threat of democracy.

Available now

1 hour

Audio described

Last on

Thu 7 Apr 2022 02:15

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Music Played

  • 脛谤蝉别苍颈办

    Dans Ma Ruche (feat. Jp)

Credits

Role Contributor
Series Producer Norma Percy
Director Paul Mitchell
Executive Producer Brian Lapping
Producer Wanda Koscia
Director Wanda Koscia

Broadcasts