Russian political analysts do not doubt that Party of Regions leader Viktor Yanukovych will win the Ukrainian presidential election.
"It is absolutely apparent that Yanukovych is winning. I suppose that final results will show that his margin over Tymoshenko will be comparable with what exit polls revealed today. I think that the gap will be around 5-6%," Russia’s Effective Politics Foundation President Gleb Pavlovsky told Interfax on Sunday.
Tymoshenko’s next steps will be aimed at contesting the election results and at attempting to reinforce her position in the Verkhovna Rada, he said.
"She will prepare lawsuits, but this will be futile. Tymoshenko is likely to direct the utmost energy into preserving the faction that supports her in parliament. But apparently quite a lot of members of her faction will defect to Yanukovych," he said.
Tymoshenko will remain in politics and the new president will have to deal with her, he said. "Tymoshenko will remain prime minister, or at least she will do her best to remain in this post. The Party of Regions leader is becoming president ‘at the empty vault’ by getting the highest public post in the country which is in economic distress. Tymoshenko will use this to her advantage," Pavlovsky said.
CIS Studies Institute Director Konstantin Zatulin is also certain that Yanukovych will win. He thinks that Tymoshenko will try to haggle with Yanukovych.
"Of course there are bargaining connotations. Tymoshenko is likely to start a certain bargain with Yanukovych," Zatulin said.
Tymoshenko failed to take advantage of her chances of a successful performance in the runoff. It is obvious to everyone that she has lost," he added.
