Yulia Tymoshenko congratulated her colleagues

encouragement

On Saturday, the second stage of the inter-party congress of the Yulia Tymoshenko bloc took place (Kommersant reported about its first stage on December 8, 2005), dedicated to summing up the results of the past elections. For more than three hours, Mrs. Tymoshenko, in her best traditions, told her colleagues about their achievements, handed out personalized medals and certificates, and also lamented about her figure.

The second stage of the BYuT inter-party congress took place at the National Palace of Arts "Ukraine". The delegates could only guess about the program of the event. “Who knows? They say they will hand out some medals and certificates...” ex-Minister of Finance Sergei Terekhin shared with Kommersant. While waiting for the BYuT leader, the delegates enjoyed Mozart's 40th Symphony, a recording of which they played many times. “They wanted to take Rotaru’s song ‘One Kalina’ as the BYuT anthem, but the singer did not agree - she probably knew that she was going to Litvin,” said former BYuT political strategist Oleg Medvedev.

Yulia Tymoshenko's appearance on stage was more spectacular than ever - the audience was blinded by festive fireworks to the loud sound of fanfare. The BYuT leader's outfit was in party colors - a white Louis Vuitton jacket with red buttons instead of a heart. To begin with, Mrs. Tymoshenko told the delegates for more than an hour about their own achievements over the past four years. Those present were especially impressed by the memories of how, over the years of struggle, “deputies without silver had their businesses destroyed and their dachas burned.” Then, to the sounds of the ABBA group “Dancing Queen,” Yulia Tymoshenko began presenting medals and certificates for “Outstanding Participant in the 2006 Elections.”

The first set went to her closest colleague Alexander Turchinov, and Mr. Turchinov immediately dropped the received medal under the table. Among the heads of regional, city and district organizations of BYuT were also “ordinary” staff officers - Nikolai Tomenko, who never gave up his mandate as a people’s deputy, former journalist Andrei Shevchenko, as well as a relatively new person in BYuT - Bogdan Gubsky. Congratulating the leader of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Party Vasily Onopenko, Mrs. Tymoshenko gently hinted that his only dream was to join the ranks of Fatherland together with his entire party. Separately, they noted the drivers of Yulia Tymoshenko and her constant bodyguard, director of strategic development of the Kontrakt bank Vitaly Chudnovsky. By the way, now Mr. Chudnovsky, already as a people’s deputy, will be able to protect the BYuT leader in the session hall.

On this day, it was not only Yulia Tymoshenko herself who gave gifts - from the delegates she received a gold pendant in the shape of a heart and a Barbie doll with a neatly braided braid on her head and in a white and red robe. “I still have to get thinner and thinner!” - Mrs. Timoshenko joked, examining the doll with feigned envy. A more impressive gift - a saber - went to Alexander Turchinov. The ex-chairman of the SBU, in accordance with traditions, paid for the weapon - a symbolic 20 kopecks - and immediately began brandishing his new acquisition. Obviously, inspired by this very spectacle, Yulia Tymoshenko declared herself and all members of her bloc “warriors of light.” The event ended with a festive concert, during which Yulia Tymoshenko, accompanied by Messrs. Turchinov, Tomenko and Onopenko, moved into the hall. Among the bodyguards surrounding them, the broad shoulders of deputy security guard Vitaly Chudnovsky flashed. True, there was no one to protect the leader from - the hall began to rapidly empty, and journalists lost interest in the convention-concert long before its finale.

MUSTAFA J-NAYEM

Block show – Newspaper “Kommersant” Ukraine – Kommersant