YUSHCHENKO STILL HIDES THE TRUTH

President of the Ukraine Victor Yushchenko fears a destabilization of his country. Mr. Yushchenko admitted it in a private conversation with journalist Sergey Leshchenko from the “Ukrainian Pravda”. Earlier, Yushchenko gave Leshchenko a brush off when the journalist started putting question about the president’s spoiled brat at a press conference. Several days ago Sergey Leshchenko revealed in the “Ukrainian Pravda” that elderly son of Yushchenko Andrei, 19, drives a flashy BMW, dines out with his girl friend in the most expensive restaurants in Kiev and tops his lavish dinners with champagne at $600.00 a bottle. An incident at the press conference caused an uproar in the Ukrainian journalistic community. Friday, Mr. Yushchenko called the journalist to make amends. The conversation was rather conciliatory and the two men made it up. However, a number of questions remain unanswered. Who paid Andrei Yushchenko’s extravagant lifestyle? Where did he get money to buy or rent his car and his luxury penthouse downtown Kiev? The official explanation that Andrei, a third year student at the Institute of International Relations, is in consulting business does not hold water. Who can a 19-year old consult? Who needs his advice? Many in the Ukraine think that Yushchenko the junior may be involved in some illegal activities or may be supported by unknown rich oligarchs willing to wriggle into his father’s favour by bribing the president’s son. Yushchenko shared with the “Ukrainian Pravda” journalist his fears that publications about his son could be used to destabilize the Ukraine. Mr. Yushchenko seems to be unsure of himself and apparently does not believe in the survival of his regime which is becoming more and more unpopular with the population.