Russian radio interviews Ukraine opposition figure Yuliya Tymoshenko.

(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)

The Viktor Yushchenko campaign expects the Ukrainian Supreme Court to overturn the official results of the presidential election and thus to pave the way for its man to be declared the winner, Yuliya Tymoshenko, Yushchenko's No 2, said in a wide-ranging interview with a Moscow radio station. An honest count, removing the falsified votes, could only result in a Yushchenko victory, she said, disputing the strength of Yanukovych's support nationwide while talking up Yushchenko's. She went on to deny that Ukraine is split between western and Orthodox civilizations, but described the divide as a long-healed wound that has needlessly been reopened. She also stressed the eastern credentials of herself and the pro-Yushchenko political movement - many of whom originate in eastern Ukraine but share the political aspirations of central and western parts of the country. Russia, therefore, should not fear that an incoming Yushchenko would be hostile but it and other countries should observe and not interfere - the Ukrainians are capable of resolving the crisis for themselves, Tymoshenko said. She dismissed comparisons of her and Viktor Yanukovych's prison records, saying that she spent time inside for political offences but he was jailed for robbery and rape. She likened those offences to what his administration is currently doing to the country. Finally, she said that the protesters in Kiev are standing up not only for Ukraine; if they prevail, they will have helped to open a "road to freedom" for all CIS nations who labour under authoritarian and coercive regimes. The following is an excerpt from Tymoshenko's interview with Russian radio Ekho Moskvy radio on 29 November, with subheadings inserted editorially:

[Presenter] It's 1508 in Moscow and 1408 in Kiev. Live on the air is Yuliya Tymoshenko. Yuliya Volodymyrivna, can you hear us?

[Tymoshenko] Good day, I can hear you.

[Presenter] Good day. You are live on the air in Moscow. [Passage omitted]

So what can we look forward to today? What's set to happen today? The Supreme Court is in session. Is that all?

Opposition's demands

[Tymoshenko] The Supreme Court is in session today. We're expecting it to overturn the Central Electoral Commission resolution on the results of the election. If that happens, then justice will have triumphed and the Central Electoral Commission will be compelled to reconsider the election results and to exclude from the count all polling stations where there were clear and obvious falsifications.

[Presenter] What would you prefer, Yuliya Volodymyrivna? Where do you and Viktor Yushchenko stand? Do you …