MOSCOW — The pro-Western government in Ukraine that took power in the Orange Revolution in 2004 fell apart again Tuesday, setting the stage for the former Soviet republic’s third parliamentary election in as many years with the nation’s policies toward NATO and Russia hanging once more in the balance.
After only nine months in power, the on-again, off-again ruling coalition between President Viktor Yushchenko and his Orange Revolution partner, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, formally collapsed after weeks of infighting over charges of corruption and treason. If the parliament cannot form a new government within 30 days, the president can call for fresh elections.
Yushchenko has accused his prime minister of trying to curry favor with Moscow instead of fully condemning Russia’s war with Georgia, and his allies have asked for a probe into allegations she committed treason by secretly offering to soften her policies toward the Kremlin in exchange for its support in the next election.
