18 July the bread went up in the Ukrainian capital. The population took this news calmly. There was not more grudging in baker’s than in groceries or dairy sections of the shops, as the prices for all products have been going up implacably. 

There has been up for bread several times in all the regions, but the prices in the capital were held down. Now they went up for twice as much. That was related to ending of political struggle for control over Kiev where snap elections of the mayor were held with the standing mayor Leonid Chernovetsky to win.  

Those elections were initiated by Yulia Timoshenko, but the supported by her candidate lost. Now Yulia could not restrain from expressing her annoyance saying Kiev dwellers are to thank themselves for their problems as they elected “bad” mayor. Timoshenko holds the mayor of Kiev to be personally responsible for ungrounded – as she believes it – increase of the prices.  

The President’s secretariat, on the contrary, constantly names the main Yushchenko’s rival in the future presidential elections to be guilty of the inflation trouble. Pro-presidential strategists would like to strip Timoshenko of support in the capital, so that to avoid possible maidans (mass gatherings in the central square). This is why one may expect the price rise by communal service workers, made after the bakers.  

There is some justice in this point. During last five years of unceasing elections the main political ground in the country has been spoiled. The capital white collars in Kiev with wages of over a thousand dollars go in public transportation paying 50 kopecks for the ticket, while the poor budget-paid workers in Sevastopol or Lvov have to pay 75 kopecks.