Yulia Timoshenko did not appear in the public for long. Probably, she was grieving about the outcomes of the election of mayor of Kiev. It was herself to initiate them, and she campaigned for her ally Alexander Turchinov, but anyway they were defeated by Leonid Chernovetsky.  

The Wednesday meeting of the government reminded of a Commission for a funeral celebration. Sighing heavily, Yulia said that real coalition of Party of Regions and the President’s secretariat acting in Ukraine, it would be better to legalize it and “not torment the country”.    

Yulia’s ill-wishers interpreted this message as her wish to resign with an image of victim and they got agitated. “No one will be able to escape the responsibility. The government will continue working” stated Viktor Yushchenko in Canada on same day. “Only a political suicide might head the cabinet after Timoshenko” considers Nikolai Azarov, an authoritative member of the Party of Regions. 

Yanukovich seems to have gained another bloodless victory like he did in 2005. He just waited till unceasing conflicts in the “orange camp” reduced the personal ratings of Timoshenko and Yushchenko to 20% and 7% respectively. Yanukovich himself has 25% and that’s not the limit, as his rivals do not learn from their mistakes, while the presidential elections are going to be held next year.   

Thursday Timoshenko in person met the President in the airport after his visit to Canada. It was noticeable that the president ignored the prime minister. However, later they sat in one car: Yushchenko drove, while Yuia took the front seat. Seemingly, that ride did not lead to positive outcomes, as on the evening same day Timoshenko gave a negative interview to a Ukraine TV station belonging to a Donetsk billionaire Rinat Akhmetov.       

“I’m not evangelistic about the President, as I know too much about him” said Yulia. Suddenly the prime minister has become a witness on the case about poisoning attempt on Yushchenko in 2004.   

On Friday the President criticized severely the work by the government. Yushchenko’s speech was broadcast by three TV stations. He gave the second “yellow card” to Yulia for ineffective struggle with inflation. However, in spite of the football rules he did not send her off the field. It seems he has decided that staying the prime minister is worse punishment for Yulia.