The supporters of opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych who is facing off Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine's Sunday presidential runoff are planning a massive rally in the capital after the vote, the Interior Ministry said.
The ministry said Yanukovych's supporters had earlier filed for permission to hold a rally on Monday in front of the central election commission's building in Kiev and were now gathering in Ukraine's capital.
According to the ministry, almost 50,000 people are expected to participate in the rally in an apparent bid to support Yanukovych who believes that victory was taken away from him during the presidential election in the ex-Soviet republic five years ago.
According to Ukrainian analysts, Yanukovych has an advantage as an opposition candidate with a fair economic record during his premiership while Tymoshenko has to take responsibility for a current dire state of the Ukrainian economy.
Yanukovych emerged as the leader in the first round of the presidential election on January 17, 2010, gaining 35.32% of the votes, while Tymoshenko came second with 25.05%. Both presidential contenders have continuously exchanged accusations of fraud and preparations for provocative acts before the crucial runoff.
Outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko, swept to power by the 2004 pro-Western street protests over election fraud, gained slightly more than 5% of the vote in the first round of presidential polls. His presidency has been marred by continuous political infighting and economic problems.
KIEV, February 7 (RIA Novosti)
