Russian expert forecasts political crisis in Ukraine

This fall a political crisis may hit Ukraine, President of the Effective Policy Fund Gleb Pavlovsky said on Thursday. "A crisis should be expected no later than this fall," he said.

According to him, "new reckless economic policy of the Ukrainian government" will lead to a crisis.

Speaking about the political struggle in Ukraine prior to the parliamentary elections due in March 2006, Pavlovsky said: "If the party of the southeast fights against the parties of west and center in the elections, it will mean Ukraine's political collapse."

"Nobody wants it," the expert added.

The Ukrainian opposition led by former prime minister Viktor Yanukovich is falling behind in its strategy, Pavlovsky said.

"The Ukrainian opposition should focus on a program but it still has none," he added.