The Kiev appeals court is considering President Viktor Yushchenko's appeal against Saturday's district court ruling, made on complaints lodged by the bloc led by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, preventing preparations for early polls he fixed for December 7. The district court ruling was appealed later Saturday by the president's legal representative.
According to acting Security Council chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko, the appeals court chairman said he had been subject to intimidation by members of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc on Saturday.
"It has been verified that four Tymoshenko Bloc members stayed in the court chairman's office throughout October 11 threatening to throw him out of the window, beating him on his hands and preventing him from using his computer," Nalyvaichenko said.
He said special police were now giving the chief judge round-the-clock protection.
Yushchenko dissolved the legislature and called snap polls after politicians failed to agree a new coalition following the collapse of the pro-Western alliance. The coalition of parties loyal to the president and the prime minister broke down after the Tymoshenko Bloc sided with the opposition in passing a law to cut Yushchenko's presidential powers.
Tymoshenko's government refused Tuesday to allocate $80 million for the election campaign, citing financial problems caused by the global credit crisis, and urged Yushchenko to reverse his decision on early polls - the third since he came to power in 2004 - as "leading to chaos and destruction."
Local media reported that Yushchenko had ordered troops to guard the Central Election Commission, as the premier's party members were blocking the Commission trying to prevent it from declaring the start of the campaign until the litigation process is concluded. Increased security had also been ordered at the Prosecutor General's Office and other state institutions,
Tymoshenko Bloc members also accused Tuesday the presidential administration and the Security Council of planning a coup aimed at turning Ukraine into presidential republic. The Council dismissed the accusation as "nonsense."
The developments have revived memories of last year's crisis in the ex-Soviet state, when Yushchenko ordered a troop buildup in the capital, bringing Interior Ministry troops under his direct control, and engaged in numerous court battles with then prime minister Viktor Yanukovych.
Yushchenko and Tymoshenko, leaders of the 2004 "Orange Revolution," have drifted apart over a host of issues, including Russia's war with Georgia in August. Both are expected to run for president in 2010.
