Taras Kuzio

Taras Kuzio is a Research Associate at the Centre for Political and Regional Studies, Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies, University of Alberta. He is author of the forthcoming ‘Commissars into Oligarchs: A Contemporary History of Ukraine.’

Ukraine's blackmail system

In Ukraine, businessmen are pressured to give financial and political support to the authorities or to testify against political opponents.

By Taras Kuzio

/ 9 Jun 2014

Crime and politics in Crimea

The link between crime and politics in Crimea has been evident for some time. Now, crime boss Sergei Aksyonov – the ‘Goblin’ – has become its self-declared leader…

By Taras Kuzio

/ 14 Mar 2014

Crimea – from playground to battleground

Journalistic speculation about Crimea becoming independent is rife. However, the real dangers lie elsewhere…

By Taras Kuzio

/ 27 Feb 2014

The problem in Ukraine isn’t Svoboda, it’s Yanukovych: a reply to Ivan Katchanovksi

Many Ukraine observers have identified the far-right Svoboda party as the key source of racial conflict in the country. This represents a misunderstanding of Ukraine’s fake politics, its divisive president and the real far-right thugs of the Party of Regions, argues Taras Kuzio.

By Taras Kuzio

/ 12 Apr 2012

Ukraine: the immobile state

The electoral defeat of the figureheads of the “orange revolution” of 2004 raises profound questions over Ukraine’s political future. A realistic assessment suggests that the views of both alarmists and optimists will be confounded, says Taras Kuzio.

By Taras Kuzio

/ 2 Jun 2010

Ukraine: beyond the orange coalition

As Ukraine's Rada (parliament) closes for the 2008 summer recess the question on many people's minds will be if the orange coalition headed by Viktor Yushchenko

By Taras Kuzio

/ 7 Oct 2008

Ukraine: democracy vs personality

Ukraine held parliamentary elections on Sunday 30 September 2007 for a five-year parliament. As with the scheduled elections in 2006, they were described as having been held in a "

By Taras Kuzio

/ 9 Oct 2007

Ukraine: free elections, kamikaze president

Ukraine held its fourth parliamentary elections on 26 March in an atmosphere totally different to earlier elections. President Viktor Yushchenko can be credited with ensuring that it has been Ukraine&

By Taras Kuzio

/ 27 Mar 2006