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PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is not the first time, Ukrainians have occupied Independence Square, back in 2004, it was filled with people trying to overturn a presidential election result they didn`t trust. It became known as the Orange Revolution, and it was successful. It triggered (inaudible) not just here, but across Europe and the United States that this former Soviet Republic was firmly on the path to a democratic future. But then optimism didn`t last.
The man whose initial election victory was overturned by the Orange Revolution was this man, Viktor Yanukovych, but his opponents weren`t very effective while in power so in 2010 he made a striking political comeback, winning the presidential election. Since then, his critics say, he`s done little to fix the economy or corruption while using the courts to punish political rivals, most notable the former prime minister Yulia Timoshenko who`s in jail convicted of abusing power while in office. Yanukovych`s support base is largely in the east of Ukraine where people identify themselves more closely with Russia, both ethnically and culturally.
The people on the streets calling for Yanukovych to go are mostly from the center and west of the country, both to see themselves more distinctly as Ukrainian and European, they were deeply disappointed when Yanukovych announced he wouldn`t be signing agreements that would have locked Ukraine in step with the European Union. What these people want, a European standards in the economy, rule of law and politics. Many things that Ukraine is a long way behind the other Eastern European countries that were once dominated by the Soviet Union as well. They believe a European future will bring greater prosperity and democracy, modernize the country and ultimately improve everyone`s quality of life. Phil Black, CNN, Kiev.
