Kyiv, Ukraine (September 25, 2007) - I arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday afternoon, 9 hours ahead of Denver on the time clock.

Driving in from the airport, I was struck by the driving. Ukrainians make lanes where they need them -- it doesn't matter if the road has three lanes. Our driver made his own way creating four lanes, by driving between 2 lanes. Then, I noticed that other cars were doing the same -- at one point where traffic was backed up, cars just drove down the wide sidewalk in the middle of the street! Cars are everywhere and Kyiv had no planning to accommodate them. One Ukrainian friend said that until recently, most Ukrainians couldn't afford cars and most families did not have a car, so this was never a problem. But, that is clearly not the case today -- cars are everywhere in Kyiv, and parked everywhere -- pulled up on the side of the road and parked every which ways on the wide sidewalks.

One car backed into me as we were walking down the street of the Orange Revolution [Ed. a massive national street protest over allegations of election fraud in Ukraine’s first hotly contested election in 2004]. It is amazing to think of the huge numbers of people in that space.

Our Ukrainian friend was here in 2004 and cant' get over what the wide 6 lane boulevard, with its equally wide promenade on both sides of the boulevard, looked like only three years ago. Then, it was full of people and tents, with only a slight path to walk through. The crowd was orderly, and organized into various tasks. No alcohol was allowed, though coffee and tea were handed out freely. The Orange Revolution started at Liberty Square and spread out on to this boulevard.

Tonight, this square is filled with young people drinking beer and speaking Russian. They are from various parts of eastern Ukraine (judging by the Russian they speak and their accents). Some observers believe that they are paid to be there on behalf of one the more than 20 parties running candidates for the upcoming parliamentary election. Some of the young folks, mostly men, sound as if they believe in the party they are standing to support. But, they are unable to answer questions about the statements they make. Others say they are paid to be there by the party they represent, but they are voting for another party.

And the voting -- so far, we know that recent changes to the Ukrainian election laws and regulations also will change this election. Absentee voting has been abolished. Voters who cross the border within three days of the election cannot vote, and, it is easier to vote at home. Yet, these last changes still leave ample opportunities for fraud. Indeed the parties are ready to contest the election. One party is camped out at the Central Election Commission and Liberty Square. Another party is camped at out St. Sophia Square, which is also home to a beautiful 12th century Orthodox church.

Tomorrow, our delegation will be briefed by some of the staff working in the region, as well as representatives of the parties.

Considering that Ukrainians can find a lane where there isn't one, I think and hope they can find the way through this election. Stay tuned, and I will try to get a good night's rest.

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