I have had the opportunity to meet Oleksandr Potylachak, a Justice of the Supreme Court of Ukraine who joined his colleagues in declaring invalid the 2004 presidential election due to massive voter fraud. That decision marked the first time the judiciary of a former East bloc country had overturned the illegitimate action of a ruling political party.

It was a bold move; it was a courageous act. During a visit to Columbus, Ohio in March of 2005, Oleksandr described the fear of retaliation that accompanied the court's decision. The names of the twenty justices participating in the decision were not public; children were kept home from school until the fear subsided. . . . [for full article click the PDF below]