Via the AP: Yanukovych Shows No Sign of Conceding

Ukraine’s pro-Russian prime minister showed no signs of giving in to pressure to step down following his defeat in the country’s repeat presidential election.

Viktor Yanukovych has refused to accept Western-leaning Viktor Yushchenko’s solid victory and on Wednesday asked the election commission to invalidate the vote. He has also dismissed as illegal a Dec. 1 parliamentary vote of no confidence in his government that gives him a maximum 60 days to leave office.

“It is a matter of my principles not to submit a resignation,” Yanukovych told reporters Wednesday. “I know why they insist on that … they are shivering with fear.”

The power-play over the resignation order is bad enough, but delaring that he won’t accept the election results (coupled with Russia’s statements from earlier in the week) doesn’t bode well for the current situation.