Yanukovych files election complaint

KIEV, Ukraine – Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, the apparent loser in Sunday’s presidential vote, said Wednesday that he had filed a complaint with the Central Election Commission alleging thousands of illegal acts by his opponent. The move opens the way for an appeal to Ukraine’s Supreme Court challenging official results that gave victory to pro-Western candidate Viktor Yushchenko.

Yanukovych, who has refused to concede defeat, rejected calls that he resign from his post as prime minister despite a parliamentary vote dismissing him. He said he would remain on leave from the job while he pursued his legal appeals.

“I have no intention of resigning,” Yanukovych said. “They are insisting on this because, before as now, they are quaking in their shoes.”

Yushchenko won 51.99 percent of the vote compared with 44.19 percent for Yanukovych with all votes counted, according to the election commission, but the victory remains unofficial pending consideration of appeals filed by Yanukovych. Officials in Yushchenko’s campaign said they expected an inauguration shortly after Jan. 11.

Among the allegations submitted by Yanukovych was that it was illegal for Yushchenko’s 9-month-old son to be wearing an orange scarf and hat, Yushchenko’s campaign colors, when he was carried into a polling booth Sunday by his father.

The commission has already rejected that complaint, officials said. If the election commission rejects all of Yanukovych’s complaints, the prime minister can appeal to the Supreme Court.