Pro-Russia Yanukovych wins Ukrainian election

Viktor Yanukovych, Ukraine's former Prime Minister, has won the presidential runoff with more than 99 percent of votes counted.

Yanukovych is known as a pro-Russian leader. He contested the election against Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko who was aiming to become Ukraine's first female president.

The central election commission says Yanukovych has won 48.8 percent, while Tymoshenko has gained 45.6 percent.

Yanukovych lost the election 5 years ago against the current President Viktor Yushchenko. But he enjoys strong support in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Yunukovych is likely to oppose joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which the current president promoted.

He said he will strengthen economic ties with Russia.

Tymoshenko has not conceded the election yet. But the European Parliament's election monitoring team is urging both candidates to honor the results, making her position difficult.

2010/02/09 07:28(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)