Orange gear a no-no in Ukraine

Published on 19/09/2007 00:42

BUILDING crews working on a new stretch of road in Ukraine were ordered to remove their fluorescent orange gear - because they were due a visit from the man who was humiliatingly defeated in the country's 2004 "orange revolution".

Viktor Yanukovich, now the Ukrainian prime minister, apparently still sees red when he sees orange, even though he has bounced back from that presidential election defeat.

Mr Yanukovich, who is leading his Regions Party into parliamentary elections on 30 September, opened the new stretch of road in central Ukraine on Monday.

Before his arrival, Volodymyr Demishkan, head of the state roads authority, told workers "Take off those orange overalls", according to the Kommersant Ukraine newspaper.

Many workers refused, but another official pleaded with them, saying he would otherwise face dismissal. Eventually, they complied.

Mr Yanukovich lost the 2004 presidential election to Viktor Yushchenko after weeks of mass rallies against poll fraud by protesters in orange regalia.

He returned to head a new government in August last year, after a pro-western "Orange" coalition collapsed.

The Regions Party sports blue and white colours.