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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Ukraine: Election that may change everything
Why country so far away with people many in America know nothing about is so important to us? Brief look at the map gives us the first hint. Within the Russian or the European sphere of influence it will be a different country, and the two major antagonists in the Old Continent won't be the same. With Ukraine as a member or as candidate for membership, the EU will almost make the Black Sea internal lake and secure its Eastern frontiers against sudden resurge of Russian expansionism. With Kiev as ally or underdog Moscow will cut once and for all Europe from its former Soviet possessions. The opposite result will be considered worldwide as huge loss of prestige for the Kremlin and its master Vladimir Putin. Historic approach may also be useful to understand the symbolic importance of Ukraine for the West and for Russia alike. Kievan Russ was the birthplace of the Russian civilization some 1,100 years ago. Without it Moscow simply can't claim the same historic pedigree. This first Russian civilization unlike what we have seen since 14th century was based on trade and civil code equal to if not superior to those in Europe before the Tatars stroke in early 13th century. No foreign tyranny, neither Tatar nor Moscovian has destroyed during the later centuries this initial sense of freedom among the Ukrainians. Even the economic decline of the recent years didn't turn Ukraine toward neo-authoritarian regime similar to that of Russia. The simple fact that a post-Soviet state with predominantly Slavic population can manage economy without huge natural resources and without authoritarian rule will put Russia on the defensive. That's one among many reasons the Kremlin stood during the election campaign behind the candidate of the ruling coalition. All that could have been promised by Russia to Ukraine was put in motion, dual citizenship and preferential treatment of businesspersons, more oil and natural gas at lower prices. It seems that Ukrainians aren't happy with their current status as Russia's younger brethren and that at the end of the day the pro-Western political line will have upper hand. If this happens a short and even mid-term period of instability is the only guaranteed outcome. Moscow won't easily declare defeat and the 10+ million strong Russian minority in Ukraine may be used to undermine the new western leaning president. Market reforms mean closing jobs, which is dangerous business in a country with so many unemployed and so many poor workers. Some analysts predict partition of Ukraine on Western (pro-European) and Eastern (pro-Russian). If this happens, it will be an extreme outcome but given the political stakes in and outside the country it couldn't be completely ruled out so far.
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See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Ukraine.
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