  the ukrainian presidential election, 2004 was held on october 31, november 21 and december 26, 2004. the election was the fourth presidential election to take place in ukraine following independence from the soviet union. the last stages of the election was contested between the opposition leader viktor yushchenko and the incumbent prime minister viktor yanukovych from the party of regions. the election was held in a highly charged political atmosphere, with allegations of media bias, voter intimidation and a poisoning of candidate yushchenko with dioxin. dead end, kyiv post (october 29, 2009) according to ukraine's electoral law, a two-round system is used to elect the president in which a candidate must win a majority (50% or more) of all ballots cast. the first round of voting was held on october 31, 2004. as no candidate had 50% or more of the votes cast a run-off ballot between the two-highest polling candidates, viktor yushchenko and viktor yanukovych, was held on november 21. according to official central election commission results announced on november 23, the run-off election was won by viktor yanukovych. the election results were challenged by viktor yushchenko and his supporters with many international observers claiming that the election was rigged.anders Ãslund and michael mcfaul (january 2006). revolution in orange: the origins of ukraine's democratic breakthrough, 
Corruption_in_Ukraine Electoral_fraud Orange_Revolution Political_corruption Presidential_elections_in_Ukraine