More Mud.

Former Chief of Staff, Oleksandr Zinchenko, accused several top members of President Viktor Yushchenko?s inner circle of corruption at a press conference yesterday. Zinchenko who resigned from his post on Saturday, said that he was leaving to draw attention to the corrupt behaviour of members of the current government. Specifically, he accused National Defence and Security Council Secretary Petro Poroshenko of nepotism and using his position to manipulate court decisions. Poroshenko, who arrived in the middle of the press conference, denied the allegations and demanded that Zinchenko back up his words with facts. The President?s press secretary announced that Yushchenko will be looking into the claims. Concorde Capital: This story will steal headlines for the next few days, and the rumour mill has already started spinning countless tales about the reasons for Zinchenko?s resignation and accusations. Some believe that Zinchenko?s political ambitions and close relationship with PM Tymoshenko have led him to make these statements, as the former Komsomol head attempts to position himself in a new political camp.  We do not hold Poroshenko or any member of Yushchenko?s team above suspicion. However, given that Yushchenko accepted Zinchenko?s resignation with little hesitation, we believe this is all part of a bigger political game aimed at dividing Yushchenko?s allies in the run up to the March elections. In any case, one thing is clear, this political season has opened with a bang and we are in for a wild ride.