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A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 6 april 2019

Drug tests then debate in Ukraine’s presidential runoff

Associated Press tion results were annulled
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The after weeks of massive
campaign for Ukraine’s peaceful protests and Po-
presidential election has roshenko himself came to
taken a turn for the strange, power in 2014 after bloody
but voters may find it reas- protests forced his prede-
suring that the two candi- cessor to flee to Russia.
dates in the runoff appar- Poroshenko’s campaign
ently aren’t on drugs. spokesman Oleh Medve-
In the latest act of political dev, complained Friday
theater, the two men who that, unlike the president,
came in first and second Zelenskiy had only taken
in Ukraine’s March 31 first- blood tests and did not
round presidential vote, give samples of hair or fin-
comic actor Volodymyr gernails.
Zelenskiy and incumbent “We consider that candi-
President Petro Poroshen- date Zelenskiy did not ful-
ko, publicly took drug and fill his promise,” Medvedev
alcohol tests on Friday. said. “The staff of Petro Po-
Zelenskiy, 41, later released roshenko once again rec-
what he said was a re- ommends to Volodymyr
port from the private clin- Zelenskiy to understand
ic where was tested that Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko takes a blood test in Kiev, Ukraine, Friday, April 5, 2019. that this is an election cam-
showed no presence of Ukraine’s presidential candidates have taken alcohol and drug tests before a runoff vote. paign. This is not a show.”
narcotics or psychoactive Associated Press Medvedev also claimed
drugs. The head doctor of that the doctor who per-
a Kiev narcotics clinic also the country’s largest and TV sitcom. His political op- from more public exposure, formed the tests was a
said quick results from Po- saying that both candi- ponents say he is vague on Zelenskiy has everything Zelenskiy associate who
roshenko’s tests showed no dates should be tested for the issues, a vivid character to lose. The more people had acted in a comedy se-
presence of banned sub- drugs and alcohol. but too inexperienced to know him, the more they’re rial produced by Zelenskiy’s
stances or alcohol. Accepting the dare, Po- lead the country. likely to see that he’s just a studio.
The unusual testing fol- roshenko, 53, went to the Critics of Poroshenko, television president,” Rut- Poroshenko has argued
lowed a challenge by stadium to be tested by meanwhile, note that gers University professor Al- that Zelenskiy’s lack of po-
Zelenskiy, who got nearly a doctor there, while Zel- he has failed to tackle exander Motyl wrote in a litical experience makes
twice as many votes as Po- enskiy went to a private Ukraine’s endemic corrup- commentary for the Atlan- him unfit to stand up to the
roshenko in the first round of clinic. So far their debate is tion. tic Council. pressure from neighbor-
voting — 30.24% to 15.95%. scheduled for April 19, two Poroshenko’s willingness to The showmanship over the ing Russia, which annexed
After Poroshenko said he days before Ukraine’s presi- play along with Zelenskiy’s testing and debate is nota- Ukraine’s Crimean Pen-
would be willing to debate dential runoff on April 21. challenges could be an at- ble even in a country with insula in 2014 and cast its
the comic, Zelenskiy raised Zelenskiy has never held tempt to beat the upstart often unruly politics. Fist- support behind separatist
the stakes by calling for the political office, but he is fa- at his own game. fights occasionally break rebels in eastern Ukraine in
debate to be held in the mous for playing the role of “In contrast to Poroshenko, out in Ukraine’s parliament, a five-year conflict that has
Kiev sports stadium that is the country’s president in a who has nothing to lose the 2004 presidential elec- left 13,000 dead.q

Thousands protest at Israel-Gaza fence amid cease-fire deal

Associated Press tear gas and live bullets. Prime Minister Benjamin
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Gaza’s health officials re- Netanyahu is locked in a
— Thousands of Palestin- ported that 83 Palestinians heated race for re-election
ians thronged the perim- were injured, one critically. against a party of former
eter fence between Israel It did not provide a break- army chiefs, which has
and the Hamas-ruled Gaza down of how the injuries criticized his failure to deter
Strip on Friday as the week- were inflicted. Gaza rockets. Otherwise, Is-
ly, bloody demonstrations It’s unclear how long the rael’s long-running conflict
rolled into their second arrangements will last. with the Palestinians has
year. Khalil al-Hayya, a senior been strikingly absent from
The protest, occurring just Hamas official, announced political debate.
days before Israel’s April at Friday’s rally that the Haniyeh added that dif-
9 vote, is the first since an group “doesn’t trust” Israel ferences between Israeli
Egyptian-brokered deal and vowed to continue the political parties are “very
emerged to end the latest weekly demonstrations. marginal” when it comes to
round of cross-border fight- Medics move a wounded youth, who was shot by Israeli troops It’s sensitive timing for Isra- policy toward Palestinians.
ing between the enemies. during a protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel, into the el, which holds its general Hamas launched the pro-
Hamas officials say the treatment room of Shifa hospital in Gaza City, Friday, April 5, election on Tuesday. tests in March 2018 in an at-
agreement promises to 2019. Earlier Friday, Hamas lead- tempt to break the crippling
ease tight Israeli restric- Associated Press er Ismail Haniyeh said the Israeli-Egyptian blockade
tions on Gaza and provide protests peaceful. setting tires ablaze and outcome of the Israeli elec- of the territory. Close to 200
much-needed economic But demonstrations turned hurling rocks and makeshift tion won’t impact Palestin- Palestinians and one Israeli
incentives in exchange for violent on Friday. Dozens explosives at the fence. Is- ians. He called the vote an soldier have been killed in
the group keeping border approached the barrier, raeli troops responded with internal “Zionist affair.” the demonstrations.q