The inauguration of Ukrainian president...
bloc"s website last weekend.The speaker of the lower house of Russia"s parliament, the State Duma, Boris Gryzlov, who will lead the Russian delegation at Yanukovych"s inauguration, expressed hope that relations between the two neighboring countries would be "more appropriate" with Yanukovych as the Ukrainian leader.
Relations with Moscow have been soured in recent years by pro-Western outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko"s bid to accept Ukraine into NATO, bitter gas disputes, Kiev"s support for Georgia during its August 2008 war with Russia over South Ossetia, and other issues.
Ukraine"s parliament rehearsed the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.
The mayor of eastern Ukraine"s city of Donetsk, Oleksandr Lukyanchenko, said Yanukovych could attend a Europa League football match between Shakhtar Donetsk and England"s Fulham after the inauguration.
"There is no exact information, but there was such an intention," Lukyanchenko said.