Europe-wide concern about the treatment of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko prompted the boycott.
Whichever the case, Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said Wednesday that Kiev has taken full control of Kryvorizhstal.
The trial of Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and Mr Yanukovich's main rival, is an example.
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Mr Yushchenko's ongoing rivalry with Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko - a former ally - is another factor.
Mr Lutsenko was an ally of Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed in October 2011.
The "dream ticket" alliance of Viktor Yushchenko and Yulia Tymoshenko seems resolutely dead.
Ukraine's high court has rejected the appeal by jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko against her conviction for abuse of office.
Chandrika Kumaratunga lost her re-election bid as president of Sri Lanka, and Yulia Tymoshenko lost her bid to help run the Ukraine.
There has been bitter acrimony between President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko who've accused each other of treason and corruption.
The governing coalition has collapsed after a row between Viktor Yushchenko, the president, and his former ally, Yulia Tymoshenko, the prime minister.
The government is also attempting to settle scores with Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister and Mr Yanukovich's challenger for the presidency.
The most worrying has been the case of Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who now languishes in prison on a seven-year sentence.
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Take for example former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, a Yanukovich foe, who is languishing in prison and may now be facing further charges.
Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is well enough to return to prison after spending nine months in hospital, the health ministry has said.
Yulia Tymoshenko, set to return as Ukraine's prime minister this week, has called for the controversial gas supply deal with Russia to be reviewed.
But no sooner had they taken power in 2005, with Yulia Tymoshenko as prime minister and Mr Yushchenko as president, than their relationship turned bitter.
The United States has loudly protested the prosecution and conviction of Yulia Tymoshenko, but trumpeters of American liberty should be careful not to be too shrill.
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Yet the prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, is in combative mood.
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Concerns have arisen over the treatment of former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years in October 2011 for abuse of office.
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko warned on Monday that Ukraine was heading for stagnation, with global demand falling for its key exports - steel and chemicals - and banks unable to extend consumer credit.
According to the Associated Press, just last month Ukraine's Premier, Yulia Tymoshenko, counseled Russian metals and oil billionaire Viktor Vekselberg not to buy Pinchuk's shares in the Nikopol factory--which now sounds like a canny tip-off.
Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the main opposition party, argues that Mr Kuchma's arrest is no more than a PR stunt designed to distract people from their economic woes and to prop up Mr Yanukovich's sagging popularity.
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In addition Ukraine's political system has been paralysed by infighting and bickering, with once allies President Viktor Yushchenko and Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko -- known as the "Gas Princess" due to her previous business dealings -- falling out.
Even though they are tired of the same old faces, Ukrainians seem likely once again to have to choose between two familiar front-runners: the former and current prime ministers, Viktor Yanukovich and Yulia Tymoshenko (each has served as prime minister twice).
The problems between the billionaire and his candidate may help sway the election to Serhiy Tihipko (or Russian spelling, Sergiy Tigipko), ahead of both Yanukovych and one-time Orange Revolution darling and Forbes Power Woman Yulia Tymoshenko, who is also a candidate.
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Vladimir Putin has somehow also forgotten that a criminal case was opened against her in Russia ten years ago and several Russian defense ministry officials were sent to prison involved in the fraud of United Energy Systems of Ukraine, which at that time was overseen by Yulia Tymoshenko.
As Yulia Mostovaya, the editor of Zerkalo Nedeli, a weekly, explains, by putting Ms Tymoshenko in jail, Mr Yanukovich has both lost a useful sparring partner and united a fractious opposition.
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