Ukraine celebrates anniversary

KIEV, Ukraine -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has arrived in Kiev to mark the 10th anniversary of the Ukraine gaining independence from the Soviet Union.

The president is one of a handful of leaders attending the celebrations on Thursday and Friday.

The Ukraine became free of its former ruler amid a wave of enthusiasm on August 24, 1991, three days after the collapse of an attempted communist coup in Moscow.

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Ukrainians grabbed the chance to rid itself of the Soviet Union, voting nine to one in a referendum to endorse independence.

The prospects for an independent Ukraine were good as it had proven to be the breadbasket of the former Soviet Union as well as home to huge coal and steel industries.

But a mixture of poverty and corruption has damaged the reputation of the administration at both home and abroad, to the extent that it has been perceived as the most corrupt country in Europe, a report by a Berlin watchdog said.

Transparency International placed the Ukraine 83rd out of 90 countries across the world in its annual index.

Only countries such as Bolivia, Kenya and Nigeria push out the Ukraine.

The Ukraine's economy has been stifled by poor management of its privatisation scheme, and tax evasion.

One former prime minister has been convicted of money laundering by Swiss authorities.

The current president has been at the centre of a scandal involving the death of outspoken journalist Georgiy Gongadze.

The crisis rumbled on for months this year, heightened by the discovery of tapes that allegedly had Kuchma ordering the reporters death, though the president denies any involvement.

The Council of Europe has threatened to revoke Ukraine's membership and the United States has cut aid, citing concerns over press freedom and democracy.

But the economy has begun to pick-up over the past 24 months, with the country's gross domestic product showing growth for the first time last year.

Neighbouring Poland, which was the first country to recognise independent Ukraine, has tried to form a bridge between the Kiev regime and the West and help reduce its reliance on Russia.

Poland's President Alexander Kwasniewski was the first to arrive in Kiev on Thursday for the 10th anniversary and is expected to have a working meeting with Kuchma, as is Putin.