When the news reported high levels of election fraud and other irregularities in the presidential election in Ukraine, a group of Swedish libertarians decided to show their support for the opposition candidate Victor Yushchenko who "lost" the election to the candidate of the political nomenklatura Victor Yanukovych.

     Kristian Karlsson, who is former vice-chairman of the libertarian-oriented Fria Moderata Studentförbundet (FMSF) quickly organized a rally outside the grim building that houses the Ukraine embassy.

     At 5.30 PM, well after sunset in the sun-deprived northern Europe, around 50 demonstrators gathered outside the embassy building in the Stockholm suburb of Lidingö. Half of them were from FMSF and Frihetsfronten and the other half were Ukrainians living in Sweden. The darkness was almost total, beside dim streetlights in the distance the only source of light was provided by the torches held by the demonstrators. Many of the participants were wearing orange bandanas and waving orange banners, this color the symbol of the democratic opposition.

     No light could be seen from the windows of the embassy, but in the darkness shadow figures could be seen behind the curtains, looking and probably trying to take pictures of the demonstrators.

    The speakers at the rally were Johan Norberg (Internationally-acclaimed champion of free market ideas and author of In Defense of World Capitalism, Jens Eriksson (chairman of FMSF), Johan Forsell (chairman of Young Conservatives), Natalya Rudyk (from the Ukrainian Association) and Henrik Alexandersson (chairman of Frihetsfronten). Together they showed their strong support for democracy and fair elections in Ukraine. Jens Eriksson pointed out that "again there is a conflict between the free world and the totalitarian world. Even if the stakes are not that high as during the cold war, it does not lessen our duty to take a moral stand. We have an obligation to stand up for freedom, now as then. By appearing here tonight we show that we take that obligation for real."

     Henrik Alexandersson recalled "how in the mid 80's he stood in front of the Berlin wall, at Brandenburger Tor, and wondered if during his lifetime he would ever see it crumble. Then everything happened at incredible speed. Not only did the wall and east Germany fall, but all the communist puppet states gained freedom. Yes, even the Soviet Union collapsed. And we can still see how humans fight for their freedom and how criminal governments fall when the citizens speak out."

     Among the demonstrators was a young family with their 2-year-old daughter. They had a special reason to attend since the little girl had been adopted from Ukraine less than a year ago. To stand up for freedom in Ukraine was a way for them to express their belief that not only their daughter but all children of Ukraine should have the right to live in a free society.

Note: As we go to press the Ukraine parliament, no doubt bowing to international pressure, has declared the election invalid and is calling for a new vote. Ed.