Yanukovych files final election appeal with Ukrainian Supreme Court News
Yanukovych files final election appeal with Ukrainian Supreme Court

[JURIST] Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Viktor Yanukoych [Wikipedia profile; presidential campaign website in Ukrainian] Friday filed one last appeal over the December 26 presidential re-vote with the Ukrainian Supreme Court [official website in Ukrainian] in a final legal bid to stop the inauguration of opposition leader and apparent election winner Viktor Yushchenko [Wikipedia profile; presidential campaign website]. Ukraine's Central Election Commission [official website in Ukrainian] certified the vote last week, but the Supreme Court stepped in and halted formal publication of the results to allow Yanukoych's latest legal action. Yushchenko, who has directed his supporters to take down their tent-camp in downtown Kyiv [Yushchenko campaign press release] that was the center of protests after the initial November run-off, has accused Yanukovych of "torturing" the country by his multiple appeals, of which there have been at least 12 to this point. The latest appeal, complete with 600 pounds of supporting documentation, was delivered to the court by min-van this morning. The high court judges now have five days to make a ruling. VOA has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.