A Ukrainian nationalist leader on Friday...

Speaking on television in western Ukraine"s Ivano-Frankovsk, Mykhailo Zelenchuk urged "all Ukrainian patriots to vote for presidential candidate Tymoshenko to defeat the pro-Moscow Yanukovych" in Sunday"s polls.

Zelenchuk, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, said the country is in "a critical condition" and "at a turning point in history." He also said he hopes the new president will finally recognize the organization"s role in the fight for Ukraine"s independence.

Ivano-Frankovsk is home to more than a thousand veterans of the organization, which was originally established in 1929 in western Ukraine and fought Soviet, German forces during WWII in a bid to secure Ukraine"s independence.

Outgoing President Viktor Yushchenko"s move in January to award the Hero of Ukraine title to Stepan Bandera, who led the movement in 1941-1959, fueled fierce debate in Ukraine and triggered condemnation from Russia, as well as

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