A Ukrainian nationalist leader on Friday...

Bandera is a controversial figure in Ukraine, seen by many as a national hero and as a Nazi collaborator and extremists by others.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski said in a recent statement that the organization slaughtered 100,000 Poles during its independence battle.

Both Tymoshenko and Yanukovych, a frontrunner, have pledged to improve relations with Moscow, which have soured in recent years, as Yushchenko sought to distance Ukraine from Russia, launching bids to join NATO and the European Union.

Moscow and Kiev have also been embroiled in bitter disputes over natural gas supplies and Russia"s war with Georgia in August 2008.

KIEV, February 5 (RIA Novosti)