KIEV: Ukraine’s presidential election results giving victory to Russia-friendly Viktor Yanukovich were suspended today pending review of his rival’s appeal. Ukraine’s Administrative Court said it would rule on Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s appeal by February 25, when lawmakers had planned to inaugurate Yanukovich.

Until that ruling, the court said, it was suspending the Central Election Commission’s declaration that Yanukovich had won the February 7 vote by just 3.5 percentage points was suspended. Tymoshenko has refused to concede, claiming the election was tainted by fraud.

Yesterday, she delivered what she said was evidence to the court, and urged a full re-count of the vote. She asked her supporters, however, not to hold street demonstrations - as they did in what became known as the 2004 Orange Revolution. Those mass protests lead to a court’s overturning Yanukovich’s presidential election victory that year and ordering a rerun, which was won by Tymoshenko ally Viktor Yushchenko. International observers have deemed Ukraine’s latest election free and fair, dealing a blow to Tymoshenko chances of mounting a successful court challenge. Yesterday, Tymoshenko appeared at the supreme administrative court in person to file the complaint demanding that the declaration of the final results be quashed.

She and her supporters carried several boxes which a statement on her website said contained evidence, including video recordings and photographs, that the election was fraudulent.