In 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union, Ukraine became an independent country for the first time since the early twentieth century. The country selected democracy as its only possible path of governance, and the future appeared promising. However, since 1991 Ukraine has failed to consolidate its democracy and by Freedom House measures has remained one of the most corrupt and most disappointing countries in terms of democratic development in the world. Recently, the country has plunged into turmoil, with hundreds of thousands rioting in the streets and death tolls climbing in the hundreds. Ukraine has suffered because its government has failed to enforce rule of law, control corruption or promote strong regulatory quality. The recent events represent fresh hope for Ukraine's democratic prospects, but the country remains torn between Russian and Western influence.
