Final Word from Monday, March 3, 2014
Bohuslav Sobotka was unable to explain convincingly yesterday why the CR had stopped recognizing Viktor Yanukovich as president of Ukraine. Like the politicians in Kiev themselves, Sobotka is working under the assumption that Yanukovich lost his legitimacy at some point and could therefore be removed by means that were not entirely democratic. Two wrongs make a right, is one way to look at it, or perhaps the better adage is "possession is nine-tenths of the law." The opposition is now in charge of the Ukrainian Parliament, so it possesses the power to decide, regardless of whether its decisions are entirely constitutional. By fleeing, Yanukovich forfeited his possession of power, so he is out of luck. What about Vladimir Putin's march into Crimea? He's in possession of the peninsula, so doesn't he "own" it? Perhaps his big mistake was not having the people of Simferopol take a Maidan-like vote on the town square. [Czech Republic PM Russia]
Glossary of difficult words
possession is nine-tenths of the law - an expression meaning that the person in physical possession of something is in a better position to maintain control over it than someone who is not, regardless of who the rightful owner is;
two wrongs DO NOT make a right - the fact that someone has done something unjust or dishonest is no justification for acting in a similar way;
adage - a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.