Ukraine elections

International election observers are continuing to reveal irregularities during the recent parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Against the background of irregularities, fraud and result manipulation, and the consequent threat from opposition groups to boycott the new legislature, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms, who was part of a European Parliament observation delegation to Ukraine, said:

“The continuing emergence of revelations of irregularities and fraud in the Ukrainian parliamentary elections underlines existing concerns. The renewed criticism of the conduct of the elections by the EU Commission is to be welcomed. Against this background and with the opposition threatening to boycott the new legislature, the EU needs to take a clear stance. For its part, the European Parliament's special electoral observation mission of Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwasnieski should address the latest revelations or postpone its forthcoming visit.

“The latest negative reports from international electoral observers have highlighted concerns about the imbalanced electoral commission, which has benefitted the ruling Party of the Regions. Widespread irregularities concerning vote counting and the compiling of results in multiple constituencies have been reported, with opposition candidates being declared ineligible and candidates from the ruling Party of the Regions being declared elected.

“These allegations must all be thoroughly investigated, based on international democratic standards, and the final report of the ongoing long-term OSCE mission should address this. Ukrainian citizens, who have again clearly demonstrated their commitment to democracy, should be able to rely on international support.”