UCCA's preliminary statement on Ukraine's parliamentary elections

Following is the text of the preliminary statement of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America on the conduct of parliamentary elections in Ukraine. The statement was released on April 10.

The process of democracy-building in Ukraine has once again taken center stage with the advent of the third parliamentary elections on March 31. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), having the fourth largest delegation of international election observers, stands firm in its preliminary conclusions that since independent Ukraine's first parliamentary elections of 1994, significant progress has been made toward the conduct of free, transparent and democratic elections. The adoption of a new law on elections provided an improved legal framework to conduct democratic elections by incorporating greater methods of transparency, adopting a mixed electoral system, allowing for multi-party election commissions and instituting election campaign regulations.

Despite this improved election law, the pre-election campaign was marred by abuses of this legal document to manipulate the elections. Of utmost importance was the use/misuse of administrative resources. This resulted in the lack of equal access to the media for all 33 registered political parties and blocs, and the disproportionate coverage of pro-presidential candidates on government-owned and privately controlled television channels.

On March 31 the UCCA's 46-member delegation of election observers was able to observe the elections at over 100 polling sites throughout various oblasts of Ukraine and at polling stations in the United States. Important strides in conducting democratic elections have been met, but examples of irregularities witnessed by our international election observers persist. Such minor violations of the election law included: lack of secrecy of the vote, improperly tied ballot boxes, the presence of campaign posters of parties or candidates, and questioning of voters by officials.

Another important factor witnessed by the majority of our international election observers was the lack of adequate space at the polling sites. Although Ukraine's electorate was patient, and at times returned two and three times to their polling districts in an effort to vote, the confined quarters resulted in confusion, long lines and lack of voter confidence.

While a detailed statement and report will be forthcoming after the crucial post-election tabulations and procedures are completed, the UCCA calls upon the Central Election Commission and related authorities to ensure full transparency of the ongoing process. Having a long-standing relationship with Ukraine and its people, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America remains committed to assisting the process of democracy-building. Therefore, the UCCA is pleased to announce that it has opened a permanent representative office in Kyiv, and looks forward to continuing its work in strengthening a civil society and cooperating with local Ukrainian partners.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, April 28, 2002, No. 17, Vol. LXX

| Home Page |