Representatives of the diplomatic missions of the European Union and the United States to Ukraine have discussed with Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) Volodymyr Shapoval issues related to repeat elections of people's deputies in five constituencies where conflicts occurred during the 2012 parliamentary elections, as well as the court ruling to deprive two people's deputies of their seats in the Ukrainian parliament.
According to the press service of the CEC, the meeting was held on Wednesday, February 13, at the request of the diplomatic missions. Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Jan Tombinski and a delegation from the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine led by Counselor for Political Affairs Alexander Kasanof participated in the meeting.
Shapoval said that today the CEC does not have the full text of the ruling of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine declaring doubtful the results of the parliamentary elections at single-seat constituencies No. 11 and No. 71 on Oct. 28, 2012.
“However, we have several abstracts of the document, the authors of which, as it seems to me, demonstrated exceptional professional liberty. Analysis of these abstracts does not give a clear understanding of the Central Election Commission’s task [in this situation]. But, certainly, the CEC will act only according to the law,” he said.
“In addition, I cannot imagine that CEC could ignore the Constitution of Ukraine, especially its Article 81, which contains the full list of reasons for the early termination of a Ukrainian people’s deputy’s term, it is finished and the constitution does not allow extending it due to various court rulings,” he said.
“I hope the situation will be clarified as soon as we are able to read the motivation part of the document,” Shapoval said.
During the discussion of repeat parliamentary elections in five constituencies, where conflicts arose during the 2012 parliamentary elections, the CEC head noted that the Central Election Commission could call them in March.
“For this we have to create legal tools and amend the law on the election of people’s deputies in Ukraine by a relevant instruction, or pass a relevant law on the issue. However, unfortunately, today there is a gap in the legislation which makes the holding of such elections impossible,” he said.
