Kharkiv - Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has said she is against the holding of repeat elections in disputed single-seat constituencies.
“Prevent the repeat elections from being held in the districts where [President Viktor] Yanukovych, through fraud, bribery and forcible pressure, wants to nullify and seize the people’s choice. Agreeing to repeat elections in such circumstances means legitimizing the fraud and letting down those citizens who are holding an uncompromising struggle for each polling station,” Tymoshenko said in a statement that was read out by her defense lawyer, Oleksandr Plakhotniuk, on Wednesday.
According to Tymoshenko, the opposition should seek a recount of votes in these constituencies based on the existing vote count protocols.
“The opposition has protocols with original signatures and stamps, with credible results. I’m asking the opposition to demand that the vote count on these protocols [be recognized], and do not give a second chance to corrupt officials and forgers to sneer at the people’s choice. People have already made their choice at these districts. Experiments shouldn’t be conducted any longer. I believe that you will achieve justice,” reads the statement.
According to Tymoshenko, the events accompanying the vote count in disputed districts are further evidence of election fraud.
