WASHINGTON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden voiced concerns about Ukraine's electoral process when speaking with the country's president, Viktor Yanukovych, on Tuesday, the White House said.
Yanukovich, who is facing an impeachment threat after Ukraine’s disputed Oct. 28 election, had sent a congratulatory message after Biden and President Barack Obama won re-election last week, according to theWhite House. Biden then spoke with Yanukovich on Tuesday.
“Noting the strong interest of the United States in enhancing its relationship with Ukraine, the Vice President voiced concerns over Ukraine’s recent parliamentary elections,” according to the statement summarizing the call. “He also urged Ukraine to live up to its democratic commitments and end selective prosecutions.”
On Monday Ukraine’s three major opposition parties threatened the president of the former Soviet republic with impeachment.
The European Union has criticized Ukraine’s prosecution of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, calling her case an example of selective justice. The EU has also raised concerns about vote counting in the October parliamentary election that reinstated control over parliament for Yanukovich’s Party of the Regions.
Yanukovich has shrugged off international criticism of the election, which opposition politicians say involved vote-rigging. (Reporting By Lisa Lambert; Editing by Eric Walsh)
