In ENGLISH | РУС/УКР
Sign in | Register
Mobile version | Subscription | RSS Archive
KyivPost

EU criticizes Ukraine's Oct. 28 parliamentary election

Print version
Nov. 12, 2012, 11 p.m. | Ukraine — by Reuters

A woman holds a placard bearing pictures of jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko (R) and jailed opposition leader Yuriy Lutzenko during a rally of the opposition in front of central election commission in Kiev on November 5, 2012. Thousands of Ukrainians massed in central Kiev on November 5 to protest against alleged fraud in parliamentary elections won by the ruling party as the opposition threatened not to recognise the new legislature. At least 2,000 opposition supporters carrying Ukrainian flags gathered outside the headquarters of the central election commission amid a heavy presence of elite Berkut anti-riot police, an AFP correspondent said. AFP PHOTO/ SERGEI SUPINSKY
© AFP

SEE ALSO

 BRUSSELS, Nov 12 (Reuters) - Ukraine's Oct. 28 parliamentary election was marred by a delayed vote count and other irregularities, the European Union said on Monday.

The criticism by the bloc - which has frozen a trade deal with Ukraine because of concerns over the country's political and justice systems - came a day after final election results showed the ruling party would likely keep its grip on parliament.

President Viktor Yanukovich's Party of the Regions remained the biggest party in the 450-seat parliament, gaining an overall 185 seats, but was thought likely to retain control with support from communists and independents.

"We express our concern about the conduct of the post electoral process, which was marred by irregularities, delays in the vote count and lack of transparency in the electoral commissions," EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton and enlargement commissioner Stefan Fule said in a statement.

The EU comments came on top of earlier criticism of the build-up to the election and the vote itself.

Other problems alresady identified in a report by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe ranged from biased media coverage to a lack of transparency in financing.

The European Union and Ukraine initialled an agreement in March on greater political and economic integration, including trade, investment and movement of capital.

But the 27 EU governments and the European Parliament have yet to sign the accord because of concern over the former Soviet country's elections, judicial system and arrest of opposition leaders.

The election took place while the country's most prominent opposition leader, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, served a seven-year sentence for abuse of office and awaited a new trial on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement.

After opposition rallies complaining of a crooked vote count, election authorities announced a re-vote in five individual electoral districts. (Reporting By Sebastian Moffett; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

READ MORE IN SECTION
The Kyiv Post is hosting comments to foster lively debate. Criticism is fine, but stick to the issues. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks will be removed from the site. If you think that a posted comment violates these standards, please flag it and alert us. We will take steps to block violators.
Advertising link

KyivPost

© 1995–2012 Public Media

Web links to Kyiv Post material are allowed provided that they contain a URL hyperlink to the www.kyivpost.com material and a maximum 500-character extract of the story. Otherwise, all materials contained on this site are protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced without the prior written permission of Public Media at news@kyivpost.com
All information of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency placed on this web site is designed for internal use only. Its reproduction or distribution in any form is prohibited without a written permission of Interfax-Ukraine.