Kowal: European Parliament to send 15 observers to Ukraine

BRUSSELS - The European Parliament will send 15 lawmakers to Ukraine to monitor the parliamentary elections to be held on October 28.

This decision was taken by the Conference of Presidents, which took place in the European Parliament, Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee Pawel Kowal, who will also be included in the mission, told Interfax-Ukraine.

He said that the political groups of the European Parliament would then decide which deputies will be part of the observation mission, and its head will also be elected.

Kowal believes that the mission should leave for Ukraine two or three weeks before polling day.

"The elections are not only the day of voting. They are also preceded by the preparatory process, which is equally important. In this aspect, we have to see whether all political parties and candidates have equal access to the media, whether equal conditions for campaigning were created, and how the authorities are ensuring the holding of truly free, fair and transparent elections, the results of which would then cause no questions from the international community," he said.