You're reading: Irish Times: Rift deepens between Kyiv and West as poll is criticised

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s criticism of Ukraine’s election and the jailing of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has angered the ex-Soviet state and highlighted deep rifts in the 56-nation group as Kyiv prepares to replace Ireland at its helm.

Monitors
from the OSCE said Sunday’s parliamentary ballot represented a setback
for democracy in Ukraine, complaining that it was tilted in favour of
the ruling Regions Party by biased media coverage and the unfair use of
so-called administrative resources.

The European Union and United
States took their lead from the OSCE monitors in denouncing the vote,
which could deepen the existing chill in relations between Kyiv and the
West.

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