MOSCOW—Ukrainians voted Sunday in parliamentary elections that President Viktor Yanukovych's party is likely to win, but which are tainted by the absence from the ballot of his main opponent, James Marson wrote for Wall Street Journal.
The West is closely watching the poll for signs that Mr. Yanukovych is responding to criticism of his rollback of democracy—which has left the former Soviet republic isolated—by ensuring a fair and transparent election.
His Party of Regions appears set to win the vote and assemble a majority with support from the Communist Party and candidates running in single-mandate districts who will make up half of the 450-seat chamber.
