Observers from the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe started monitoring the presidential election process in Ukraine on Feb. 6. They will assess the election’s compliance with democratic standards and national legislation all throughout Election Day on March 31 and into the expected second-round on April 21.
“Observers will closely monitor candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes,” OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights said in a statement.
On April 1, the Election Observation Mission will give a press conference on its preliminary findings and conclusions. In the case of a runoff, the mission will continue monitoring the second round of elections. Its final report will be published eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
Headed by Sweden’s former ambassador to Iran, Peter Tejler, the observation core team consists of 17 experts based in Kyiv from 13 OSCE participant states, including European Union members and countries like Georgia, Kyrgyzstan and Serbia. Another 100 people will monitor the regions as long-term observers, and 750 will observe on Election Day.
Tejler expressed concern about Ukraine’s intention to bar Russian observers from monitoring elections. A bill that would make such amendments to the election laws was registered in the Ukrainian parliament on Feb. 4.
“Of course, we are aware that a relevant bill was proposed. We are also quite aware of the position voiced by the Ukrainian authorities, and we have concerns because it does not comply with OSCE commitments as for participation of all OSCE participating countries in the observation mission,” Tejler said at a press conference in Kyiv.
Tejler added that talks about the makeup of the observation mission are currently underway between the OSCE/ODIHR and Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Russia has proposed to include two Russian citizens as long-term observers in the OSCE Election Observation Mission. The mission’s deployment follows an invitation from the Ukrainian authorities. Both countries are members of the OSCE.
