The upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine are of particular importance and nature, therefore they require particular preparations.
The European Parliament has started arrangements for the observation mission. We have chosen the members and the head of the mission – Mr. Pawel Kowal who also leads the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.
In the past I had several opportunities to monitor the election process in Ukraine. I remember especially the election in 2004, when massive violations of the law were found.
I am aware that there is no better help for the observers than a thorough work on the ground.
I have decided to send two members from my staff to Dnipropetrovsk, which will be the place of my mission on October 28.
They will visit the city on October 3-4 in order to meet NGOs representatives, MP candidates and their election staff, and prepare a report depicting the current electoral campaign.
The Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) observation mission, which works on behalf of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, is of a particular importance for these elections. My staff will be in a close collaboration with the ODIHR long-term observers.
I believe that having an overview of the situation four weeks before the vote will prove helpful in determining whether the elections are free and fair.
