Kyiv, May 24, 2014 – Oleksandr Chernenko, head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, during his media briefing in Ukraine Crisis Media Center stated: «On May 25 we expect high voter turnout, about 60%, that is why we do not exclude some queues at the election districts. Nevertheless, work of the Central Election Committee and its bodies generally complies with the requirements of current legislation which allows to provide clear and fair elections and ensure every voter’s right to vote at the elections of the President of Ukraine (and also at the elections of self-governing authorities, in cases foreseen)». First of all it refers to the major part of Ukraine where situation at the election districts is under Ukrainian government’s control.
Speaking on the opportunity to vote at the elections of the President of Ukraine in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, under circumstances, as Mr. Chernenko noted, «in practice elections can be held only in the West of Donetsk region and in the North of Luhansk region. Electoral process is impossible to organize in Slovyansk, Kramatorsk, Makiyivka, as the situation there under the control of the terrorists. The conduction of the elections in Donetsk is doubtful ether. Altogether, out of 34 precincts located in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, only about 9 precincts are ready to election today. Moreover, the situation has deteriorated in comparison with yesterday. Local authorities in these regions are afraid to conduct the elections as they are unable to ensure security of life and health of citizens who are to come to the voting stations».
Concerning the number of voters, the total number of Ukrainian voters living in the territory of these two regions makes approximately 15%. According to the head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine estimate, the elections will anyway take place at one third of the election districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Thus, up to 5% of the total number of Ukrainian voters will have a possibility to vote. Even though, as Mr. Chernenko added: «More than 60% of voters in Donbas would not participate in the elections, even if all the appropriate conditions were provided. Elections are only important for 30% of inhabitants of these regions. Despite this fact, every vote is priceless for us, as it is the evidence of the legitimate elections. Voters of Donbas, who, despite the threat, will participate in the presidential elections, are going to make a genuine civil action.”
Commenting on the general course of the electoral campaign, Oleksandr Chernenko stated: «Presidential electoral campaign in Ukraine was entirely free and democratic. All the candidates had equal access to mass media and agitation. Recorded infringements were not massive ones and mainly pertained to the agitation campaign, when almost all the top-rated candidates were placing biased articles in mass-media posing as editorial. Along with this, we did not observe either any interference of administrative resource into the electoral process or bribery of voters, which was a practiced at previous elections».
Up to 3000 observers will be working at the elections of the President of Ukraine.
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