Delays in Ukraine Ballot Counting Distressing

CBC - Canada is expressing its concern as the counting of ballots in Ukraine’s recent parliamentary elections drags on.

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and International Co-operation Minister Julian Fantino issued a statement November 2 calling on election officials and party leaders in Ukraine to ensure that the millions of people who voted Oct. 28 are heard.

“Canada is distressed by the lack of openness, transparency and timeliness that has characterized vote tabulation,” the statement said.

“Sadly, this is just the latest in the series of irregularities that has characterized the campaign overall and confirms reports that Ukraine’s parliamentary elections did not meet the democratic standard that Ukrainians have the right to expect.

“Canada urges election authorities and all party leaders to do right by the millions of Ukrainians who attempted to express their democratic rights and be heard, regardless of the party they chose.

“Canada will continue to monitor developments in Ukraine closely and looks forward to receiving the final reports of Mission Canada and other independent election observation missions in the coming weeks.”

President Viktor Yanukovych’s party claimed victory in the parliamentary elections, which were marred from the start by the jailing last year of former Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, who finished second to Yanukovych in presidential elections in 2010.

Canada sent about 500 observers to monitor the elections. It was the fifth consecutive election in Ukraine to which Canada sent observers.

Sen. Raynell Andreychuk, who headed up Canada’s election observer contingent, known as Mission Canada, complained of “worrying signs” the day after the vote.

Andreychuk said she was concerned about a regression in Ukraine’s electoral process and in the democratic environment in the country, saying monitors had seen vote buying and campaigning at polling stations, which is a violation of Ukrainian law and international standards, as well as a lack of freedom of the press and for parties other than the governing party.

Mission Canada has already complained of serious problems in the tabulation of votes, including long delays, manipulation of electronic results and counting taking place in “crowded, tense and often terrible conditions.”

In a statement released Nov. 2, Mission Canada said its observers had noted cases of pressure and intimidation on elections authorities that, along with the tabulation delays, amounted to “evidence of attempts to purposefully manipulate results, particularly in competitive races” in areas such as Kyiv.