Ukraine elections 'largely fair and transparent' say observers

The elections held on Sunday (2 November) by pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine were “largely fair and transparent”, according to a team of international observers.

Presidential and parliamentary polls were held in the two self-proclaimed people's republics in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Ukraine, the US and EU say they will not recognise the elections but Russia gave its support to the polls.

The Donetsk and Luhansk regions fell to separatists after months of fighting in eastern Ukraine that ended with the Minsk ceasefire deal in September.

Rebel leaders say that as independent states they are not required to observe Ukrainian law and therefore did not participate in Ukraine's national elections last week.

Voting was brisk throughout the day at 300 polling stations to elect“heads of state” in Donetsk and Luhansk. There were also 200 candidates from two main political parties for the 100 “parliamentary” posts up for grabs in each region.

The turnout was expected to exceed 50 per cent  in a total population of about 6m.

The elections were closely monitored by a team of independent observers from various European countries, including Italy, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Former Austrian MEP Ewald Stadler said he was satisfied with the way the elections were run

Stadler, who is also a lawyer and was part of the team of observers, added, “This election is an expression of what people in these two regions want. No one can say that they do not accurately reflect public opinion. I have observed elections before and saw nothing wrong with this.

"What it will achieve is another question of course,” said Stadler who was an MEP until June.

Hungarian MP Gyongyosi Marton, who was also one of the observers, told this website that as far as he could see the elections has been “perfectly fair and transparent.”

He said, “I realize that they are not being recognized by the EU and US but I have seen nothing to give cause for concern in the way they have been conducted.”

He added, “Today, I saw long lines of people waiting to vote which is encouraging in itself and shows a willingness to vote. I have observed the ballot papers and all seems in order.

“What all this means for the future remains to be seen of course. Personally, I think the result should lead to some sort of self rule for these two regions.”

Another observer, Srdja Trifkovic, who is from Serbia and is foreign editor of Chronicles Magazine, endorsed his comments and said,”They appear to have been executed fairly and openly and my hope now is that they will lead to some sort of peaceful resolution to the current crisis.”

Three candidates contested the election for the post of head of the Donetsk “people’s republic’ who will be elected for a four year term.

Alexander Zakharchenko, the acting head of government in Donetsk, is widely tipped to become the region's president.

Meanwhile, Igor Plotnitsky is being touted by Russian media as the favourite to win in Luhansk.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the recently agreed Minsk deal provided for elections "in co-ordination with, not in line with" Ukrainian plans.

A spokesman for the Central Election Commission said three million ballots had been printed for the polls and that the participation of the observers in the elections was an “important instrument” in showing they were “open and transparent”.

He the elections were justified by the “unwillingness” of the Ukrainian authorities to “establish an equal dialogue with the residents of south-east Ukraine”.

He went on: “We have a loyal and hard working people on whose shoulders today lies the restoration of the state.”

The elections come after Ukraine elected a new parliament on 26 October and with many saying that the very survival of the Ukrainian state at stake.

More than 3,000 people have been killed in the war in the east and 300 more since a ceasefire was agreed on 5 September, as the rebels try to grab more land, resources and supply lines.

The Ukrainian economy is collapsing, with a fall in GDP of between 7% and 10% forecast for this year.

According to those standing in the elections at the weekend the poll is intended to “free” the dependence of the two regions  from Ukraine control.

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