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RealClear World

 

Ukraine's Elections Will
Be Free and Fair

 

By. Mikhail 

October 24, 2012 Select Language 

With Ukraine '5 Oct. 28 pardiamentary elections just a few days away the country is makj_ngI ?nal preparations to
ensure that. they are credible and transparent. The etakes are high. Ukrainian authorities have made it Clear that

European int'eg'ration' Is a top priority and therefore the international oo?mmujnity will be watching cleely.

We. welcome the scrutiny;

As a member of the independent Central Election. Commission
(CEC), it is my Job to ensure that the elections are deemed free and fair. My prediction, as I told U. 8. government
representatives and non-govemmental organizations during a recent trip to the American capital is that
notwithstanding sotne reservations concerning a few technical details this fall's elections will not just meet but
exceed international electoral standards for fairness and transparency,

This isrin large part duoto new legislation that was designed With assistance from the Venice Commission-and the
Organization for Security and cooperation in Europe (080E). The new law was supported by international and
domestic experts, and the people of Ukraine. It was adepted by more than 80 percent of Ukraine' 3 parliament
mantra-rm inoluding representatives from every f?aCtion- both the ruling coalition and the opposition.




The new election law a mixed electoral system under which half the country' 450 representatiyes
are elected' In single-member districts and half through proportional representation in a single nationwide
cdn?stituency The law lifts the election threshold from three to five percent, prdhibits parties from running tage'ther
in electoral coalitions, and removes the option of "vote against all" as a choice on the ballot.

While the law includes important refonns several thereof were ruled. unconstitutional by the
Constitutional Conrt of Ukraine In April 2012 Those rulings created two. serious legal gaps. in the law.

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First, there Is. no procedural. basis to incorporate tallies from 115 out-of-country polling stations, representing some
439-, 000 voters living abroad in the final results of elections, which is to be prepared by the CEO by Nov 12, 2012.
Secondly, invalidation of the rules allowing. one individual candidate to run simultaneously on a party list and In a
single mandate district opened way for a oandidate to run in two or more districts.

While the CEC rs trying to resolve the ?rst problem through a resolution the second problem ivill _obviouSIy remain
a challenge in May 2012 the CEC unanImously supported a number of important technical amendments
necessary to ?ll' In the gaps created by the Coh'stitutio?al Court?s rulings and submitted them to parliament To our
disappointment the parliament. failed to pay adequate attention to that initiative.

Regardless of such uncertainty, the CEC has prepared and passed moreithan50 resolutions needed to clarify the
law and ensure the uniform. application thereof by all stakeholders. Rough Iy 99 percent of these 'resolutionswere
passed with a unanimous vote. of- all 15 commission members; And on April28, the redistricting process was
?nished --deemed to be one of the most sensitive issues, much like it is in the 

Furthermore Ukraine has spent considerable time and resources developing a database of registered voters that
is automatically updated on a regular basis. As a result we can be 99 .9 percent con?dent that every eligible voter

registration system is one of. the best and mostef?cie?r'it in theworld.

With the CEC'still has-a lotdf work to do. For?one, we aim to have webcams at-all 32.1.33 regular
polling Stations so that anyone. in the world with Internet access can watch the. elections in real time.? -an
unprecedented level of transparency. What Is even more important- -the webcams will record the entire counting
process at each regular poil?mg station thus enabling. the CEO to use the respective data for consideration of
possible complaints.



QSCE and, of course, Fri-fiedom?l-?jpuse, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic institute and
the international Fo_u ndation fer 'E_lectpra_l Systems. We welcome and encourage the participation ef'as many
observers as possible to help ensure that Ukraine's electoral process is honest and citedible. We really want new
pairti'san, unbiased Observers en the ground ?ivho ca'h accurately tell thestory of this election to the world. We?re
con?dent it will be a dead one.

The road to a strong democracy is not-always straight and although our joumey has been imperfect, we have come
a long way. In 2010. the presidential sleetieh. was pio'notmced clean and transparent a major acoomplishmentas
this. was only Ukraine's ?fth predidential eleCtion since declaring independence from theSoviet Unibn in 1991LTh-e
CEC will do its best to do even better for the upcoming parliamentary elections. in this regard we continue to rely
on the support and the constructive Criticism of all American and European institutions during both the pre- and
post-election period

This is a pivotal moment for Ukraine. We plan on seizing it.

Mikhail is a member of the Ukrainian Central Election Commission an independent body comprised
of 15 members, who are each appointed to a 7-year term oy_ Ukraine 5 partiament to supervise and conduct
presidential, parliamentary and local elections as well as national and local referends

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Reccivdo NSD/FWWistioit 

 

 



- I

on Sunday 25 October. the I of Ukraine Will go to the
polls to vote in parliamentary elections. These elections come
at on hnportant timIeI for the country. which is Iunde logs
series of political. Iegaland economic reforms intended make
Ukraine more modern. democratic-and prosperous.

Electoral rplomn

Sundays election takes place under a new electoral lczc- The new
law. outlined oolcwIcndI right. helps Ukraine make .. recs towards
genuine, democratic electoral processes in line with European
standards. it helps Ukraine to deliver free. for and transparent
elections. . 
The new electoral law Irnors than four out eleven ?ye
do utics. from both and? I ovemmont. ITho reforms comply
. standards put forward by international organisations. They were
drafted with the help of the Venice Qommission of the Council of
the Organisation lor Security and Cooperation in Europe

 

KYFACTS ABOUTTHENEWELECTORALEYSTEM

 

i Adopladoy meIVerlIcl-Iovn?a Roda on 1-7 November-2911

Supported by deputles. frcm?all political groups 
I it includes Il<ay demands of the and 
it Drafted the not) of the Council of Europe IIa'nd the OSCE

i No more electoral coalitions each party must run individually
1r lilo Vote Against All? option on the ballot 

Admission of candidates

5.11:1 candidates will run in the polls representing a wide range of
pa les.

The did not register Yuiia a former Prime Minister
and IYuriy a former Intcnor Minister, due to their criminal
ccnvucllons, The CEIC dossInot have the authority to give a legal
assessment o! court it could not act in any way 0 than to
refuse the applications

International observation missions

Thousands of intIemejional and domestic election observers - including
a European Parliament delegation - mil monitor yo?ng and counting.
Observers come] ??om trons and parliaments.
International organisations. civil snooty and NGOs.

Several members of the delegation from Assembly
of Ill-Ire Council of Europe PA I E) hove Stressed that the sordid on the
of Ukraine's ale one. should not he given bofora the vote.
glut Cavuso lo. a dal anon member and a fonner PAQE
President. said at the city on concerning Iymoshonko "should
not be used to declare the elections illegitimate prior to their
m?emonlolron". 
The general public will also be solo-to monitor the conduct of the polls
via weboams placed at 34 000? polling .stations.__n recent poll ?showed
in? {33% of Ukrainians who answered the question supported this
in: a we.

Key criteria for determining free and fair elections

ooseryers have already been in Ukraine for some time. monitoring the
compliance of Fro-election procedures with democratic and fair
elections as -_Isuch as the for registration 01 candidates and
voters transparency in campal hing. tl'le'oxlctence of an independent
and eilaclive electoral auditing. and tree and if media cow/9%.
The ?rst interim report from the OSCE gave a generally favou 
review,

Qn polling day and in the hours anomards. the obsohrers' focuswi? shift
to access to and conduct to ppilm stations. the secrecy of y01m% and
the way in which votes are counts . recorded and delivered to the EC.

One important measure will be the correlation between exit polls and

   
  

-. Wrath?. 
likrainianplectronzqt

flepu?es are elected to the \{erlrhovna RadIaI. Ukraine's
Parliament. for a ?ap-Ramona

Alotal onSOHeputlesv-nllbo eleoted on 28 

"with molested in glinsglenmomoer
computations. and via nation II partyiiste.
with seats allocated vie proportional represents on

A paag?m'u?st five percent ofI-lhc nationwide vote to
tool! in Parliamont-upfromlhiseperoom

The Ukrainian Central EloclionsCornmisslon (asp)
?mediated 5,57] candidates for the Election on. the
party ?sts and in constituencies

Accoidin to a loonducted' 61K in September.
will mpaply vote in

 

Analysis by the State Committee for Television and
Radio Broad?astisnarghm that airtime fo

. . r?to
as ?narrower .
- mm 
will take lacs in 34.000 station. and
313% campus foilo?iicd ?drum: uiagwepcams
installed in each-polling station - anyone can be an
observer
Almost 1.000 iritomattonal observers have already

ooan'legislersd - and the total panther of dogmatic-and
Emotional observers no likely to reach tens of I -
1

 

the ?nal results. On Sunda . independent companies will do out at

least four exit polls. ?PlfOV?i ?a first of voting ms

gems mtg-merge hm 2 hours. with a ?nal result pub toned on
vem .

Maintaining reform and deep?clnq Ukraine?s partner'sltip with the EU

coma at a crucialstago for ykraine and its relations
with the EU. All mainstream aides in Ukraine areccmmittcd to
Europe and to ensuring. a hc?qyaf. suction. Holster it Will be
crucial for observers. as wall as root lions such as the Ircpean
Parliament. to basetherr. .- mom of the legitimacy of the a one

outcome.

on the process rather than the
The reform promos in Ulo'ainc is 0 cl . As well as electoral reform
there have been updates Ito the ?m?igcwa. increased protection oi
minorities. sconomlp refocus and other changes to mg; with
requests from European bodies. bringing Ukraine into i with
European standards.

The next step on the path to a closer relationshipoetwaen Ukraine
and theIEU will be the ?nal 5 nature and rati?catlcnIof the a read
Association A ant and the bee andCornprahanswc Free Iradc
Agreement. "is is a stop that Will have mutual bene?ts for citizens
and businesses in Ukraine and the EU and help secure Ukraines
European future.

 

EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR A MODERN UKRAINE

14 Flue de la Science. l040 Brussels. aelqium Tel +32' (0)2 308 36 30 1 Email info?ecfmmeu

. I opinion leaders and businesses about advancements in Ukraine
in order to build a more prosperotas future lorthe country and a closer relaoonship With the European Union.

ECFMU is a Brussels-based coo that educates

 

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326%. 

JeSSi??qu
Hefa Abbasi
Hamgh [zen
Chris Human

He'cfh;
Beiamer
Chad. 
Jamie: MacLellan
DamianM
Matthew iiad'i?lia'" 
Aii?h?k?b
__A_nn Norris
[inE-Br?'
Pena .
. Howard
ChrisCa?nnon

 

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Yol's can't Stain History: Ukraine is Europe

By Romano Prodi

NeitSunday Ukraine will hold its parliamentary elections, and their being regdlar and transparent is
considered by many in Europe a necessary condition to proceed to thesigning- of-a very broad.
agri'aement of association and free trade with Kyiv.

The Association agreement c'ould'in a few years double the actual trade volume of almost ?40 billion a
year. This scenario woold particularly favor Italy, the third'lairigest trading. pja rtn?fr of Kyiv, and could
a non?ne?gligibie ob?drt?nity for growth at a time of crisis.

Thanks-to its geographical pesi?tioin, gas shale deposits, energy transit infrastructure, aswell as vast
agricultural resources and aerospace and software expertise, Ukraine gouldb?cojnne an in] portafnt
strategic partner of Eu rope anda geopotititj'al bridge between Moscow and. Brussels.

But the European Union for the moment hesitates. A group of countries has announced that it will
oppose the-signing of theAgreement as long as the former Prime-Minister Y'ulia Tymoshenigo, convicted
of abuse. of of?ce last year, remainszin jai_l_.

Personally; believe that this position is contrary to the interests of Europe and the millions of Ukrainian
citizens, many of whom ajre'voter?s arm-rs. Tymoshenko, who would bene?t from better-ecu nomic'
opportunities and more advanced standards of'civil and democratic society.

Of course, the Tymoshenko case raises questions that cannot be ignored, But even in this context, I
believe thatweshould encourage dialogqu and promote-cIOSer relations. between. Brussels-and Kyiv.
Because in the end you ca n?t stop history.,And closer ties between Ukraine and the European union is
an inevitable process.

iagree with the opinion expressed by the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Kon'styantyn that
the signing?: the Association Agreement-could ultimately provide a new tool-to promote. reforms and
democracy in Ukraine, according to best European practices.

The pressure'of the European institutions in the meanwhile has already produced various results. Ahead

.of?parliamentairy elections on Octotier 28th, the Ukrainian Parliament has approved by-a large majority.

with the votes Of the majbr parties in government and opposition, a new electoral law designed
following the recommendations of the'Go'u'ncil of Europe,

Almost four thousand observers representing more than thirty intern atiofnal missions 'w-iil inanitor the
regular rity? of elections. All polling stations havevb?e'en eduipped with web cameras to deter 'fraud.

Also, whenthedelegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of thecouncil of Europe-recently denounced
an impendinglawthatz-would have criminalised defamation and restricted media freedom in Ukraine - a
law in some ways similar is pnjder'discusjsion-in our own Parliament? it was interestingito see how the
proposed law was immediately withdrawn.

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These facts are a clear demonstration of how important are European institutions to promote
democracy and human rights. Today, Ukraine is the last big eastern. European country seeking EU
membership And frankly it. is. not in worse conditions than its other neighbors that have. preceded it_.

We must remember that the. historic. progess of building Eu rope.- has always meant and it will be this
way in the future engagement and dialogue Not isolation. Even a Ukraine that IS commItted to
integration. needs the guiding hand of Europe to achieve some distance from its Soviet past

Youican?t stop history. And the.Ukra'ine belongs to our horizon.

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.R'ecigie?ntg:
Disfrihuted to Member office's o'f the;Sena:te Foreign Relations House Foreign Affairs
Committee,

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Head of EU Observer Mission Says Election Gould Move Association Agreement Closer to
Initial Reactions from Intemationel Observers Positive

International election observer groups will issue their final verdicts on the parliamentary elections
tomorrow but with nearly 4, 000 international observers taking part in today vote the initial reactiohs
were. positive.

"Overal'L the organization is excellent, the atmosphere' :5 friendly. These are fair and transparent
elections," MEP Daniel van der Stoop (the Netherlands) said at a Sunday news conference?

He noted that the choices of some voters were Visible? In the transparent ballot boxes, and other observer?s
said that at some pelling. stations did not also appear In Russian.

The head of the European Parliament's election observaIIOn mission, Pawel Kowal, said the elections
could move the EU and Ukraine closer to ?nalizing their Association Agreement.

"Of course, we need a new incentive for the signature and ratification oi the Association Agreement," he
said, aceOrding to an inteiag account of a discossio'n Sunday in Kiev. "Personally I think that Ukraine. is a
normal European democracy.

Gerhard Huber (Austria) -'said that the elections were transparent oh the whole-

want to congratulate the organizers that they were abletb organizeopen elections. I hays no critibisih
of the electoral process," he said.

talked to many observers they are satisfied with the process and I am glad that the Ukrainian
government is doing everything possible to enable people to express their will, British MP John
Whittingdale said SunIday' In Kiv

Alex Miller,.an Israeli observer said, ?Basically everything goes line."

An observer tram the l'nterparliarnentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States Valery
.Shnyakin, added: would not say that everything is Unfortunately, there are shortcomings," but
she added that she did not think they were significant enough to impact the outcome.

"We have notieed that everything was quiet, and everyone with whom we spoke con?rmed that everything
was. democratic without any problems and failures," Stella Misauli, an observer for Cyprus, said.

Representatives of the Central EgrooeanGI mg tor Political Monitoring also pronounced themselves
satis?ed with the conduct of Electibn Day. At a. brie?ng Sunday attemoon, representatives from the group
said they had not recorded any serious violations In two days of observation.

"This Is a well-organized election campaign with no extraordinary events, American political scientist
Srdja T'r'rlkovic said.

Party-or Regions. Leads All Public Exit Polls; Parties Cross Parliamentary Threshold

1

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Multiple exit polls show that Party of Regions the United Opposition, UDAR the Communist Party and
.Svoboda will all cross. the 5 percent threshold required to gain seats in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine? 3
Parliament) in today? parliamentary elections.

The Party of Regions Is projected to earn between 27 6 and 31.6 percent of support, with an average oi a
six- point lead over its nearest competitor.

Additionally, polling shows the United Opposition with a lead over UDAR after the two were locked' In a
battle for second and third place.

Finally, the Sveboda party is propose to Signi?cantly exceed. the 5 percent threshold recoired to win
seats in the Ukrainian parliament. Yulia Tymeshenke?s Fatherland party recently formed an alliance With
Svoboda which gave the right-wing group legitimacy resulting, at lea?et? in part in an increase in the pelts
from 5'percent to as much as 12 percent,_in today's vote25% llPamr of
Regions
20% ?United
. Opposition
159? 13'qu3
1.0% .
I?COmmurIrSt
5% Party
gt

 

 

 

 

Statement on Elections from Party of Regions Chaiman Walla A'z'a'rev

Party of Regions Chairman Mykola Azarov issued the fellewmg statement today on thecondujct of 
parliamentary elections.

tTOdaTy the pe'epieoi Ukraine took-another step ide on the road to becoming a more develeped
European democracy.

?Ukrainians expressed their tree will in an election that had alm?oSt no problems inthe voting process.

During the election campaign as well as during the voting process no major infringements were
committed that could. cast doubts on the democraey (if these. elections.

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"The election offiei'als at all levels performed in a professional. and responsible way, showing their
patriotism and Commitment to the norms."

You can read-the luil Statementhege.
Requests for Home Ballots Down

In Ukraine voters are able to request home voting ballots if they aren?t able to make it to the polls
because of a medical disability. an imponant accommodation that allows pe?o?ple? primarily the elderly
and the disabled to be able to exercise their democratic rights.

In the run-up to this years election, just over a million applications for home ballots were made? about
2 7 percent of. the total electorate in line with international standards. That figure is down from 4. 3
percent In 2007 and 3 89 percent' In 201 

To prevent fraud, at least 3 commissioners from different political parties must aocpmpany the mobile
ballot box when it goes out to collect the ballots; of people voting from home; all ballots that go out must.
be strictly accounted for andl observers ar?jp party representatives may monitor mobile voting

Mbbile balloting occurred Withdul incident in the 2006, 2007, and 2010 national ele'jotionjs.
1 

Press Contacts:

Kevin Grif?s? - KG.ri?i?mdesta.oom

Lucy-Clai re Saunders 

Think you received this message in error? ?aming

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exit poll: Five parties make it to the VR


According to the results of the exit poll conducted by Reseafeh Branding Group, ?ve parliamentary
parties girbli?e?d to the VR in the 2012- electiotl, exit poll covered 500 polling stations, 12,500 voters
We?re s?rveyed.

Party of Regions - 31.6%
United Opposition - 23.7%
UDAR - 132%

CPU - 13%

Svoboda - 11%
Ukrai-ne-Forii'ailfd - 1.8%

001? Ukraine- 1.3%

Statements of Election Observers, Expert and Other
Individuals on the Outcomeof the Ukrainian Parliamentary Elections -
October 23, 2012

Pavel Keval (MEP, Head aftlz'e ?repeat: Parliament Observation Mission) ?Today?s
elections are the best ever held. electionsis not everything. There is also a broader
message that goestogether with our presence here: that Ukraine is important to the-people of
Eliirope?.

the legitimacy of these electionh'can be put in question, And I don?t think the EU
or the opposition Will question it. Today Ukraine has. shown that it is not comparable to
Kazakhstan, Belarus many other post-So??et country. What is in question is Whether Ukraine
will be allowed .to join the EU and not that it has 1:9 beaconsidered a normal European
der?ocraey?. 

?Yes, there are some minor gametes, but only if they are measured backdrop of the
high EU standards. I think we-now-need a new signal Earn the EU towards L?craine. We need
?esh impetus on signing the Association Agreement; At the same tithe we needa signal of equal
strength in the opposite direction. What should really come out 'ofthe new Parliament is a clear
strategic choice about the 

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Jab?! (MP ?am UK with PACE) - talked to many observers, they aresatisfied'
with the process grid I am glad that the [Hoainian government is doing everything possibleto
enable people to express their will."

Iain (EUAmbassddar to Ukraine) is clear, based on statements of
various politidal leaders, including Mr. Yatsenyuk (Whom I have just spoken with) that
this eounu'y has a functioning detnocracy Ithink that 15 very important to recognize as a
political facts 

UDAR, Communist Perm satis?ed with prelbninagy results .afelectiai'ts Viktar Pynzenyk
(Farmer Ukrainian Minister quinance and cur-rem UDAR member)? ."This 1.5 a good result,

although our political force always was under pressure don?t see any sensations, everything is
understandable."

Alexi: Kachetkav (Observer with CIS-EMO) - "In our opinion, the elections were held
successfully in Ukraine. They were transparent, The. obtained result re?ects the will of
the Ulu?ainian peeple."

Oleksaudr Halal: (Mem?e?r Hiram Camunist Pam) - "Ukraine should be
satis?ed with the results, that's what important."

Alex Miller (Observer I-smeli Pdriitll?en? - ?Basically everything goes 

Ytiv'allellner (Observer Israeli Parliament) "It may happen that soon you will need no
observers, because everything ishappening are very high level."

Arene'niy Yatseuyuk (Leader, United 0ppas'itian)- "Look, the exit polls shows that the people
of Ukraine support the Opposition, not the government. That's the clear sign that we still have the
democracy In this country. 

Stella Misauli *Cypfusr "We have noticed that everything was quiet, and everyone
with whom we spoke con?rmed that everything was democratic, without any problems and
failures? 

Daniel van der Steep (MEP Netherlands)- "Overall, the organization is excellent, the

Gamma Huber (MEP Austria) - want to congratulatethe organizers that they were able to
organize open elections. -I have no criticism of the electoral piecess.."

Sm'je Trimvic (Observer?m Central Edrap?ean Graapforranecal Monitoring) .- "'?Thisi?s a
well-organized electioh; caftn'?aign, withno extraordinary events."

Lean (former member afthe Israeli Knesset) - "The day of silence was held in
accordance with the law.? He also noted that these elections were characterized by greater

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transparency due to a record number of observers and a wide representation of observers from
various political parties at polling stations.

situation is very tense at the polling stations. But the number of violations that we get does not
exceed the hermal level. 

?No, the election IS unlikely to be considered invalid. T1115 15 evidenced even by
international observers.?

_Cy?ll'Svobode ?onmer?Minister of Foreign A?iqrs Republic) - Former Czech Fereign
Minister

He said he- "did not see any "There is-no doubt that the election was fair and
transparent.? "Democracy is alive in Ukraine.? ?1 was pleasantly surprised that people-are willing
to go vote. A lotof people, just lilte at home."

Sergey Marita-'1'? (ObSerVer The Citric Chamber afthe Russian Federation) "The elections to
the Ukrainian parliament democratioand organized according to standards even
better than in some of the European Union member states."

Kezlzek Teisaev (Observer .-.- The Civic Chamber ofthe Russian Federation) ?Everything was
organized" very Well, at the high level, and in general the elections Were held at a worthy level."

Thieny Met-fen! (Obsmter, French MP andfornter Min?terp ?Transparent ballot boxes,
webcameras, live debates _In front of million TV viewers. It 1s dif?chlt for an election to be more
transparent than that.?

?This is the ?rst time that I have seen such a transparent competition; ?These elec?on's are a
great success for Ukraine and a great success fOr democracy. ?Today Ukraine is a real European
democracyf?

?Collaboration between the EU and Ukraine 15 absolutely neCessai'y. _1 hope this can lead to the
signing of the Association Agreement 11? in our mutual interes. 

Vladimir Titov (Observer-?out CIS-EMO) - "At the moment- all the-violations registered
by our experts-are not We can not say that the election is terrible,
undemocratic.? 

swam Goijieclteve (Observer oflater-Parliamema?v ofthe "No violatiOns were
registered at the polling stations in Kyiv I visited The only thing rs bad light In some of
polling booths, but this Is act a violation, it only created discomfort for voters. 

Kazbek Tahoe): (Olzserverl Russia)- "Everything was organized very well, at the high level,
and general the elections Were held at a worthy level. 

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Volody?myr Skapovai (Head qfthe- Central Election Comissian) -'"One gets the
inlpression that. . .?the electoral process has proceeded normally."

Observers from different cou'titries positive about Ukrainian elections

Kyiv, October 28 (Interfax? Ukraine)? An observer from the United Kingdom,
John Whittingdale, has said that observers on the whole were positive abo?11t the
preparations for the parliamentary elections 111 Ukraine, but it is too early to make
any ?nal assessment.

talked to many observers, they are satis?ed with the process and I am glad
that the Ukrainian government isdoing everything possible to enable people to
express: their will," the British politician said at a press conference in Kyiv on
Sunday-

He- added that'there are some reasons for concern, but electiOn-s cannot be
perfect in any country of the wand.

An observer of the Israeli parliMent, Alex Miller, also praised the voting in
Ukraine. "Basically everything goes he said,

His colleague YuvaI Zellner con?rmed that the electoral process was defhocratic.?
"It may happen that soon you will need no observers, because everything 18
happening at a very high level, he said.

A11 observer from the Interparliamentary Assembly of the CIS, Valery Shnyakm
noted good working conditions for international election observers 111 Ukraine,
however, he noted some ?aws' in the p'DoCess of voting. "1 would not say that
15 Unfortiniately, there are. shortcomings that will not affect
the progress cf the election campaign at large, he said.

'An observer for Cyp'fos, Stella Misauli, said that she. visited several polling
stations where she was able to get a glimpse of the electoral process in Ukraine.
"We have noticed that everything was quiet- and everyone with Whom we spoke
continued that everything was democratic, without any problems and failures," .
she said.

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Rebi 

S'ia?m'ak' K?tdestani 

in Koszela; 

Ben Gnldeen

Matthew

Graham Masai:

Rachel Hiri'es

Marcus

Jai?sdn Steintjaum

Joh??LBr?dt'ke
_5?tesllicki

Matthew Padilla 
Ariana Reks - 
'Ann Nortis 
C?ad Kreiker'h eief
Chris-Ham in.

Mia
I 12551915]
Hera?bbasi 

 

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Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30. PM

cec Member Mikhail othendovsky'y Responds to EU ObaewerMission's

Assessment

Mikhail Is a member of the Central Election Commission an independent body comprised

of 15. members. who are each appointed to 7-year terms by Ukraine 5 parliament to sup?er'vis'e and

conduct presidential parliamentary. and local Self-government elections as well as national and local

refere?nda.

During his years of service in supervision has been an appointee of multiple

political factions.

Yesterday, he issued .the following statement In response to the assessment of parliamentary elect one

offered by the EU election Observer mission:

I believe that the. any detailed comments now W6uld be. premature. It's quite difficult to understand and

ass'ees in a few minutes the conclusions that hate obviously been prepared for a long time.

I must admit that today i was expecting .a fair and unbiased assessment of the work the Central Election

commission, and our state as a whole did over the last year .to organize free and fair elections of
people' '3 deputies of Ukraine. However, after some initial disappointment I th0ught it was important
'attentton to several fundamental aspects.

 

First of ail the statement on preliminary tiridings and conclusions of the European Election Observe
missions. issued today has :no assessment of the. credibility of the results and the election? 5 legitima

 

to say

Ition
as.

Well as their compliance with recognized international standards. In my opinion the statetner-it' the roups

issues was a list of the problems traditionally encountered in the organization of elections' In many
counties of Eastern Eu'rop'e. Obviously, these problems are as they are seen through th
of Western observers representing mature democracies. Unfortunately, we are yet to see the real

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eyes

 

 

 

 

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assessment of the elections as a technical process as prpcedirres.. We hope that this kind of

assessment, WithOut undue predominance of the political component will be given in the ?nal report or

the mission' 5 Of?ce for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Secondly, it is important that the statement does not question the tact. that the election results reflect the
full measure of the will of Ukrainian voters. Indeed, it notes that the electoral process was compet titre



across Ukraine, and voters were able to choose from a wide range of parties and candidates. The

 

process of voting and vote tabulation was organized properly Thus, the legitimacy of the newly elfded

?padiame?t.is. already beyond doubt bath in Ukraine and abroad.

 

Thirdly, it should be noted that the head of mission of the European Parliament announced today
continued support of Ukraine-s European integration sepirations In particular, an accelerating the si
or the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Untan.

Remarks

Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary at State

Plesidefncy
Sarajevo, Bosnia-and Herzegovina

October 20 12

Regarding Ultimo, we share the View of the OSCE monitors that Sunday?s elections consti,

a step backward for?Ukrainian democracy. It was a step backward from the Parliamentary

gning

titted

TymoSheako, prevented. them from running and standinguin-these eiectioss, and we call upon the

of Ukraine to put an immediate and to the selective prosecution and detention of

political opponents

Like the rest of'Europe; the people?of Ukraine deserve so much better; They deserve to live
coup-try With strong democratic institutions, that respects the rule of law, and these electioni
not advance those goals. so the United States remains committed to the people of Ukraine.

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inn
5 did
We

 

 

 

 

 

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Want to work with. them to strengthen their democracy, sovereignty, and independence of
state, as We have for more than 20 years. And we call upon the leadership to stop the bacl
slide that Ukraine IS in and Start once again, living up to the aspiretions of the Ukrainian

and the United States will stand with them _as they do.

their
award
people,

 

      

Tuesday, 30 October 2012
Press Release (2012) 129

Statement by the Secretary General on Ukraine
Parliamentary Elect-ions

I Welcome the strong voter tum0ut in the paeriajmentaI-y elections.

I have taken note of the concerns expressed by the International Election Observation
mission in its preliminary findings regarding the conduct of the parliamentary elections in
Ukraine These preliminary findings dottine a mixed picture with several shortcomings
including the lack of a level playing field and that certain aspects of the pre- election period
constituted a Step backwards compared with recent elections.

Ukraine Is. an important partner for NATO An independent sovereign and stable Ukraine,
firmly committed to democracy and the rule of law, is key to Euro- Atlantic secun'ty. The
Alliance stands ready to further assist Ukraine in its reforms.

Mm

9:5 Like

OP-ED: Don?t Isolate Ukraine, and Watch

Those Neanascists

 

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'Oct 30,2012
By Tim Judah

Bloomberg

Ukraine-this 'Weekzheld a deeply ?awed?le?ib?, in Which the main opposition leader was jailed
and the biggest gains went to a party of nee?fascists, who appear to have won 10 percent of the
vote. For a country that eight years ago staged an inspiring uprising to Overturn a stolen election.

it?s hard to imagine a more depressing outcome.

The breakthrough by Svoboda, an eXtretne-right-wing party from the nation? 3 Ukrainian-

speakmg West, is. just another sign that 2111' 1s not well 1n this divided country. Before the 0121-28
election, Ukraine was already being shut out by the European Union over its democratic fa ?ares
and pressured by Russia to join a customs union with Belarus and Kazakhstan instead Now neo-

fascists will take their seats in parliament.

But here is why Ukraine is so dif?cult to read and handle for all of its neighbors. To start with
Syobo?da (Which translates as Freedom), must be Europe? 5 only nee-fascists who are also pr 

EU. Meanwhile Yuli'a Tymeshenko, the jailed heroine of the 2004 Orange Revolution, says the

EU 1's wrong to punish Ukraine for her treatment by freezing its association agreement with

the

bloc. And the Supposedly pro- -Russian President Viktor Yanukovych doesn" even want to Join

Russia customs union, if he can avoid it.

Widening Fissures

Syoboda?s success and Yanukovych?s behavior are troublingalike.
the priority should be to avoid widening the ?ssures between the Ukrainian-speaking west and

Russian-speaking weast or driving the government into the arms of Vladimir Putin, Russia?s
President.

Svdboda has cleaned up its act. In 2004 it ehanfged its name from the Social-Nationalist Party

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and dropped-a SWas'tika-like emblem. Still, much of?its, appeal lies in hardcore ethnic- Ukrainian
nationalism and a hatred of Poles, Russians, Jews and gays. Thesehjaire deep roots in Ukraine?s
history-and should give pause.

.Svoboda?s leaders glorify those Western Ukrainians who welcomed the Nazis in 1941, seeing
the Gentilans as potential liberators from Soviet rule. Those same Ukrainians. also collaborated in
the widespread murder of Jews and Poles As in the Baltic states, there IS a sharp division here

over how to interpret the motives of those who worked with the Nazis and haw they should be
remembered today

 

What the election result is a growing risk that disenchanted voters will again mix up
Ukrainian nationalism with xenophobia. Svoboda, led by Oleh Tiahnyhok, supported the 004
Orange Revolution. it Was later expelled from the group surrounding former president Vi%or
Yushchenko, when Tiahnybok made a speech saying that Ukraine was ruled by a ?Mosco -
Jewish ma?a. It was not the only speech he made that Was leaded with this sort of language.

Tiahnybok has said that while he does not regret using those words, he Was misinterpreted. He
also says his party is neither xenophobic nor anti Semitic. In any case, for Svob?oda? supporters,
Russoph?obia remains the party? 5 main attraction. All votes have hot yet. been counted, but the
party looks set to win about 313 of the Rada 450 seats.

On election day, while on a trip to Ukraine organized by the German Marshall Fund, I went to
ltpin, .a small town outside Kiev. There I met Sergeii, a 48-year- old musician, Who dida? give

his fall name because he was at a polling station. He told the he had voted for Svoboda because
he wanted ?Ukraine to be a powerful country, and if we have to choose between Europe and

Russia it is Eur0pe for as. Russia is Asiaand I don?t trust Asians.?

Bedrock Support

 

The party preSents itself as the only one that wants :1 ?Ukraine for Ukrainians,? and not for the
ethnic Russians who make up 17. 3 percent of the population and Who live mostly 1n the 
Ethnic Russians ?01m the bedrock of support for the ruling Party of the Regions, but manyj?jliwre

are simply RuSsian. speakers who switch happily between the two Slavic languages, depe?n mg
on the circumstance.

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In July, the Party of the Re?g?ioas pushed through a controversial language law that, while dressed
tip as protection for minority languages, was intended to bolster the use of Russian and probably
a ?rst step to makn?ig it an of?cial state language, along with Ukrainian. Most probably
Yanukovych believed this would help garner support in h1seasteri1 heartland.

In reality, the state-s of Russian' 15 not an 1mportant issue for most Uloamians, who can speak it
freely Instead of gaining votes in the east, the net result of the language law probably was to
push some nationalist voters -- 111 the west -- into the arms of Svoboda, entrenching

the country? 5 historical divisions. 

 

 

Svoboda. activists: also haye the advantage of being seen as conviction lpoliticiansf 1n a co l-try

years, they have gained from a protest veto.

How important a political role Svoboda will be able to play now that the party is in parliament IS
unclear. Vitali the reignmg champion of the Wodd Boning Council, who also heads

what looks set to become parliament' 5 third largest party, UDAR, says he?ll work with Svoboda,
but will have nothing to do With its radical nationalist policies Tymoshenko? Famerland, which
remains the second- largest party, has already signed a cooperation agreement with Svobo
Many 111 the Ukrainian opposition believe that is taming the neo- fascists, and that its leader
is .on the same course as that taken by Gianfi'anoo Fini, the Itahan politician who over a period of
years moved to the-respectable end of the country?s right-wing politics.

roughest Line

It?s the ruling. party that?s taking the toughest lineon Svoboda. Oleg Voloshyn, the foreign
ministry spokesman who eohoes the vievvs of the Party of the Regions,.oondemned the
?oPPDSition ?fer inviting an openly anti?Semitic party to join them." Heisays that the party 'is-
toning down its extremist language because it does not want to scare off too njiany mists. Hitler
didthe same, he said, in his questfor votesin the 19305.,

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Svoboda needs to be watched and Yanukovych?s a'nti- democratic behavior needs to be

discouraged. But the association process should also be restarted. It?s a way to tie 
into the West and its institutions bewever much oth?y are in trouble today -- and tha't? .5 why

 

Are U.S-. Elections Cleaner Than Ukraine's?

By Leonid Eershidsky oct 31 .20121 2:02 PM ET

When U. voters head to the polls next week to choose their president they can take pride in

an electoral systern far Superior to what, for exampie, Ukrainians experienced In their
paxliamentary electIOns last weekend

Or can they?

True, the Ukrainian. government. jailed the main oppositien Ieader former Prime Minister YuIia

TImoshenko, well ahead of the vote. Lavish state spending helped candidates of the ruling

Regions Party Win mandates throughout the country' 5. east and south. In. many cases, wealthy

Ukrainians effectively bought their way into the parliament

 

national meal. Billionaires some of whom buiit their fortunes In part thanks to governm
subsidies are IaviShing unlimited funds on their favorite candidates through political-apti
committees

That said eonsider the U. S. The two-party system locks out many candidates who could java


All told, one wondeys yyhether the Organization for Security and Cooperation



in Europeassessmen't oi the Ukrainian elections couid not just as easily apply to the land of the

free: "Considering the abuse of power and the excessive role of money in this election,
democratic progress appears to have. reversed. 

For all its ?aws, Ukraine 3 was a bone tide election an act of high political drama of the kin
people In neighboring Russia can only wistfully as their country sinks into gray
authoritarianism. There. were plenty of upsets .notably' In the capital Kiev. Money Was not
everything Ten multimillionaires tried and failed to get into the parliament. known as the
Supreme Bade. OppoSItion parties albeit including one With an abhorrent platform, took a
share of the vote.

 

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31796

 

 

 

 

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With 97 percent of the Vote. counted by late Tuesday night President Viktor Yanukovich' 5:
Regions Party was on track to win about 200 seats, probably enough to build a ruling co lition
with the Communists In the 450?member parliament. The. ruling party gained 74 seats wi about
30 percent or the national vote it garnered the rest in single-mandate constituencies, wh re pro-
YahukIDvich candidates sometimes hid their affiliation so they could win in bppositidn
strongholds. The result looks like a slight improvement on the 195 seats the Regions Pa held
in the outgoing parliament.

 

 

The ruling party' 3 teotics merited the OSCE disdain. To help guarantee .a parliamentary seat
for Alexei Azarov son of Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov, the Ukrainiah

government allocatedab?out $21 million to projects. in his Donetsk. Region constituency in pt 2
and 2013, compared with a paltry $2 million in 2011, ascerding to the Ukrainian magaz?in

Pocus (Where. i serve as an editorial consultant). Az'a?r'ov Jr., whose picture was all overt a label
press and dozens of billboards throughout the district even though he actually lives' we me,
made. it clear that the windfall was his doing. Pragmatic locals quickly recogniZed on which side
their bread was buttered.

Aza?rov's to probably the most extreme example, though other ruli-ng -party candidates reportedly
used the power of their offices or their fat purses to get votes. One observer In the industr al city
of Dneprooetrovsk photographed at children' playground decked out in Regions Party colors.

Built with city money, it had. been touted by a Regions candidate as his contribution to the
community. The same candidate provided free WiFi in a local park, requiring users to enter his
last name as the password.

Such power plays were universally effective only' In the east and south of Ukraine, the ruling

party? 3 traditional base. Elsewhere, money and Clout. didn ?talways prevail. Two of Ukra?i'n'e' .s 100
richest rh?n, retail magnate Igor Balenko and Oil tycoon Stepan lvakhiv, failed to get into
parliament. Another eight rnuitimilliohaire?s 'suffered more or less humiliating defeats. Real? estate
developer Vadim Stolar lost' In a Kiev district after filling it with his billboards and spending a

fortune fixing hallways and pctholes.

In a protracted battle' In another Kiev constituency, well-connected Oles vagi spent months and
untold sums oh gifts such as food packages and manometers marked with his name. He lost to
a little-known candidate representing a party led by boxing superstar Vitaly Klichko (the
party?s name translates as ?blow? or?tstrike?).

"To me, this will be the most victory in this parliamentary election," j?ournalist Mus-tats
Nayyem wrote on Facebook about Dovgi's defeat. As of this writing, Dovgi was still hoging for a
last-minute reversal as Votes were counted and rescunted. it appeared the result would stand.

The opposition carried Kiev as well as central and western Ukraine. In the national vote,
Timodhenko Batkivshirta (?Fatherland?) party took second place with. 25 percent despite its
leader?s imprisonment. Boxer Klichko' UDAR won almost 14 percent better than expected and
Inan?owly beating the Communists. in one of the election? biggest surprises, the ultra?natio naiis't
party Svobo'da got into parliament for the first time, with 10 percent of the vote. _All the opposition
parties fared relatively poorly In single-member constituencies, where 'it was harder to beat 
money and power. Yet it they manage to band together, they Will be 'a force to reckon with the
t?parliement.

 

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Klichkc 5 party, which presents itself as a moderate liberal force and a ohampicn of s'mal and
medium business, ran on a pragmatic program not too heavy on social .pr'cmi . Its
leader, one of Ukraine 5 few international celebrities, proved willing to with
Batkivshina: Right before the election, the parties made a deal not to compete with one other

in SeVeral dozen constituencies

Svoboda leader Oleg. Tyagnyock campaigned relentlessly, traveling throughput Ukraine and
sleeping In the back of _a Toyota Sequoia, His party, which has not been above openly anti-
Semitic rhetoric, has vowed to rid Ukraine of Russian influences, ban abortions, crack 

Many of the votes for Svoboda came train people who do not share the party? 5 extreme views,
?.Ged. tcrbid they come to pcwe't, IT Specialist Roman PetrIIsha wrote in a comment on
Facebock. ?Yet they Will make a good opposition. This IS. a chance that parliament Will just
be a Yanokcvich toy Svobcda' 3 crazy program does not matter: No one will give them I 
power to implement it."

 

 

Many Ukrainians especially educated city dWellers. are looking for someone -- anyone -- to take
on Yanukovich and a regime they see as rampant With corruption and nepotism. ?Until see a
prospect of a better life, our lite' Is a fight,? wrcte relations executive Victoria Bond on
Facebcck. "It 3: still better than standing still and adapting like chameleons.?
Journalist Olga writing in the magazine Focus, likened the populace 5 relationship with
Yanukovich to one of domestic abuse ?The half of Ukraine that voted for Regions IS like the
wdman whose husband beats her but She. won't even hear of divcrce,? she wrote. "He? 3 family,
he brings money home and he doesn't hit too hard?. not hard enough. to kill, at least; 

 

The regimefs opponents have gained ,a foothold in parliament-that?s Only a distant dream for
their Russian counterparts a. pcsiti?cn they can exploit to challenge the president at a tine
when the Ukrainian economy is in shaky condition. The country faces an almost-certainour rrency
Evaluation an increase in bread prices and next year, a possible debt crisis. The OSCE may
yet be surprised at how seriously Ukrainians take their democracy when push comes to 5? ve

 

Could S. voters show the same fighting spirit if, say, their political. system proved too
dysfunctional to resolve the problems facing their country? we ll see.?

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European Centre for a Modern Ukraine

Ukraine Elections News-flash

October 2012

 

Ln- .. . A - . "uh- .-. a. .- .i-m-n .

gamma 1 WW f?

Single-mandate cans?tuenqies (97.3% counted)

 

03% ll Party of regions
II 
El Svoboda
ll UDAR 
Ediniw) Tsentr
I Naro?dna pa?rty

 

a Radical party

 

 

 

Source: The Con trai' Election Commission of Ukraine} 8:34 of", 31" ad 201; (arqund 959% mm)

Multi~mandafe c?qn?giji?fejn?es (97. 6% taunted)

 

 

35% ?30.Party of region's
II 

UDAR
?Communist party

a Svoboda

 

 

 

 

 

Sdurce: The Central Commi?ion?af Ukraine; 8:34 am, 31" 'Oct 2012 (araun? counted)

- 

El: ions Update is published by the Europeau Clem re for a a Brusselg-baaed NOD i-?iil educate-3.
rs and bu about advancer'rier?its ir'i kraine in Cir'der to build a more ,us future for" the
country and a with Lu;- LJr?iicu'i.

Eurdpean Centre for a Modem Ukraine

 

 

 

 

 

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Vote Totals Match lndependent?Exit hailing, Parallel Vote Tabulations

With around 97 percent of the votes tabulated in Sunday?s parliamentary elections, the ?nal totals above)
correspond with independent exit polling data and the parallel vote tabulations-of both'pa'rties. 

Currently, the ruling Party of Regions hasgarnered 30:3; p?gr'ce?t of the vote-.0f the five exit polls'f-rom
Sunday, the Party of Regions scored between 32 percent and 28 percent. According to the parallel vote
tabulation from the opposition Batkivshina party, the Party of Regions was expected to secure roughly 3:0
percent of the vote.

"The data published on the CEC website in general coincide with those of the exit polls and the data
presented by sociologists," Prime Minister Mykola Azarov ?This is .a classic example of free and
democratic elections. What kind of fraud can We speak about, if the of?cial data almost completely matched
I'Iyith the-exitpolls?"

The vast majority of'vote tallies from the precincts were counted in a timely way with only protocols from
some regions, where the Party of Regions is not as strong, trailing the rest of the country. As those numbers
have comeir?i, the 'Po?'sshare of the vote has-steadily decreased.

Still, the delay has prompted some observers .to question the tabulation process, Yesterday, the Interior
Ministry issued a statenI'entexplainjng the. isolated. cases of delay: problems caused technical issues at the
local level, where law enforcement and party representatiI'Ies are protecting the integrity of vote totals
throughput the process.

Additionally, Azarov is asking international observers to provide details of alleged violations from the vote
count or from Election Day.

"ObjectiI'Ie assessments are extremely important for us, and we Izhake conclusions from them in order to
innprov'e future practice of democratic elections,? Az'ajr'ov said. ?We are grateful to the. observers for their
review and comments. At the. same time, Awheh there are. claims, I would like. to see such claims to be
substantive.? In some reports, I have not seen any concrete examples of violations. And I would be grateful to.
the representatives of missions, if they could provide us with each speci?c in order we could
objectively lookat them."

European Jewish Group Expresses?Concern about Bis?e of Ultra?Right Party in 2 S?unday?s Vote

European Jewish group has expressed concern about. the. safety of Jews in Ukraine following the surprise

The JewiSh organization'sleader is calling on the-government to protect the safety of Jews in Ukraine.

?we are not intending to interfere in internal Uk'r?aine affairs and its voters' decisions, but We ale very
concerned about the safety of in Ukraine and throughout Europe in light of growing anti-Semitic
movements in Europe,? Rabbi Men:achem_Margolin, General Direc'mr of the European je'wish Associatiolr 
said he statement.

As a Bloombergst story notes, Svoboda Sapporte'd the Orange Revolution but was later expelled from the group
?when [?Svoboda leader Oleh] Tiahnyb'ok made a speech saying that Ukraine was ruled by a ?Moscow- Jewish
mafia It Was not the only Speech he made that was loaded with this sort of lawnguage. -

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Yeliseyei'r?: ?dsbect the Choice of Ukrainian Voters

Ukraine's representative to the European lgnion, Kostiantyn Yeiiseyev is encouraging European leaders to
embrace the choice made by the Ukrainian people in Sunday's election, and reiterated the call to sign the
association agreement With the country. .

?Brussels shbujdnot ignore the choice of the. pebple of Uk?r??infe in favor-of the values-of 
and acte?sjon to the family-of European nations,? in a. statement. ?It'is impjortgrit to realize that
it is the people of Ukraine who won this ejection, who, despite the shortcomings of the electoral process,
made their free political choice, expressing a. vote of confidence. in Ukraine's caurse towards European
integration," reads the steternent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Recigie?tsg

siamak KordeStani
.n Maze/a.
Ben G?qkleen
__Matthew
Graham Mason?
Rachei Hi?n?s

- 173/1 'chSj
7659!! Steinbaum

John _B_i'bdtke 
.i Sieslicki
Malft'hew Padilla
Ariana Reks 
Ann Ndrris

(fh?ad Kreik?m?i?r
?hrjs Homjah.

if 5a

HechL
Jessica 
wHe-raAbbasi 
Jason Brucier 

.lbdi 

?ainian 

Halie SQif?r 
Marta MCLei_1an..Ross.._
Howazd Diamond
Iavita?ichmon?
,Enen MciLaren

Sarah Curtis

'Kemi .Iiemi?io-hun
Reen?an Austin

??oft 


 

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EUROPEAAPARLIAAEM

ELECTION OBSERVATION DELEGATION TO
THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS
IN 11mm; -

(23 October 2012)

Re'poi't by
Pawel Kowal, Chair ofihe Delega?tiojil

Angm:

A. Final (inciilding list of participants) 
B. International Election Obpemtion Mission Preliminary ?ndings and conduiqng 
C. Declaration of the Chair of the EP Delegation a; the Press Colifei?enee of the IEOM

 

 

 

 

 

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In'trodng?on

Following an invitation by Mr Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine,
the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament authorised, on 6 September 2012,
the sending of an enlarged delegation of 15 Membets to observe the parliamentary elections in
Ukraine on 28 October 2012. The Conference cf Presidents also authorised the Bur?ettn of this
delegation to trawl to Ukraine on a pre~electoral visit ahead of election day, in order to meet
relevant interlocutors and prepare the ground for the election observation delegation itself.

At its constitutive meeting on 27 September, the Delegation appointed Mr Pawel Robert
KOWAL, Chair of the Delegation; Mr Michael GAHLER, Mr Juan Fernando LOPEZ
AGUILAR and Rebecca HARMS were appointed Vice?Chairs-

Mam
Prior-to the elections, the European Union has repeatedly emphasised that these would be an
important test of Ukraine?s democratic credentials. In the latest resolution of European
Parliament of 24 May and in the Final Statement and Recommendations of Nineteenth
Meeting of Ell-Ukraine FCC the importance of the parliamentary elections for Further
progress in real-nous of Ukraine with the EU was underlined.

Since the 2010 presidential election, the governing coalition formed by the Party of Regions,
the Communist Party and the People?s Bloc, has enjoyed a clear majority in
parliament. These parties competed against opposition parties, primarily the United
(Metherlangi) and the non?parliamentary parties United
Democratic Alliance for Reform (UDAR) and Svoboda (Freedom).

While the 2010 presidential elections were described by the Intemalional Election
Observation Mission and ODIHR as ?meeting most international commitments"; the
subsequent 2010 local and regional elections were marred by signi?cant irregularities
(Bumpean Parliament resolution of 25 November 2010 on Ukraine).
1

Two leaning opposition ?gures, Ms Yitlia Tyrnoshenko and Mr Yl'triy Lutsemto, remain in
prison banned ?'om tuni?ng in the elections. The European Parliament hasaddressed the
situation in Ulo'aine repeatedly].

 

Pre?eleemgil__ _visit

The lire-electoral visit authorised by the Conference of Presidents took place from to 10?
October, with the'panicipation of Mr Pawel Kowal and Mr Michael Gahler. Ms Harms was
represented by a member of staff from her political group.

 

1? European l?arliament resolution of May 20!: and European Parliament resolutions of 9 June 20?, 
October 2011 and I December 2011.

 

 

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The Bureau of the Election Observation Delegation met the EU Head of Mission 1n Kyiv,
Mr Jan Tombhiski, Dame Audrey Glover (Head of the long-term mission) and her
core team; Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mr Ole?rov; the Central Electoral
Commission; OPORA and CW domestic observers: and repeesenta?tives of political parties
(Party of Regions Batkivshtohyna (Fatherland), UDAIL Ukraine Forward [Natalia
and Svoboda. The Bureau also met with the head of the OSCE PA election
mission, Ms. Walburga Habsburg Douglas.

The Bureau of the EP Election Observation Delegation noted stakeholder?s-concem around
several issues:

The implementation of the new electoral lavv: The new law for parliamentary
elections was adopted 1n Novmnber 2011 by a broad majority in the Parliament of
Ukraine. alter abandoning the project to follow-up ODIHR's recommendation for a
new electoral code. According to the long-term mission and other sources,
some important issues remain unaddressed and political will is essential to ensure
effective implementation. The law returns to a mixed electoral system which existed
before 2006, bans electoral blocks and raises to 5% the threshold to enter pwliament.

:1 Central Electoral Commission's capacity to act: while recognising the intents professional manner, ODIHR continued its lack of tansparency
(closed doors meetings) and the procedure followed to nominate members of the
District Electoral Commissions (DEC) and the Precinct Election Commissions (PEG).
Most positions in electoral connoissions (at the district level and at polling stations
level) were ?lled by a single lottery instead of a prior practice to hold a lottery tor
each DEC, as a result of which some technical patties obtained representation in all
DECS while other parties with candidates throughout the country were not
represented at district level at all. Almost half of PEG and 60 per cent of DEC
members were subsequently replaced.

a The opposition denounced that the participatiOn of ?technical parties (?fake" parties
created only to gain representation at the electoral commissions) gave all
opportonities for forged results.

a Opposition parties-denounce that some candidates have been?prlessured to withdraw.
including by means of tax inspections, prosecution on old criminal charges and
threats.

Lack of a level playing ?eld, pressures 01.1 freedom of press and absence of political
pluralism 1n media; lack of enforcement of provisions on campaign ?nancing; abuse
of administrative resonttes.

 

Imprisonment of tonnes govermnent members __and opposition leadersthat the EP resolution
describes as selective justice comes on top of all these ?'amework conditions.

The Bin?eau of the EP Election Observation Delegation veri?ed during its pro-election visit,
the low level of trust among electoral participants and with regard to the electoral
administration itself. The election campaign evolved against a background of intense
polarization among political actors and reports of violations of the electoral roles.

 

The OSCEZODIHR long-term Election ObservationMission conducted media anchoring

?'om 115 September until the start of the electoral silence on 27 October. The long-term

mission also followed up closely the response and remedies provided by competent bodies
and law enforcement bodies.

 

 

 

 

 

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Election Observation

 

The European Parliament Election Observation Delegation (EP EOD) was composed of
?fteen Members, nominated by the political groups ofthe EP:

M: Pawel Robert KOWAL (Chair), ECR Poland

Mr Michael GAHLER (Vice-Chair) EPP, Germany

Mr Juan Fernando LOPEZ AG UILAR (Vice?Chair), 5&1) Spain
Ms Rebecca HARMS (V ice-Chair), VertsiALE Genna'ny
Ms AnnaMatia CORAZZA BILDT, EPP, Sweden

Mr Andrzej EPP Poland

Mr Joachim ZELLBR, EPP, Germany

Mr Ian KQZLOWSKI EPP. Poland

Mr Jacek PROTASIEWICZ. EPP Poland

Mr Mario. DAVID EPP 

Mr Norbert NEUSER, 835D, Gennany

Mr Marek SIWIEC, Poland

Mr Kristian VIGENIN, Bulgaria

Mr Marek ECR, Poland

Mr Ad?an SEVERIN, NT, Romania

The European Parliament Delegations perform election observation 1n accordance with the
Declaratidn of Principles of International Election Observation and the Code of Conduct for
international election observers. Members of the EP Delegation signed the Code of Conduct
for Members of the European Parliament Election Observation Delegations in conformity
with the decision of the Conference of Presidents of 10 December 2009

The Delegation conducted its activities in Ukraine from 26 to 29 October and was integrated
within the seamen ot the International Election Observation Mission (EEOM). with
OSCEKODIHR in charge of the long-term observation mission. The EP Delegation
cooperated closely With the OSCEfParliamentary Assembly Delegation headed by Ms.
Walburga Habsburg Douglas, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe headed
by Mr Andreas Gross, the Delegation of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly headed by Mr
Assert Agov and the OSCEJODIHR mission headed by Dame Audrey Glover.

Proggaim

Beforeelection day, the parliamentary delegations integrated in the ?ameivork of the IEOM
were extensively briefed by experts Earn the OSCEJODIHR mission. Presentati0ns were
made. on the political envirohnieiithtbe campaign activities, the media landscape and the legal
?-a?mework of the parliamentary elections. The joint programme also includeda series of
meetings with media representatives, NGOs and the electoral adminisn'ation.

The. EP Election Observation Delegation also held bilateral meetings with the Chairs of main
parties and. with the CEC -

 

 

 

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Elem eetion day;

011 election day, the EP delegation was deployed in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnbno, Odessa and
Dnipropetrovsk (and afottnd these-cities) All teatns visited a signi?cant man-her of polling
stations from opening to the closure and the counting process and not encountered dif?culties
in observation.

Overall, the EP delegation observed a peace?il E?day even if more about cariousels and
other violations of the law were widely spread, most of them related to the majoritarian part
of the election Teams that follovved the counting process noted the cumbersome procedures

The International Election Observation Mission also concluded the voting and counting
process on election day was orderly and well organized in the large majority of polling
stations. observed, with only minor procedural problems noted However, the unusually high
number of homebound voters 1'11 soiije election districts raised concerns Following the
received information from long term observers the tabulation process was assessed
negatively to one third of DECS observed. mainly due to prohlems with PEC protocols and
limited transparency. The active involvement of a large number of domestic observers
throughout the entire electoral process enhanced its overall transparency during the election
.day

 

Press conference of the International Mission

As usual, the statement of preliminary ?ndings and conclusions was shared between the
OSCEJODIHR mission and the four parliamentary delegations All the stakeholders of the
IEOM shared a common assessment of the pro-electoral period and their ?ndings concerning
election day were also' in line. with one another.

The press conference took place on 29 October and attracted high media attention.
Substantial shortcomings led the IEOM to conclude that 'certain aspects of theme-electoral
period constituted a step backwards compared with recent national elections'. The main areas
of concern outlined by the IOEM include:

I Lack of transparency of campaign and party ?nancing, which is problem of
systematic character and concerns all political parties.
a The new electoral law, adopted in November 2011, reinstated a mixed electoral
system without the required wide consensual discusSiori and rte-introduced de?ciencies that
were noted when it was previously used. The law includes some important irnproveniems in
particular with regard to voter and candidate registration although it also contains .a number
of shortcomings. mainly regarding the full enjoyment of candidacy rights, adequate
campaign ?nance provisions, absence of clear criteria for the delimitation of single- mandate
election districts, and lack of e??ective sanctions for serious violations of the law.
.- Candidate registration was inclusive, even though over 400 nominees were rejected,
almost half for minor technical problems and 2 opposition leaders (Tymoshenko and
. Lutsenko) were denied registration
0 Abuse of administrative resources and cases of 'ha'raSSment' and ?in?midation' of
candidates.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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i

0 Lack of balanced niedia coverage due to limited diversity in media ownership and
pluralism and. the need for considerable resources to reach outta voters via TV (?ve times
more paid political advertising compared to standard reporting) and also due to broadcasting
restrictions imposed on independent 

I Lack of transparency (mentioned in interim report) in the decision-making process of
the Central Election Commission (Clip) due to closed pro-session meetings There were
claims. some of which were veri?ed by the EOM, that election
commissioners nominated by technical parties were, in fact, af?liated with other patties,
especially the ruling Party of Regions. The CEC did not always take steps to ensure a
consistent implementation of the electoral law.

. Vote b'uymg and indirect vote bribery (providing material goods or services), issues
that were not addressed by the CEC. 

0 Lack of transparency during the tabulation process.

The assessment is subject. to further careful observation of the post-electoral phase:
Tabulation of results?and complains and appeals procedures are still ongoing at the time of
writing. 

 

Results.

The Central Electoral Committee announced on 29.10.12 that nation; had reached. 58%
(compared to 62% in 2007). It has been assessed as 'high' by most international observers
who highlighted the Ukrainians interest in the electoral process. 

The following results, for the proportional part of the.election,_ are to be con?rmed, they are
based on the preliminary counting of 96.2% of ballots as of 31.10.12. Indeed, due in part to
the complexity of the mixed electoral system and the fact that complaints are yet to be
addressed, the ?nal results will be established till 12th November and announced till 17th
November.

 

 

 

 

 

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Summary of the 28 Dabber 2012 Yerkhovna Rada election results
(preliminary result with 96.29% or the ballots counted) 
Swing 
Parties List Seats? Seats seats Cliange
votes (proportional (committal) (total)
representation) (2007)

{?arty of 5,944,233 30.50. 73.87 "74 117 191 $.16
Rm'ons. 
All- 4,905,656 25.17 IV5.54 6] 103 753
Ukrainian
Union
"Fatherland"
(incl. United
OpligsitloL ..
UDAR 2,682.37? 1 3.76 New 33 6 39 New
(Ukrainian pan); party
Democratic
Alliance for 
Reform) 
Communist 2,609,345 13.39 ?8.00 '32 A5
ram or
Ukraine . . . -
All? 1,993,331 10.23 40.9147 25 10 35 3.35
Ukrainian 
Us?
"Freedom" - - 
Independents . 43 43 . s43
Total $4.04 235 215' 450 
(turnout
57. 98%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Parties United Centre Peool?'s Party and Union riot participating in the election for proportional
representation, obtained 6 seats in the "majorilarian" election.

Em: egg eongegjons

In general the pro-election period was assessed negatively, because of a number of
shortcomings in the new electoral law and lack of a level of playing ?eld; The process of
voting and counting of votes on the election day has been assessed as relatively positive

There have been many negative comments concerning the tabulation process, which has not
been completed yet. The criticism focuses on tabulation' in some single-mandate districts in
contrast to proportional districts, where tabulation 15 assessed rather positively

The Widespread presence of representatives from different political parties and individual
candidates in the election commissions can be read as a sign of highsocial involvement in.
the election process.

 

The high election turnout shows a clear communism on the part? of Ukrainian society to
belong to the family of European democracies. It must be undeelined that Ukrainian people

 

 

 

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having possibility to choose gave strong support to tileparties which support integration with
the EU.

The OSCEZODIHR long term mission will remain in. the country until the end of the electiox;
process and will issue a comprehensive ?nal- rcport, including recommendations for
improvements, some eight weeks after the completiori of the election process.

The Emopean Parliament Election Observardon Delegation recommends that the Election
Group, the-Foreign Affairs Committee. and the Delegation to the EU-Ukraine
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee follow-pp closely the conclusions and
recommendations of this ?nal report and reaction of Ukrainian side.

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thriel' bv'Paiirel nearer on the election observation rnisslon to ure'pa?rnaine'orow
elections in Ukraine on 23 October 2912
6 November 2012
18.023- ?8.59
cummitte'e on Foreign Affairs


 

 

 

 

Slim according to the speaker, on ?nancially large noel-on was sent to Ukraine; led _b MEP {head or
the no delegation to the Eli-Ukraine Parliamentary cooperation Committee reach The elections were:
characterized by a lock cf level playing field, o1 lock of a lack of balanced media coverdge and on 
abuse cf administrative resources. While the inciol results are still not ready; it appears that 5 mole-sear

 

 

 

constituencies, will see 

no iron! {can} - opened in stating that 15 MEPs were sent to Ukraine on mission. ahead oi the 28 October
parliamentary elections. The preparation period allowed for. communication with the representatives of many
political parties and organisations, as well as Ambassador Tombinski and the head of the longoter?m-
mission, Mickey Glover. The mission reported to'fche AFET committee and participated in a joint-
seminar ahead of the elections. congusions - the new election law (20111. accepted by booming and
ohposition parties, introduced a mixed voting amen-i, which failed to function at the level of legislation and
in-iplementation. There was a lack of clarity at the. leyei of, commissions- Fictitious p'a'rtie's participated in
election comn'tittee work, while parties like UDAR and Svoboda were n'dt included in such committees. A lack of
pluralism in the media, especially in terms of infam'ation programs. was also problematic {the EP mission drew
attemiqn to this in advance, that it might be a danger). 

MEP dissenters signed the code of conduct and the general level of cooperation was very good. including the
council of Europe {our}. coca/coma and Miro, allowing the en's voice to be heard clearly.

Ukraine has European aspirations that is why the EU must treat the country with a rigorous standard -
especiaiiy as It will load the OSCE in the near future.

The ioint repompuhlishedihe day after the elections with M13. Douglas, should be.considerad.

in terrns f. election day, the-EP mission was present in many locations. the voter turnout was lower than in
2007, but still higher than in some parts of die EU. A large manner of observers were present. Election day
itself was free and transparent.

in terms ofelectomi law there were many shortcomings, leading to negative outcomes. Ahead of the elections,
candidates have a level playing field.

in terms cf the decisions cfcaum, two key opposition ?gures were denied participation in the election process.
Tvmoshenko and Luisenko.

in terms cf vote counting, the full results are still missing and should be finished. as quich as possible. in terrns
cfproportionol voting. the numbers {final results] correspond with exit polls and other publications in advance
of the elections. in terms cffirst?post-rne-post system, problem occurred. Votes were pmchased (a crime
under Ukrainian Law]. in assessing the elections, all parts of the process musthe considered.

 

 

 

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ln cornporison 'to other post-Soviet states. Ukrainians are ahie to make choices. However, these elections
should be compared with past elections. for example in 2067 and 1010, and Ukrainians should he reminded
that diese'electlons are no better .than in the past.

in terms of the proposal to repeat elections in 5 constituencies. this issue needs to be sorted out under
Ukrainian Law. Robust solutions are needed?andmust be explained in; courts.

Finally, there must be discussion about changes to future electoral code.
use Ge'hler [are] - thanked no Kowat for his leadership?during the EP mission.

in terms of the overall election process, election day went very well, wh?e issues smounding voting lists,
constituencies and vote counting, are worthy of more criticism.

The MEP statedithat while elections can he held in free and fair way, iF THE Will. is present. this
was not present in Ukraine. He said that the EU should continue cooperating with Ukraine and assisting them.
The alternative of excessive criticism - pushing Ukraine towards Russia - is not the answer. Ukraine must be
forcedto ?come up to the EU level? and meet EU values.

finally, he stated that the EU should cofry on implelrnenting its standards and applying the some criteriaoppiied
by the OSCE arid oil-lets, while assisting Ukraine into the future. A good will and the honesty of implementation
is necessary for the future. -

Severin - stated that the shortcomings should be addressed in a rational and constructive war,
without radicalizing the opposition. The EU must notsholdback from using the instruments and resources for
harmonising the political cultures of the EU and Ukraine. Geopolitical goalsshouldbe kept in mind as well. and
the EU must not push Ukraine-away from its geopolitical interests.

Mrs. A. Camila and: [Em - said that the counting was assessed the day afterthe elections. but unfortunatelu
a deterioration of the counting process cannot be assessed. as positively as election day itself. She suggested
that the EP continue to-he united in mooning Ukraine, but should not ailow its support tohe misused. in
addition, it isimportant to separate 'the election. situation with the long-tom strategy for Ukraine. An impartial
mission based on international standards must 'be kept in mind. .Demoor'acv is not ?a la carte' and a joint
position must be reached.

Neuser 158.0 group} stated that small steps cf cooperation are key. Reform is still needed in Likraine. in
terms future relations with Ukraine, the EU may have to ?lowar the bar? regarding its emectations. Better
administrative structures are necessary, but Ukraine is doing well In some areas, Le. visa liberalization. The first
stage of the Action plan could be agreed upon within the next few motion, and the Energy Community should
be focused on, as well as the Eatern Partnership. Finally, the situation with Tymoshenko and Lutsenko should.
be dealt With separately.

Silvie: (sail) Group) statedthat the mission was difficult. The ?technologv' of the elections was for item
perfectias well as the election campaign), but Ukrainians had?a choice and selectedipaniesto represerit
atom. The product of this technology is not perfect, but it will work. The question is: does the EU ?buy? this
product, despite its shortcomings? We should mope'r'ate with Ukraine. [He also noted that the election was a
type of referential! on the TVmoshenlto situation;

tannoclt- stated his support for the Kowal report and noted that a collective 50% result for all opposition
parties will allow for a challenging of President Yanukovych. The asked whether a recount would require
another EP election mission.

 

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MEP Protaslewk: smted .that the situatior} in Ukraine is uncfear, with the mmition first going against
the results and next negotiating new ideas.

 

 

W.- stated thattlge role of the EP mis?idh?in tHe futur? will be considered, as-it
continue; to _wgri_t ugiguhe bureau 9! 1h; pa?iament.

 

.?feedback note prepared by Andy Edge}, 6 Member 2012}

 

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UNEVEN CAMPAIGN PLAYING FIELD CAUSES UKRAINE
ELECTIONS TO FALL SHORT

29, 2012
Read release in Ukrainian (PDF)

{some (right) talks to a piolfin?g station chairman (middle) at a_ station in Kyiv.

Kyiv, Ukraine- Wh?e overall Ukraine? 3 October 28 parliamentary elections. were
administered In an orderly manner Ukraine continues to fall short' In ensL'Iri'ng voters. a
campaign in which candidates have an e?qIIal opportunity to be heard and they can be
confident that their individual votes count. Despite the efforts of polling officials and



Ukraine still faces significant obstacles to its democratic development

country that imprisons its political opponents removes. independent television from
the air and harasses civil society is not an example of a country progressing in its
democratic development. Said David Dieter, who has led election
observation teams thronghout the world "This is a message I heard throughout the
day and is most disheartening to many Ukrainians, who want a better life-and-a better
government but. had months ago lost hope that theseelections would bring about the
change they have so eagerly hoped for."

Click. here to view'rnora photos from Ukraine's parliamentary elections.

iRI'deleg?ation co-ieader former Congressman dim Kolbie also noted that, ?While there
didn? appear to be systemic violations on Election Day. there are a number of issues
that we are concerned about. The most significant issue is the Central Election
Commissmn? refusal to release results at the polling station toilet to ensure
count. This is' a critical component of transparency in any? 
election and I urge the CEO to reconsider its decision and release the results in this
manner;" I

Qreipr (left) looks at the video footage being broadcast from the polling_ station.

delegation observed more than 160 polling stations on Election Day, the second
Stall! In a process that also includes ?.19 campaign period ballot counting, adjudication
of complaints and acceptance of results. While cheer?vers did reportsome
irregularities they'did not report incidents that were systemic eledtion' abuses.

However, during the campaign period significant problems combined to create a very
uneven playing field. that made it difficult for the opposition to compete. These
included the following:

 

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The Law on Partierrientary Elections which was adopted on November
17, 201-,1 and established a mixed electoral system? half of the deputies being
elected under a closed-list proportional system and the other half selected
through individual mandates In a majoritaria?n system - was a return to the
system last used in 2002 when international observers reported signi?cant
fraud. While several countries in the region have successtully instituted. similar
electoral systems, the Venice Commission Strongly criticized the law for over-
politicizin'g the electoral process. in addition, this' Is the fourth election system
utilized by Ukraine since independence and was implemented to maximize a
politicaiadvantage for the ruling party. 

The government increased. pressure on independent media. The
independent television station ATN wes closed in September 2011 and in April
2012, the taxauthorities, a body increasingly used as stool of government to
exert pressure on the media, began to target and this past summer opened
a criminal case against the statidn- 3 owner.

The Ukrainian government has also started to more closely monitor and
rogulat'e activities of domestic civil society organizations. Tax authorities have
targeted independent civil. society organizations with criminal cases and' In. one
case the AssOciation of Ukrainian Banks came under pressure from the tax
authorities to cease its Work.

Political parties and candidates have. suffered intimidation and
investigation by tax authorities and security forbes that reduced their ability to
compete in the. elections.

Key ooposition .figur's's? including. Yulia Tymoshenko former Prime
Minister and head of the united dppositicn- were. prevented from participating
in the elections, due to: their incarceration stemming from politically motivated
charges against them for acts under-taken by the previous administration.

A woman casts her bailot.

The lottery eyelern outlined in the. November 2011 election law. 
the composition of election oomgrnis'sion's was uneven, and major parties were at
times excluded from membership' in polling stations commissions. 
observers also noted what appeared to be pseudo parties that may have been
created with the Sole. purpose of allowing the ruling party to dominate

membership of commissions. As a result, the composition of precinct election

commissions suffered iroma lack of representation of legitimate political parties
competing in these elections.

Today, the CEC indicated that it would not release election results by polling station
protecoi totals. This Is a major failure' In the administration of elections and the lack of
transparency will undermine public. confidence' In the electoral process.

Ukraine had- made good progressiin the administration of electionsend' ensuring a

. level playing field. In its most recent presidential election and the last two parliamentary
elections. The problems In the campaign period and on Election Day are particularly
troubling, as they indicate that Ukraine has not progressed in the way that it should

 

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and has not advanced as far as other former Soviet Republics, including Georgia,
whigh lust saw its first-peaceful transfer of power from one democratically elected
government to. another:

IRI delegates from Cyprus. Lithya'nia and the United States-observed voting and baliot
coL'Inti?n'g at polling stations in Cherkasy. Cheroih?iv, Crimea, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk,
Kharkiv, Kin'I, Lut'sk. Lviv, Mykolayev, Odesa and Zhytomyr.

delegation was led by U. S. Congressman David Dreier 26) and Jim Kolbe
former LI. ..S Congressman (AZ-B) and a Senior Transatlantic Fellow for the Gannon
Marshall Fund of the United States both of whom serve on lRI?s Board at
Directors. cher delegates were:

Ballots. bei?g chnted. Rina Amtri, fotrher senior Advrsor on Afghanistan for
the Office of the Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan at the 
State Department;

Gahl Hodges Burt, Vibe Chairman of. the American Academy? to
Berlin and a- member of "91' 5 Board of Directors;

Nadia Diuk Vice President of Programs for Africa, Europe, Eurasia Latin
Amerioa and the Caribbean at the National EndoI'II'rment for Democracy;

Riot] Galen political consultant;

Mindaugas Jurkynas ej? Lithuania, Associate Professor at thelnstitute of
International Relations and Political Science of Vilnius University;

Michael V. Kostiw former Republican Staff Director of the Senate
Committee on Arnhed Services and a member of IRI's Boardoi Directors;

Constance Berry Newman, member of Board of Directors, former
AssistantSecretary of State for African Affairs and. formerU._S. Agency fer
International Development?ssistan't Administrator for Africa;

Bill Phillips, former Deputy Mayor 01? Nashville, Tennessee;

Kosta?s Sas'ririatzoglou. of Cyprus, Spokesman and Head of the Pressand
Communication Department of the European People? 5 Party; and

Brad Smith Chief of Staff to S. Congressman David Dreier.

IRI staff also served as observers. and assisted In the mission IRI staff were led

by Judy Van Rest Executive Vice President of IRI, andStephe?n Nix, Regional
Director of Eurasia division.

Prior'to the delegates. were briefed by representatives from the US.
party representatives andUkrai-nian election officials, They were
also briefed on the rights and responsibilities of ihternatibnal observers and?Uk?rainian
election law.

Since 1983, IRI has monitored r?rI'ore than 150 elections in more than 46 countries
including Ukraine's 1994, 1998 20,02 2006 and 200.7 parliamentary elections and the

 

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1999. 2004 and.2010 presidential elections.


 

 

 

 

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17

Statement of Observation Mission in Ukraine
(Parliamentary elections, Sunday, 28 October 2012)

?Ukraine's parliamentary elections broadly in line with democratic
standards, according to intemati'onal observers?

As members of the official delegation of the European Academy for Elections
Observation, 56 parliamentarians and experts from 14 EurOpean countries.
observed the October 28?" Elections.

Some 36 members of the delegation are serving MP5 or Senators, with a further
10 former members of parliament. Many of our observers have Signi?cant
experience of elections observation as members and former members of
organizations such as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe the
1 European Parliament the OSCE- Parliamentary Assembly, the ?Assembly,
and the WEU- -Assembly.

Sbme 23 of our observers were members of the European People? 5 Party (EPP)
. 6 from the Socialist Group (SOC), 6 from Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
i Europe (ALDE), 4 from the European Democrat Group (EDG) 4 from Unified
1 European Left Group (UEL), and 8 technical experts.

Most internatibnal observers arrived last week. Therefore we cannot comment
on the campaign prior-to the elections. On election day, observers were deployed
in 28 constituencies, observing election and counting proceedings in more than
300 polling stations in Kiev Qity. Kiev Region, Odessa, Lvov. Dnepropetrovsk,
Lugansk, Po?itava, Vinnitsa and Khmelnitsky.

The country viras cairn during election day, with only isolated instances of minor
technical organizational problems. in sortie instances we observed overcrowded
polling stations, which reflects genuine interest of thevoters, but also indicates
that in future elections this technical issue should be tackled. No systemic
abuses Were reported.

Access to the polling Stations was free and without limitations. However, access
for older and disabled people was sometimes too difficult. it is encouraging to
note that so many local observers were present in all polling stations.

There were no significant problems with the identificationof voters. suggesting
that the work of the Central Elebtion Comrr'tissibn had strengthened the voter

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

flies. There Were enough ballots and the vote was-secret.

We weicome the presence of webcams allowing online real?time monitoring of
the elections in almost all polling stations, and archived footage of the vote
caunts.

The PECs appeared to be prepariy staffed and the volunteers well-trained.

The v'oting procedures were carried out in a professional and well organized
manner, helping to make these elections broadly in line with international
standards. Therefore we can qualify proceedings on election day as free and fair.

The vote counts we witnessed were open and transparent, with opposition party
members and election observers give?n correct access and oversight;

The implementation of the new Electoral Reform Law voted by the Verkhovna
Rada (Parliament) was an encouraging sign, especially since it wasapproved by
both opposition and government members of parliament. We. encourage the
country to continue to Strengthen democratic institutions on the European model,
through constructive dialogue between the-Opposition and the ruling parties. and
to further comply with OSCE and Council of Europe resolutions and
commitments, in close cooperation with the venice Commission.

Ftesuming, from our standpoint, this election qualifies as a good election. not
perfect but clearly acceptable and broadly in line with international Standards.

- Thierry MARIANI, MP, France, Headof the E.A.E.O. Observation Mission

Statement approved unanimousiyby all present participants of the E.A.E.O.-
mission on Sunday October 28th at 23.30h in Kyiv.

 

Received by NSDIFARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Registrati?o? Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:392:30 PM

Recigients:

2 Sa 

Wei?er
Padiila
Chad K'reikgmejer

Ethan. ?axon
SatahDrake
Victor Cerviho I 
Brad Bonan

Gamble

 

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Just 

Protesters marching-51y
4th parade-after GOP
rep skips

BLOG BRIEFING ROOM

ml 315 AGO

FOO-Wires new chief
economist
TECHNOLOGY 3M 375 AGO

A crisis?of cynicism; '[he
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tic-nothing country
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Anne Frank center calls
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VIEW 

0 SHAPES

Ukrainian Foreign Minister
Kostyantyn Ele-c
underlined Ukraine?s commitn
democracy and the West

BY UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER KOSTYANTYN ~11f27f?l2 03:00 PM EST

 

just completed parliamentary elections that, while
imperfect, were credible, free and cdmpetitiVe. They fully reflected the
will'of the Ukrainian people.

Now Ukraine?s parliament must work to further our democracy and usher
in needed reforms work that will include listening to voices that are
critical of our political'progress.

Those voices haven?t been shy.

0n theeve of our Oct..28 national parliamentary number of
world leaders made statements questioning the health of'Ukraine's
democracy. As soon as the polls had closed, and in the days afterward.
more concerns?Were voiced.

But let the offer a few facts that suggest the dire predictions about our
elections were-premature and overly negative.

First, an impertant facet of any democracy is openness, and Ukraine
actually asked for international scrutiny. The government invited in
election observers, and by Election Day, there were on the
ground, in additionto tens of thousands of domestic observers. No matter
how one ultimately felt about the campaign and how it was waged, one
cannot suggest that Ukraine shrank from t0ugh, honest scrutiny.

Meanwhile, voters and members of Ukrainian political parties could file
complaints againSt perceived election abuses, and international election
assessments found that the authorities processed those complaints in a
timely-way. Cases were often won by the complainant?s.

Second, everyone agrees that we had a calm and orderly Election Day
The voting process and vote counting were well-organized with only
minor problems, and was "assessed positively? by the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in EUr?Ope in no fewer than 96 percent of the
polling stations-it observed, And the 34,000 webcams installed in our
precincts shovved no systemic violations.

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/ 17/ 20 17 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/1' 7/2017 1:39:30 PM

Results from 90 percent of precincts were reported within 24 hours.
importantly, the proportional vote results announced for the?national
parties corresponded directly with ore-election and exit-polling data, as
well as theparallel vote tabulation done by the opposition. Save for a
handful of districts that will see a re-irote, We can say with certainty that
the choices citizen made in the voting booth was the choice that was
recorded. 

Related News by Finally, electiOn assessments have concluded. that the contest-Was
competitive. Monitoring of TV news reports in the immediate run?Lip to
the vote showed that opposition parties received more than 65 percent of
the coverage, though concerns have been expressed about a dearth of
reporting over the entirety of the election period. Print media coverage of
the government Was often highly critical, and our Internet andsocial

. media has remained u?ncen?s?ored and among the freest in the world.
Tapper: So how [5 .

    

The election's results reflected an electorate that had real choices in front
I i I. of it. The opposition parties were elected to dyer 40 percent or the
national party list seats and will be Well-represented in the new
parliament.

 
  
 

 

  
 

All this isnot to suggest that the parliamentary elections were flawless. N'o

    

"33-6. I

CNN's Acosta

  
    

Sean election is. The problemsthat have been uncovered in five of the first-
Hannity 'needs a hug' past-the-post districts, for example, are unacceptable, and the results are
H's-Ms, "7 being-thrown .out. Still, We're talking about roughly 10,000 votes out of 21
i million cast.

This government is prepared and willing to respond to constructive
criticism, and:as a young democracy, we recognize that there?s more work

US-bached'forces to 'do to strengthen the entirety of the election process. But I absolutely
breach-wall around believe, alongside many international observers who saw the vote
firsthand, that the reality turned out to be much better than some of the

negative predictions,

 

Election by election, Ukraine is becoming a more serious democracy; its
institutions are growing stronger. That is clear.

Ny Daily NEWS: ?Trump We are a strong partner for the United States and. Europe, with a clear
attack 0" Brzezmski commitment to partnership and?a desire to become a full
member of the European Union.

That's not going to change.

Kostyantyn is foreign minister of Ukraine. .

An Incredible $200
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SPONSORED BY 

  
  

 

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VIEW ALL

Special envoy Aleks?ander
Kwasniewski: Ukraine? 5 geopo
value to Europe and the Unitec
States

BY SPECIAL ENVOY ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI - 02:00 PM EST

1 SHAHEQ

ESHARE r1)

 

On the one hand, and significantly, Ukraine agreed at a. European Union
summit held just a week ago in Brussels thatit wantsto d'eepentrade and
political ties Ukraine is already a strong partner of NATO and has
contributed troops and military personnel to missions in Iraq, Afghanistan
the Balkans the Middle East and Africa

On the other-hand, Ukraine is facing serious economic challenges as it
liberalizes and reforms, none greater than the cost of buying gas from
Russia, where it is locked into a 10-year deal that features the highest
prices of any European buyer.

Together with Pat Cox, former president or the European Parliament, as a
special envoy for European Parliament, I am trying to find com mon
ground and compromises _in the Tymoshenko case, and topush for
progress cin judicial reforms that will bring Ukraine more in line with
values shared by the U5. and EU, including changes that provide
important new rights to defendants and measures to strengthen the
impartiality of the judiciary. 

My message here in washington and in Europe is that the West- needs
Ukraine. and Ukraine needs the West in economic, political and military
terms.

Against the backdrop of a resurgent Russia and Moscow?s efforts to
reconstruct at least the spirit of a superpower through the fledgling
Customs Union, Ukraine is of great geopolitical importance to Europe.

Although not a member, it is a de facto part of the security umbrella
provided by NATO.

In fact, if managed carefully, relations between Europe and Ukraine can
benefit the iWest on areas as wide-ranging as defense and energy security.

Ukraine is a critically important energy transit route for Russian gas to
much of Europe. It also has its own as-yetrundevelc'pedshale gas
reserves. which Chevron and Shell are beginning to explore.

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 11:39:30 PM

in fact. Ukraine is in a crucial phase in its development as a post-Soviet
democracy, a partner of NATO. and a market fer U.S. and European trade
and investment.

As such. Ukraine can be a source of stability and security in the region. a
nation that nevertheless cooperates with NATO and provides a
counterweight to growing Russian regional power. lt-?represents an
enormous opportunity for Europe's security that shouid not be

Related News by squandered.

Ukraine is a natural buffer with Russia, and its willingness to work with
NATO not only?helps enhance security umbrella over the continent
but'also reassures Russia that NATO's expansion does not threaten
Moscow. Its ability to act as a bridge between Russia and the European
. - - Union also enables cooperation between the two. especially in areas
US-hacked ?"395 where their interests overlap.

breach wail 

  
  

 

Cooperation between NATO and Ukraine therefore makes thebalance of
peace in the area easier to maintain.

At the same time, we must understand that Ukraine has deep traditional

1 and historical ties with its For it to prosper, for this nation of 47
Greta Van Susteren parts million to-reach its potential. it must maintain a productive. mutually
wave with beneficial relationship with Russia:

 

    

 

To be clear, Ukraine is not without its faults. The jadicial and legal systems
are in- need of muoh reform in order to come into- line with Western norms.
The electoral system, while showing improvement as a result-of bipartisan
reform. still needsfurther changes: As a special envoy to Ukraine for the
European Parliament, I am deeply aware of these shortcomings and
committed to helping Kij overcome them. That includes finding a
positive resolution to the detentions of Tymoshenko and former Minister
Yuri Lutsenko.

 

Justice Roberta?s i I
fingerprints seen 

       
 

Yet for all of that. Ukraine?s importance is undeniable. Weshould make
sure?Ukraine enjoys deeper European integration and cooperation with
the United State's and Europe on energy security-anddetense. it should be
a priority shared on both sides of the Atlantic.

were House aide: site
fake news complex 

   

The author is thezformer president of Poland and a special envoy to Ukraine
for the European Parliament.

An Incredible $290
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sponso?nsn av 

  
   

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39 :30 PM

ALEKSAN DER KWASNIEWSKI

Tim: wqh?? 
11:51:15; 3:591"



March 4. 3013

The Honorable EliotEngel
216! Rayburn House Of?ce Building
Washington. DC 20515

Dear Congressman

I am truly sorry that was unable to 51:6 ycu during my 11511 to the United States 11151 
My ?ight originating from a connecting city was in Europe and it delayed my trip until
the following titty.

My intent was to raise and diScuss important issues rcgarding the tuturc 111 the European
Unicm among and the current situation in Ukraine where i serve :15 :1 511113111
em 03 on behalf cf the utopcun Parliament.

Recently, the EU and Ukraine held a successful summit in which the panties af? their
commitments 10.1111: integration of Ukraine into the EU. We are expecting Ukraine In meet the ?nal
criteria discussed at the Summit. which is necessary in ?nalize the signing {if the A5511ciutihn
Agreement iatcr this year. W1: see 1112 reason shriuid not occur 35 scheduled.

This is an important time for the EU and Ukraine: and it wiil ?1150 impact the United 31:11:55-
The country is under considerable pressure from neighboring Russia largci} chit= can b} the hiult 3115
prices levied against Ukraine. There is no doubt that Ukraine shcuid align with the ELI and my
efforts as CG?Chaif of European Parliament monitoring mission hn Human Righm cases Yulia
and Yuri; Lutsenko. will work tn ensure the successfui inclu5ihn of Ukraine :15 1111c 111'
our neighhers.

11 is my sincere hope that we will be able to meet during my next visit to the United States
within the next few months 51) wc may discms these and other immrtant matters. I 111111: termini in
seeing you on my next visit.

Sincerely.

Aww 1/ 

Received by Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI

- e. . . ?tn?mlg??zg} em

was. 
4w??rrqu?a i, -
- 

I, l.1.

March IBM 3

The Honorable Ed Royce
2170 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 29515

Dear Cungressman.

I am truly sen}! that 'l was unable to see yuu during my visit to the United States last week.
My ?ight originating from a camiecijng city was cancelled in Europe and it delayed my trip until
the lbllowing day. 

My intent Was to raise and discuss important issues regarding the future {if {he Eumpean
Union. amnng others. and the current situatitm in Ukraine where I currently serve as a special
envoy on European Parliament.

Recently. the EU and Ukraine held a successful summit in which the panics af?rmed their
commitments to the integration ol?Ukraine into the EU. We are expecting Ukraine to meet the ?nal
criteria discussed at the Summit. which is necessary to ?nalize the signing of the 
Agreement later this year. We see no reasam why this should not occur as sc heduled.

This is an important time for the EU and Ukraine. and it will also impact the United States.
The country is: under considerable pressure from neighboring Russia, largely driven by the high gas
prices levied against Ukraine. There is no daubt that Ukraine should align with the and my
efforts as co?chair of European Parliament monitoring missien on Human Rights eases Yulia
Tymoshenko and Yuri}r hutsenkm will work to ensure the successful inclusion of fkmine as one of
our neighbars.

I: is my sincere hepe that we will be able to meet during my ncx: visit In the United Stams
within the next few months so we may discuss these: and ether important matters. 1 look forward to
seeing you an my next visit.

Sincerely.

WW lwquimw?

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

ALEKSANDER KWASNIEWSKI

u:nIt?lggseaeg,gzatt 
March 4. 2013

The Honamhl'e pans Rohrabacher
2300 Rayburn Ho't?ts?e Office Building
Washington, DC 20515

Dear Congressman

1 am truly many that i was unable to sue you during my visit to the United States East week.
My flight originating from a connecting city was canceiicd in Ilumpe and it delaycd my trip until
the ibilowing day.

My intent was to raise and discuss important issues regarding the future of the European
Unidn. among others, and the current situation in Ukraine: whatc I currently serve as a specizti
envoy on behaifo'f the-European Pariiament.

Racentiy. the EU and Ukraine held a successfui summit in which the parties af?mted their
commitments to the integratimt ot'Ukrainc into the El}. We are expecting Ukraine {Cl meet the ?nal
criteria discussed at the Summit, which is necessary t0 ?nalize the Signing of the Association
Agreement iaterthis year. We see no reason why this shouid not occur as scheduled.

This is an important time for the. EU and ifkraine. and it will also impact the United States.
The country is under considcmbie pressure {mm neighboring Russia. largeiy driven by the high gas
prices levied against Ukraine. There is no doubt that Ukraine should align with the EU and my
efforts as co-chair of European Parliament monitoring missitm on Human Rights cases Yuiia
Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko. will work to ensure the successful inclusion of Ukraine as one of
our neighbors.

it is my sincere hope that we will be able tomcat during my next visit to the United State;

within the next few so we may discuss and miter impnnam mariners. 1 mm; {ht-Weird to
seeing you (in my next visit.


Sincerely.

MWt?r 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM



ALEKS NDER 

"zomftr?n e.

tar-fag?; ?h

:3

.le ?kw;

March 4. 2m '3

The Honorable Christopher Mai-play
Dirksen Senate Building
Washington. DC 20510

Dear Senator.

i am truly sorry that was unable to see you during my visit to the United States laSt week.
My flight originating from a connecting city was cancelled in Europe and it delayed my trip until
the following day.

My intent was to raise and discuss important issu?s regarding the future of the European
Union, among others. and the current situation in Ukraine where i currently serve as a special
envoy on behalfot? the European Parliament.

Racontly. the EU and Ukraine?held a success?tl summit in which the patties allinped their
commitments to the integration of Ukraine into the EU. We are expecting {.lkruinc-Io meet the final
criteria discussed at the Smmnit. which is necessary to finalize the signing of the Association
Agreement later this ycar. We see no reason why this should not occur as scheduled.

This; is an important time for- the EU and Ukraine. and it will also impact the Limited Stills-:8.
The country is under considerable pressure from neighboring Russia. largqu driven by tier: high gas
prices levied against Ukraine. There is no doubt that Ukraine should align with the EU and my
of?ms as co?chair of European Parliament monitoring mission on Human Rights cases ?t'ulio
Tymoshenko and Yuri}; will work to ensure: the successtiil inclusion of Ukraine: as one 01"
our neighbors.

it is my sincere hope that we will be able to meet during my next visit to the United States
Within the next few months so we may discuss these and other important tool?; forward to
seeing you on my next visit.

Sincerely.



Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

ALEKSANDER KWASN

weenie? 
E- 

a ?2w. 
. - ias?jeafmv-jew' 



March 4. 2m 3

The Honorable Anthony Blinker:

Principal Depaty National Security Ad visor
Of?ce ofthe White House

1600 Avenue NW.
Washington. DC 20500

Dear Sir.

I am truly sorry that I was unable to see yet: during my visit to the United States last week.
My ?ight originating from a connecting city was cancelled in Europe and it delay ed my trip until
the following day. -

My intent was to misc and discuss important issues regarding the ?xture. of the European
Union. among others, and the current situation in Ukraine where I currently serve as a Speciai
envoy on behalf of the European Parliament.

Recently. the EU and Ukraine held a ?uccesst?ui summit in which the parties att'imted their
commitments to the integration of Ukraine into the EU. We are expecting Ukraine to meet the ?nal
criteria discussed at the Summit. which is necessary to finalize the signing of the Association
Agreement later this year. We see no reason why-this should not occur-as scheduled.

This is an important time for the Eli and Ukraine. and it will also impact the United States.
The country is under considerable pressure from neighboring Russia. target}: driven by the high gas
prices levied against Ukraine. There is no doubt that Ukraine should align with the tit} and my
efforts as co?chair of European Parliament monitoring mission on Human Rights cases - ?fulia
Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko. Will work to ensure the successful inclusion ot?lf-ltmine as: one of
our neighbors. 

It is my sincere hope that we will be able to meet during my next visit to the United States
Within the next tow months so we may: discuss these and other important matters. I look lbrward to
seeing you on my next visit. 

Sincerely.

Received by Registration Unit 0'8717/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 

 

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM 

77w HRISTIAN SCIENCE
ON ITOR.

This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only. You can order presentation-ready copies for disulhutlon to your colleagues, clients. or customers. Visit

for samples and inlormauon.

EU shOuId Welcome Ukraine 'as a partner for Europe's own
good 

Ukraine is important to Europeas of economic_ growth andenergy security. as well as a bridge to Russia. Western
Intere'sts and values are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid Etirope?an partner.

By Romano Prodi .9me 2, 2013

Bologna. Italy

For all the troubling neWs from Europe - economic uncertainty and
political instability conditions were much more threatening-after"
World War 11. During that anxious era, the United States and other
Western dem'oc'rar?es responded not by pulling back but by reaching o?t

 

to former adversaries and mlnerable allies with economic assistance and

international alliances that contributed to Stable democra?jes, Vltoli chair of Ukraine?s opposition party Udar.
attends a rally in front ofthe parliament budding in Kiev
prosperous economies, and a lasting peace. April 2. Several thousand demonstrators rallied to

demand a mayoral election and to complain that the city
was slow to clean up after last month's blizzard. Op-eti
contributor Romano Prodi, italy's former prime minister,
writes: partnership with Ukraine offers the EU new

pragmatic and courageous deeisionin tl_1_e tradition of the policies that marking" (59?3? 

Now, the Western nations have the opportunity to make another

pro?ded for postwar peace and presperity. Ukrainian leadersrecently concluded talks with the Enropea'n Union about

 

moving toward towardan EU Association Agreement (a treaty between an EU and non?EU country). The agreement

would expand trade and trayel and pave the way for closer Ukrainian integration 'with" the EU.

Having overseen the addition of eight Central and Eastern European-nations in 2004 4 the largest single enlargement of

the -I remember. that at the time some expressed concerns about these countries on the basis of their post?Soviet

 

legal regimes, their economies, and their cultures..80tne of those recently admitted EU members were in-a worse position

than Ukraine is in now-

Yet today these nations, including former soviet bloc countries, are vital and Well-established members of the EU.
Especially timing dif?cult economic times, some EU- members may betempted by authoritarianism. For instance,
Hungary has adopted a constitution and additional laws that endanger the free press and the independent judiciary. But

so membershni serves to restrain anti-dmnobratic'imp'ulses.

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

Similarly, Ukraine is important to Europe as a source of economic growth and energy security, as well as a bridge to
Russia. on the economic front, Ukraine?s 46 million citizens are highly educated, including expert software engineers,
skilled industrial workers who power the country?s commercial export industries, arid capable farmers whose work?allows

the nation to be the breadhasket of Europe.

information and high-tech industries can help continue Europe?s transformation into the lotoivledge
centenof the world. With continued economicrprogress, a partnership with Ukraine offers the EU new markets and new"L

investment opportunities, as well as new workers.

Moreover,.energy security is another-advantage thatUltraime offers Western nations. Ukraine has the third-largest shale
gas-deposits in Eli-rope 42 million cubic feet of technically recoverable reserves that are currently being developed by
Shell and Chevron. This is an environmentally friendly energy source not only for Europe but also foran entire planet

whose population will combine to grow through the middle ?of this century.

As it leases behind the legacy of Soviet-style communism, Ukraine can-serve as a- source of inspiration to its neighbors and
nations throughout the world for how a country can more fol-Ward to free-market democracy and the rule oilaw.

Ukrainians demand dembcra?y, free speech, and a free press, in line with European traditions.

Bringing Ultrainian laws and norms inacco'rdan?ce With those of the?EU will help to achieve symbolic and substantive
progress fer democracy regionally and worldwide. It is of economic, political, and geostrategic importance to Europe and

theUS that Ukraine comes under the European umbrella of shared values and free trade.

While Ukraine is not a member-ofNATO, it has proton a reliable partner. So. bringing Ukraine Closer to the EU is also
positive in terms of Western security interests, especially since recent polling shows Ukrainians are caught between
clashing loyalties to the West and the East and closely diyided on whether to join the EU or the Russian?sponsored 

Customs Union.

Indeed, Ukraine is positioned to become a geopolitical and economic bridge between Europe and Russia. In
many ways, Kiev was the original cradle of Russia, and Ukraine still has strong ties to Russia in terms of heritage, faith,
culture, and language. In fact, alongside its Ukrainian population, Ukraine boasts a large, Russianespealdng population,
with familial and cultural connections to Russia. But Ukraine wants to align itself with Europe and with European values,

and Western nations should embrace this opportunity before we lose it.

Make no mistake: Western-interests and values are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid European partner. This is a

serious geopolitical opportunity for Europe and the US. We should make thermostat it.

Romano Prodi is a former prime minister ?of Italy (1996?1998 and moo-zoos). He also served 'as president of the

European Commission from 1999 to 2004.

f: The Chr'stiar: Sci-amt: Mentor. HI ngnie Re?er'u?ed Terms onus-r whim {m5 is {?ooded y-c Ll ?olicy

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Received by? Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

_m_n?ci ems;

'H?idi 
Lis_a__ wi?iams
Si?amak Kordestami

Sadai Kha'n
Her-a AbbaSi


Jagejlieilohnson
-Ma Sul?livan? 
Eric Williams

O'Brien

EL hH?jf 
La?ujit?n 
Aaron AllegL I 
Caraflfoman

-5a1'ah :Cu?rtis

Matt HereWitf 

Frames Ma, ne?z



I?l?schmag

Themes

. Chi' 
Jod'i Herman
Ann Norris

Batman 1 . 
Kreikemgiq .
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Home News Analysis NATO and Ukraine: Unlikely Team in Piracy Fight

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NATO and Ukraine: Unlikely Team in Piracy
Fight

By: Aaron 

March 23, 2013 4:55 AM . Updated: March 28, 201-3 10:21 AM

When it comes to maritime security,
piracy has become one of the most
prevalent issues for NATO to deal
with. In considering which nations are
most involved in combating maritime
piracy, Ukraine is probably not the ?rst
name that comes to mind. As it turns
out, this non-EU Eastern

 

European nation is heavily involved in
. - the fight against piracy at sea. Ukraine
Ukrainian Defense Minister Pavia Lebe?dev and NATO

has even become a valuable ally to
Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen,

. NATO in anti-piracy campaigns.
February 22, 2013. Atlantic Council Photo

something not exactly expected from 3

Received by Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

Received by Re?giStratio?n Unit. 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

nation so closely aligned with Russia on the geopolitical map.
Impact of Piracy on Ukraine

At the end of last month, NATO announced that Ukraine would actively take part in 
anti-piracy operation in the Indian Ocean. Kiev has agreed to offer a frigate and a helicopter
in the second half of 2013 for Operation Ocean Shield, the mission designed to deter and
disrupt pirate attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa. While it is not readily
apparent, the impact of piracy on Ukraine is very real and a signi?cant security concern for
the former Soviet nation. From 2008 to mid?2012, over 140 Ukrainian sailors were victims of
piracy, many of whom suffered brutal torture and abuse at the hands of their captors. Of
today?s global security challenges, piracy may have the most disproportionately large impact
on Ukraine. Even though Ukraine?s merchant ?eet is relatively small at 1.8% of the world
total, the country has somewhere between 80, 000 and 100, 000 merchant sailors at sea, or
8-10 percent of the world's total. It also supports over twenty higher education
establishments that train seafarers, and Ukraine is the third largest contributor of

commercial crews in the world, second to Russia and the Philippines.

When taking into account demographics, Ukraine arguably has the world?s greatest
concentration of merchant sailors in its workforce and thus, the greatest exposure as a
country to the human cost of piracy. in addition, the Ukrainian economy also bears
substantial costs. With 2, 782- km .of coastline, one of the world?s best navigable river
systems and considerable maritime trade, Ukraine?s economy is very dependent on its
waterways. Piracy directly affects a large amount of'the country?s maritime exports, which
transit through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Indian
Ocean. With such a large share of its goods exposed to piracy, Ukraine bears a
disoroportionate share of the estimated $742 billion annual cost of piracy to the world
economy. With such high risks, insurance costs and protective measures add over $300,000
to the cost of each trip. For ships that, reroute around Africa, the cost is $1-10 million per trip,
not to mention additional travel time. These costs are'made up for with increased
transportation fees that cuts into pro?ts for Ukraine exporters, shippers and producers and
raises prices for purchasers, ultimately lowering the demand for Ukrainian products.

Counteracting the Costs of Piracy

Reach/ed by RegistratiOn Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

Received by RegistratiOn Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

Because of its lack of international presence, the only way that Ukraine can effectively
combat the costs of piracy on its citizens and economy is through multinational cooperation.
This is why Ukraine has become increasingly involved in a partnership with NATO. The first
cooperation on maritime piracy occurred in October 2005 when Ukraine called to requests
assistance in responding to the capture by Somali pirates of the Ukrainian-owned
vessel. MV Panagt?a. Since then, the partnership has grown to the point that Ukraine?s Navy
has deployed ships for extended operations with Operation Active Endeavour in the
Mediterranean on ?ve separate occasions. Last summer Kiev and Brussels announced that
Ukraine wouid join Operation Ocean Shield with the direct contribution of a ship-based

helicopter and a group of naval Special Forces.

Further illustrating its commitment to counter-piracy, Ukraine co?hosted Sea Breeze 2011,
the Black Sea?s largest annual multinational naval exercise, with the United States in
Odessa. In response to common threats facing the world today, the exercise was dedicated
to counter-piracy training Operations. evacuation procedures and search and seizure
training. Sea Breeze 2011 was also designed to improve regional stability in the Black Sea
and strengthen maritime partnerships. Exercises such as these have helped to heighten

Ukraine?s international pro?le and increase its credibility with western nations.
A Step to the West?

Some have interpreted Ukraine?s efforts against maritime piracy as an indication that the
former Soviet state is serious about joining the West?s security framework. Not only has it
become a close maritime partner of NATO, but Ukraine has also been active in the
European Union?s anti-piracy campaign, Operation Atalanta. Ukraine?s work against
maritime piracy is admirable and should be applauded. it also could act as a good starting
point for the country to join NATO in the future and ultimately distancin'g itself from Russia.
However, it is important to keep in mind that Ukraine is a nation that still faces many
obstacles in its quest to join Western institutions. While recently praising the country for its
work against piracy, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned I
Ukraine that it must further commit to respecting democracy and the rule of law.
Counteracting piracy is one thing; building and respecting democracy is another. Despite
some progress, Ukraine still has a long way to go beyond maritime operations if it wishes to

be taken more seriously by the West and gain acceptance into Western institutions.

A version of the commentary was published with The Atlantic Council of Canada.

Received by Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

Received by Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

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Opinion: Western Pacific Anaiysas. 2015 Opinion: Russia, Middle East

Would Benefit From Highlights New Friction Will De?ne NATO's Emerging
International Standing Maritime Betxi?veen West, Ru?ssia Maritime Century

Groups June 11.22?5 Jen,- if} 201:.

May 27 2015 !r "Foreign Forcee" . in ?Aviation"

ii?. "Budget industry"

       




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Article KeyWords: atla'ntic council, NATO, piracy, ukraine

Categories: News Analysis, Piracy, S'i'irfa'c'e Forces

About Aaron Willsc-hi?ck

Aaron Will'schick is currently a r'esearcherand the Mairitifne Securities Program
Coordinator at the Atlantiocounc?? of canada. He holds two MA degrees in European?
Russian and Eurasian Studies from the UniVersity of?Toronto and in Political Science
from York Unjiversitv- 

(3+1
View all posts by Aaron 

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mm?_ ?Mm?m. .wi. .- 

 

?e HRISTIAN SCIENCE

ON ITOR. . . .

This copy is for your personal. noncommercial use only: You (In order?presemdon-ready copies m?yau?r con?gures; clients, nr?customers. Visit

mm for samples and additionalinformation.

 

EU she-Ute! welcome Ukraine as a. partner for Europe's own
'good

Ukraine is important to Europe as a source of economic growth and energy security. as well as a bridge to Russia. Western
Interests and .values are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid. European partner.

1 APRIL 2. 2013

Bologna, Italy

For all the troubling news fromEurope - economictuncertainty and
political instability:- conditions were much more threatening after
World war Ii. During that anxious era, the United States and Other

Western democracies responded not by pulling back'but by reaching out

  

to former adversaries and vulnerable allies'Mth economic assistance and

 

international alliances that contributed to stable democracies, Vitali Klitschito. chair of Ukraine's opposition party Udor.
. altenris a rally in front of the parliament building In Kiev
prosperous economies, and 'a lasting Aprii 2. Several thousand demonstrators rallied to

demand a mayor al election and to complain that the city
was slow to clean up after {5151 month's blizzard. Op-ed
contributor Romano Prodi, Italy's former prime 
writes: partnership with Ukraine offers the EU new

Now, the Western nations haire .th'e dp'pdrtohity to make another
pragmatic and courageous decision-in the tradition of the policies that markets.' (Sergei Ch uzavkovaP)

provided {or postwar peace and prosperity. Ukrainian leaders recently. concluded talks with the European Union about
moving forward tdivard an EU Ass'ooiation Agreement (a treaty between an EU and non-EU country); Th'e agreement

would expand trade and travel and pave the way for closer Ukrainian integration with the EU.

Honing-oversea the addition of eight Central and-Eastern European nations in 2004 ?ithe largest single enlargement of
the EU =1.remember that at the time some expressed concerns about these countries on the basis ofthe?ir pose-Soviet
legal regimes, their economies, and their cultures-Some of those recently admitted EU members were in a worse position

than Ukraine'is in now.

Yet today these nations, including former Soviet bloc countries, are vital and well?established members of the-EU.
Especially during dif?eult economic times, some EU members may be te'm?ted by authoritarianism. For instance,
Hungary has adopted a constitution and additional l?awsthat endanger the free press and the independent judiciary. But

EU membership serves to restrain and-democratic impulses.

Received by ARA RegistratiOn Unit 08/ 1 7/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

ReCeived by Re?giStratio?n Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

Similarly, Ukraine is important to Eorope as a source of economic'growth and energy security, as wellas a bridge to
Russia. 0n the economic front, Ukraine?s 46 million citizens are highlyednoated, including expert software engineers,
skilled who power the country?s commercial export industries, and capable farmers whose werk allr'st

the nation to be the breadbasket of Europe.

Indeed, Uki?aine?s irifor'ination and high-tech industries can help continue Europe?s transformuion into the knowledge
center of the world. With continued economic progress, a partnership with?Ukraine offers the EU new. markets and new

investment opportunities, as .well as new workers.

Moreover; energy security is another adyantag'e that Ukraine offers Western nations. Ukraine has the third-largest shale
gas deposits in Europe- 42 million cubic feet of technically recoverable reserves that are currently being developed by
Shell and Chevron. This is an environmentally friendly energy not only for Europe but also for an entire planet

whose population Will-continue to grow through the middle of this century.

As it leaves behind the legacy of'Soyiet-style communism, Ukraine can serve as a source of inspiration to its neighbors and
nations throughout the world for how a corinfry can move ferwa?rd to free~rnarket democracy and the rule of law.

Ukrainians demand democracy, free speech, and a free press, in line ?with European traditions.

Bringing Ukrainian laws and norms in accordance with those of the-EU willihelp to achieve symbolic 
progress for democracy regionally and worldWide. It is of - economic, political, and geostrategic importance to Europe and

the US that Ukraine comes under the European umbrella of shared values and free trade.

While Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it has proyen a reliable partner. So bringing Ukraine closer to the-EU is also
positive in terms of Western security interests, especially since-recent polling shows Ukrainians are caught between
clashing loyalties to the West and the East and closely divided on whether to join the EU or the Russian-sponsored

Customs Union.

Indeed, Ukraine is perfectly positioned to become age'opolitical and economic bridge between Europe In
many ways, Kiev was the original cradle of Russia, and Ukraine still'ha's strong ties to Russia in terms of heritage, faith,
culture, and language. [1.1 fact, alongside its Ukrainian population, Ukraine boasts a large, Russian-speaking population,
with familial-and cultural connections to Russia. But Ukraine wants to align itself Mt]: Europe and with European values,

and Western nations should embrace this opportunity before we-lose it.

Make no mistake: Western ihterest's and {ralues are best served by engaging Ukraine as a solid European partner. Thisis a

serious geopolitical opportunity for Europe and the Us. We should make the most of it.

Romano Prodj is a former prime minister ofitaly (1996-1998 and also served aspr?esidentof the

European Cdm?niissioo??ofh 1999 ((52004,

R. The {hr swan "luv-rise Monitor Ml Raging [tenor-red :41 me under more mus tor-are mounted to you in we" l?oliry

Received by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

I

Received by ARA Registration Un'it 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

1.1.5. NAVAL INSTITUTE

NATO and Ukraine: Unlikely/Team in Piracy Fight
United States Naval institute

By Aaron Willsohick

March 28. 2013

When it comes to maritime security. piracy has become one of the- most prevalent" issues for NATO
to deal .mtli. in considering which nations are most involved' in combating maritime piracy.. Ukraine-
is probably not the first name that comes to mind. As it turns out. this no'nvNA'l?O, non-EU Eastern
European nation is heavily involved 1n the fight against piracy at sea. Ukraine has even become a
valuable ally to 1n anti-piracy campaigns, something not exactly expected From a nation so
closely aligned with Russia on the geopolitical map.

impact some on Me.

.At the end oflast month,.NATO announced that Ukraine would actively take part in NATO's anti- -
piracy operation in the Indian Ocean. Kiev has agreed to offer a frigate and a helicopter in the
second half of 2013 for Operation Oc'ean Shield the mission designed to deter and disrupt pirate
attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Horn of Africa Wigiie _it' 15 not readily apparent, the impact of
piracy on .Ukraine' 15 very real and a signi?cant security concern for the former Soviet nation. From
2008 to mid- 2012. over 14-0 Ukrainian sailors were victims of. piracy. many of whom suffered brutal
torture and abuse at the hands of their captors. 0f today?s global security challenges. piracy may
have the most disproportionately large impact on Ukraine. Even though Ukraine' 5 merchant fleet' 1s
relatively' small at 8% of the world total. the country has somewhere between 80, 000 and 100
000 merchant sailor's at sea. or 8-10 percent of the World-"s total. it also supports over Me'nty higher
education establishments that train seafarers, and Ukraine isthe third largest contributor of
commercial crews in the world. second to Russia and the Philippines.

When taking into account demographics. Ukraine arguably has the World?s greatest concentration
of merchant sailors' 111 its workforce aigd thus, the greatest exposure as a country to the human cost
of piracy. .In addition, the Ukrainian economy also bears substantial costs. With 2. 782 km of
coastline. one of the world?s best navigable river systems and considerable maritime trade,
Ukraine 5 economy is very dependent on its waterways. Piracy directly affects a large amount of the
country?s maritime exports which transit through the Suez Canal and into the Red Sea the Gulf of
Aden and the lodian Ocean. With such a large share of its goods exposed to piracy,. Ukraine hears a
disproportionate share of the estimated 12 billioii annual cost of piracy to the world ecomnomy
With such high risks, insurance costs and protective measures add over $300 000 to the Cost of
each trip. For ships that reroute around Africa, the cost is 31- 10 million per trip, not to mention
additional travel time. These costs are made up for with increased transportation fees that cuts into
profits for Ukraine exporters. shippers and producers and raises prices for purchasers. ultimately
lowering the demand for Ukrainian products,

Coimteracting-the Costs of Piracy
Because of its lack of international presence. the only way that Ukraine can effectively combat the

costs of piracy on its Citizens and economy. is through multinational cooperation. This is why
Ukraine has hocome increasingiyinvolved in a partnership with NATO..The.iirst cooperation on

 

 

 

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Received by Registration Unit 08/ 17/2017 1:39:30 PM

 

 

 



respondingto the. capture by Somali pirates of the Ukrainianpwned vessel MV Panagia. Since then.
the partnership has g'rtivim to the point that Ukraine? 3 Navy has deployed ships for extended
operations with 5 Operation Active Endeavour In the Mediterranean on ?ve separate
occasions. Last summer Kiev and Brussels announced that Ukraine w0u1d' join Operation Ooean
Shield with the direct connihution ?of a ship-based helicopter and a group of naval Special Forces.

Eurther illustrating its comminnentto counter-piracy. Ukraine co-hostedSea Breeae 201}. the
Black See's-largest annual multinational naval exercise, with the United'States in Odessa. In
response to common threats facing the World today, the exercise was dedicated to counter-piracy
training operations. evacuation procedures and search and seizure training. Sea Breeze 2011 Was
also designed to improve regional stability in the Black Sea and strengthen? maritime partnerships
Exercises such as these have helped to heighten Ukraine? 5 international profile and increase its
credibility with western nations.

listen (all): West?

Some have interpreted Ukraine' 5' efforts against maritime piracy as an indication that the former
Soviet state is serious about Joining the West?s security framework Not only has it become a close
.maritime partner of NATO but Ukraine has also been actiye In the European Union' 5 anti piracy
campaign, Operation Atalanta. Ukraine? 5 work against maritime piraty is admirable and should be
applauded. It also could act as a good starting point for the country to join NATO in the future and
ultimately distancing itself from Russia. However; it is important to keep in mind that Ukraine is a
nation that still faces many obstacles' In its quest to join Western institutions. While recently
praising the cauntr'y for its work against piracy. NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen
warned Ukraine that it must further commit to respecting democracy and the rule of law
Counteracting piracy is one thing: building and respecting democracy' is another.- Despite some
momss, Ukraine still has a long way to go beyond maritime operations if it wishes to be taken
more seriously by the West and gain acceptance into-Western institutions.

A version oft-he commental was published with The Atlantic Council chanqda.

 

 

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Highlighting US-Ukraine Relations

.I -Ukrine:5r 

The United States-Ukraine Charter 011 Strategic Partnership, which Was signed in 2008 by Secretary of State
Condoleezza Rice and Minister of Foreign Affairs Highlights the importance of the US-
Ukraine bilateral relationship. It lays out a vision of enhanced cooperation in the areas of defense, security,
economics and trade, energy security, democracy, and cultural exchanges.

To fulfill one of the key tenets of the. charter, the United States and Ukraine established the Strategic
Partnership Commission, which works to enhance bilateral relations in the aforementioned areas. Through
the ongoing MIR of the the United States and Ukraine continue their partnership on an array
of issdes, including the following. .

n'En to ion

The USis fundamentally committed to helping Ukraine achieve energy security and independence.
Ukraine is the tWelfth-largest energy market in the its?eircess electricity to Such countries
as Russia, Slovakia, Romania, PoIaJnd' Moldova and Hungary, and is home to. Elurope? gas
reserves. The chief area of US- Ukraine energy cooperation and support is the. 20311 US- Ukraine
Unconventional Gas Memorandum of Understanding. This memorandum provides a framework for mutual
cooperation between our two governments in the exchange of kn?cwiledge and expertise. on the
characterization and assessment of unconventional gas resources,

 

The US-Ukraine Energy Security Working ?roup-was created Lin-.2669 under the auspices of the Strategic
Partnership Commission. The Working GroUp:serves as a forum that allows the United States
and Ukraine to'discuss energy phlicy a'nd waysin which both nations can cooperate.

ln_201I2, Ukraine selected US companies chevron Corp and .ExxonMobil?Jor projects to explore. and develop
Ukrainian shale gas arid gas ?elds, respectfully.

'5 re henln Defense: .Co 

Ukraine has a proven track record of actively contributing to several NATO. and international
peacekeeping missions. Ukraine has been a NATO Partnership for Peace Member one the program '5
inception in 1994. This program was initiated to address the recognized fact that the more politically and
militarily secure the other nations of Europe are, the more. peaceful and: secure the. Euro- Atlantic region will
be is recognized as a first step toWard. full integration into the NATO alliance.

International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission in Afghanistan. Recently, Ukraine has been in
discussions with NATO to provide transit services for the Withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan through
its territory. Furthermore, Ukraine has deployed more than 130 troops to KFOR, the NATO- led peacekeeping
force in Kosovo, and it has participated in NATOnled anti-piracy operations off Somalia. Indeed, it is
currently the only NATO partner country actively contributing to each. of the critical ongoing NATD- Il_'ed
operations and missions.

Over the past him decades, Ukraine has contributed ever 000 ??blue helmets? to global peacekeeping

Africa. DUringI sessions of the US- Ukraine Strategic Partnership Commission, the US and Ultraine have
underscored the importance of efforts by the. international community to assure the provision of well-
trained and. deployable military units .for multilateral peacekeeping missions, including concerted efforts to
address chronic gaps faced by UN peacekeepers.

 

 

 

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In February 2013, the UN Under-Secretary -General for Peacekeeping Operations, Herve Ladsous, on behalf
of Secretary- -Gen_er_a_l of the UN Ban expressed his thanks to President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukoyych

for Ukraine? 5 decision. to participate in the UN Operation in Republic of Cote d'lyoire (UNQCIIJ and cross-
:border transactions within the framework :of cooperation between the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and
UNOCI.

.Combattin Ma im ?Pir

To combat piracy, Ukraine. has bacorne an active participant in NATO and EU maritime operations.
Ukrainiahs are one of the most frequent victims of assaults by sea pirates, second only to the Filipinos. In
2011,5111 Ukrainians from the MV Blina spent 10 months in. captivity after their ship was captured by Somali
pirates. Since 2008, 42 ships with over 180 Ukrainian sailors have been victims of piracy. Many have: suffered
brutal torture and abuse: at least two have been killed Although Ukraine? 5 merchant fleet is relatively
small 900 vessels or 1 percent of the world total the country has between 80-, 000 to 100; 000 merchant
seamen, around 8 to 10 percent of the .?world 5 total. Supported by more than 20 higher education
establishments that train seafarers, Ukraine is the thirdwlargest contributor of commercial crews in the
world, secondonly to Russia and the Philippines. When takiog'into account demographics, Ukraine arguably
has the world's greatest concentration of merchant sailors in its workforce and thus, the greateSt exposure
as a country to the human dost of piracy.

Further?illustrating its commitment to counter-piracy, Ukraine co-hosted '5eaBreeze 2011, .thealack Sea-?5
largest annual multinational naval exercise, With the United States. In Jilly 2012, NATO amounted that
Ukraiije would join Operation Ocean Shield, and recently, in March 201,3 NATO announced that Ukraine
would actively take .part in anti- piracy operation in the Indian Ocean. Not only has it become a close
maritime Farther of NATO, but Ukraine has also. been active in the European: Union?s antirpiracy campaign,
OperationAtlanta. Exercis?s sach as these have helped to heighten Ukraine's international pro?le and
increase its crddibility With western nation?s,

In-April 2013, a report from-The United States (.USNI), based at the United States Naval
Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, noted that Ukraine IS ?heavily involved in the fight against piracy at sea?
and called Ukraine? a v'aanble ally to NATO in ahti-pirady oan?ipaigns. USNI added that ?Ukraine? 5 work
against maritime piracy is admirable and should be applauded.?

so 'ortin HIV ?1 ion ea

The epidemic in Ukraine is one of the fastest growing in the world. The US and Ukraine have
highlighted their intent _to increase joint efforts against trafficking in persons and HIWAIDS by signing a
bilateral Cooperation: Plan on Combating Human Trafficking and the Perdiersmp Framework on cooperation
in countering?HIWAlDS from 2011 to 2015.

 

 

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Reci ie

Jackie Ear.ker_ 
Adrienne Hea
'Mei'in Stein
Jase?n Ra?ch


Chris 'nnon

Mara 


El'anaEroitmen 
Ethan? Saxon

Mai-t5 Mci?e?atn??dss


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Annie Yea

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Tonia Walker
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Jones
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Sggyejn??gd?grass 
. Kelley 

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by ARA Registration Unit 08/17/2017 1:39:30 PM Page 1 0f?1

COUNCIL OF EUROPE

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parliamentary Assembly 1
Assembl?e parlementaire . 
em, 
gifw :Hi?lzm-L-I- Hm: . . 

PACE President welcomes liberation of Yuri
Lutsenko in Ukraine

[0820412013 President]

-Stras?b0urg. 08. 04 2013? Jean-Claude Mignon President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of.
Eurqpe (PACE) this morning welcomed. the liberation by the Ukrainian authqrities of farmer interior Minister
Yuri Lutsenko

"l warmly welcome the liberation of Mr Lutsenko. During my recent visit to Ukraine 1 had a long talk with
Priesident Yan'Ukpvich during which I again expressed my position, and that of the Pariiam?ehtary Assembly,
that the problem of imprisoned former government members needed to be swi?ly re?sojVed.

I am happy that this message was heard and i hope that yesterday? 5 pardon is a clear sigh of a turnaround in
the Ukrainian sumpritie's? approach to dealing with those. cases considered by PACE as arising from the
selective application of justice.

I now call an the authorities to rapidly ?nd a splution in line with Council of Europe. principles, tn the

emblematic case. of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and to reform the legal 'sysitem so that such
dasiaS do not recur.? .

Related news

09/047201 7 I President

0710412017 President

 
 
  
 

0310412017 I
President 

Pr'asid'ent Condemns the rberating on the ?t metro- 31/037201? President
. . President

27/23/201 7- I President

 
 
 
  

24l03/2017 President
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"Mciht?neg'rp is makigg steady progress on ihe'pa'th of European ih?teg? 1410372017 President

PACE to. make visit t9 Mgntenegrg 11f03/2017 I President 
. . ht I the 1310172017 

    

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PM 7/5/2017

 

 

 

 

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1:39:30 PM

ah - English .-. Nun-5 Maps About Piirliulrlelit Plenary Committees Delegations EP TV More 7

European Paniament lThe President

i734;

 

The President Agenda Pressman Cabinet

Altman's!? Photos AudioNldeo Eireme

Schulir Welcomes release of Yuriy Lut?senko

a.

Frees dilemma mun-2613
Foreign A?alrs - Human Rights

.. 

Commenting on the pardon granted by the President of Ukraine \?ktor Yanukovych to former Interior Minister
Yuriy Lutsenko, the President of the European Par?ament?Meriln Schulz said:

"i wish to deeply thank Presidents Cox and Kwasniemki for their efforts in securing the pardon and release of
Yuriy Luteanko. Presidents Cox and Kwaeniewski's commitment. under my tutelage. have ensured that Yun'y
Lutsenko is a free man who can enioy his ?rst night in years with his famiiy. {welcome Yuriy Luisenka's pardon
and release as a positive sign.

Fair and indenendent justice is needed in Ukraine and the release of Mr Lutsenko is a step in the right direction.

It follows an earlier release of former Defence Minister Valeriy lvaehehenko last August. Our efforts to improve
the conditions and address the case of Yulla Tyrrioshenko who is still held by Ukrainian authorities continue.?

Note to editors:

After fourteen intensive missions to Ukraine, Presidents Cox and Kyuesniewekimil] report back on 13 April 2013
to the Conference of Presidents in Strasbourg on the progress achieired.

For further'infomatien:
a 

Richard Freedman Anhin Madhnier Marcln Grajeyuelti
Press Of?cer ?pokesperson Press Of?cer
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World Digest: 1 1 Afghan civilians are reported killed in NA 0 strike
The Washi?gtdn Post
April 8, 2013 Monday, Suburban Edition

2013 washingtonpostNewsweek Interactive Company, LLC W3 Washington Post'Digital All Rights Reserved

Winasl?ugton most
washinglonpostcom

Dishihu?on: Every Zone;
Section: Pg. A06

Length: 720 words

Brady

afghahistan
11 civiliain's reported killedin NATO strike

A NATO atrsn?ikezkilled 11 Afghan civilians, including 10 children, dining a fierce weekend gun battle with Taliban militants
that also left one U.S. civilian-adviser dead in eastern Afghanistan, Afghan of?cials said S_iinday.

coalition con?rmed that airstiilces Were. called in by international forces dining the Afghan-led operation in a

remote area of Konar province new: the border with Pakistan. The coalition said it was aware of reperts that civilians were

killed but had no imm'cdiate?infomation about their deaths.

Afghan civilian casualties have been a major point of contention between international fo?mes and the Afghan government,
prompting President Hamid Karzai' this year to ban his troops from requesting coalition airstrike's.

Wasi?illah Wasify, a government of?cial in Kona'r, said the airstrike Saturday targeted a house and killed 10 children and one
woman inside. Heralsosaidzseven Taliban suspects were killed inside the heuse.

The American adviser Who died Was one of three US. civilians killed Saturday. The two others were killed in a suicide
bombing in: southern Zabul province. 

- Associated Press
mt
one killed in clashes outsidecath'edral

One person was killed and morezthan 80?were wounded in clashes at Marl; Co'pti?c Orthodox cathedral in central Cairo on
sundava?ejr a ftineral service for foilr Egyptian Christians killed in religious violence, state media said.

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World Digest: 11 Afghan civilians are reported killed in NATO strike

The state?runMiddle East News Agency said 84 people were injured in ?ghting-alters ceremony at the cathedral. which was
pelted With stones, petrol bombs and bi'rdshot by a mob.

Police ?red tear gas to disperse the crowds, but the clashes continued late into the evening.

The violence erupted after hundreds of angry the fuheral service-at St. Mark?s. Some-shoutedslogansdunng the

Morsi, who is allied With the. lslaf?jst Meslim Brotherhood; condemned the Violence, telling Coptic Orthodox Pepe TaWadr?os
11.1111 .a @16thth dill that an? nook. on' the cathedral "is like an attack-on me personally," the news agency resulted-

After the church Service, young Christians started hurling rocks at police of?cers Outside the cathedral. Some protesters,-
thou'ght to be'Copts, smashed six phenom and so; tviro on ?re, angering Muslims living in the area, who threisT homemade
fitebomhs and stones at them, a witness said.

- Reuters

Syria

Airstrike campaign kills at least 20

After weeks of rebel gains in the south, Syria's government launched widespread airsuikes Sunday thet targeted at least seven
cities or regions and killed at least 20, activists said.

The regime also arsed rebels to smeado?isir arm's, War'?ins in cellphonstc??xt massages that the army is "coming to get you."
State TV said the primary goal of the airstrikes was to "recapturerareastaken by the terrorists," the term the regime'uses torefer
to the opposition ?ghters.

Rebels oyi'rig to topple President Bashar ail-Assad have been making gains in recent weeks, especially in the south near the
harder with Jordan. They have:seized military bases and towns in the strategically important region between Damascus, the
capital, and the border with Jordan, about 100 miles away.

Last week, they looked poised to take over the area along the Jordanian border, Which Could be used to stage an attack on
Damascus Assad?s seat of power.

- Associated Press

Explosions kill 4'1n northwest Iraq: A trio of bombs exploded Sunday 1n the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, killing four security
of?cers and Wounding seven people, of?cials said. The violence began with a car bomb that ltil'led two. soldim's and wounded
title, of?cials said. A second bomb, placed under a vehicle, whunded two people. Later, a roadside bomb killed a police of?cer
and a soldier.

Ukraine's president pardonsz Tymoshenko allies: A top ally of imprisoned former prime minister Yulia Tymosh'enko walked
free from jail sunda'y after Ukraine's president pairdhned him and another eat-minister, mOving toward ful?lling a key
demand on Kiev's path t?ocloser ihtegration with the European Union. President Viktor Yanukovyc'h signed a decree to pardon
former interior minister Yuri Lutsenkoandfonner enviromnent minister Heorhiy Filipchuk,

- Front news services

Load~batenAprs s, 2013

 

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321.3125? Allies in non against Piracy PIRACY DAILY
CHINFO NEWS CLIPS

By Retired US Navy Rear Adm. Terry McKnight
When director accepted an Academy Alvaro in US Nag Chief of I?fbm?tion



2009 for her Hurt hacker," depicting a US Army blomb- 
disposal team, she thanked ?the women and men in the military I
who risk their lives on a daily basis in iraq and Afghanistan and 
aroundthe world.? 

Fast forward to a future awards ceremony: If Tom Hanks is

honored for his forthcoming film. "Captain Phillips," about the .
hijacking of a US cargo vessel. will hetha?nk the international effort i
against maritime piracy, including some surprising allies? 




Hanlts? biopic can help amerlcans learn about the threats we face . 

and the allies we need. With Americans imperiled by bombings in IRACY AILY


 

Boston turmoil in the Middle East and nuclear blackmail on the -
LLE Tl 

Korean Peninsula, maritime piracy also endangers our lives and
livelihoods. The international response to this threat helps
emericans appreciate which countries we can count on- in a crisis.

"r

-in the incident'that inspired Hanks? film, four this April my

Somali pirates seized a US-flagged cargo shipkthe MaerSk 

Alabama. 240 nautical miles southeast ofghe Somali port city of Eyl. . . 
In the fast-paced events oprril 3?12. 2099. althqugh the crew -

fought back bravely. the pirates captured Richard Phillips and held lifeboat. 

 

 



Meanwhile the US Navy frigate Halyburton reached the Maersk Alabama. Then arriving with a Navy SEAL platoon. the
destroyer Bainbridge killed the pirates and freed Phillips Under armed guard the Alabama was escorted to in; original
deStination. the port of Mombasa. Kenya

Until only three days before the hijacking. I had served as commander of Task Force 151. a multijiational naval unit
confronting piracy off the mum of Somalia.

in September W200i! when the Ukrainian?operated MV Faina was hijacked off the coast of Somalia, the cruiser Velln Gulf was
reSponsible for protecting the crew and its cargo. The Faina was carrying a veritable armory: 33 Soviebbuilt T- 72 tanks. anti-
aircraft guns. rocket-propelled grenades. a multiple-launch rocket system and 182 ro_u of ammunition.

Fortunately. after 133 days of intense negotiations, the Faina?s cargo of weapons was seem-ed and her crew was safely released
from captivity.

The seizure of the Fania underscores the threat posed. by piracy to .US economic and national security interests. as well as the
importance of International efforts to defend maritime navigation Maritime piracy costs the world economy an estimated $7
billion to $12 billion a year. while the United States and its allies spend $1.69 billion annually on military operations to prouect
international shipping, and private companies pay another 65 billion to 06 billion for guards and security equipment.

 

The stakes includeprotecting the free flow of commerce on the high seas and' preventing the proliferation of sophisticated
weapons to terrorist organizations in Somalia.

Piracy has declined since 2009. One of the most important reasons has been overwhelming support From more than 25
countries in the international maritime commuoity. including forces ranging from Spanish P-3 maritime patrol aircraft to the
Swedish Navy?s deployment with Operation Atalanta.

Addressing the Naval War College In 2005 then-Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Michael Mullen unveiled a coalition strategy,
the formation of a global ?eet or ?1 Navy. This vision for how coalition forces could defeat a common enemy in the
maritime environment has been ful?lled? in the fight against Somalipirates.

 

 

 

 

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one prime example of an unexpected but important ally in the fight against maritime piracy is Ukraine. Ukraine has been
agtive in Operation Ataianta, the EU naval force?s military action to prevent and combat acts of piracyoff the coast of Somaiia.
five ocEasion's, Ukraine's Navy has deployed ships Forextended operatiens with Operation Active Agenda to
prevent the mavement of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean Sea.

in addition, two years ago. Ukraine joined the [71-5 in Sea Breeze 2011-, the largest annual multinational naxal
exercise in the Biack Sea. In February; Ukraine announced it would take part in Operation Ocean Shield. anti-piracy
operation.

A major maritime nation with between 80.000 and 1.00.000 merchant efforts against maritime piracy
demonstrate this former Soviet repubh'c?s commitment to participating in the West?s economic and security framework.

As the struggle to secure the seas reveals. the US and Western Europe need more partners. NATO and the EU should keep our
eyes, o?r minds. and Our diners open to contributions from nations such as Ukraine.

Retired US new Rear'Adm Ten-y McKniyat was the of the anti-piracy Combined Tagk Force 151. He

. is vice president ofgoyernment reunions-at defense ?fth Cobh'am. These views re?ect only those of the apthor?s.

 

 

 

 

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