Problems with Ukraine's elections

[geni]

Ukraine's presidential election on Sunday failed to meet international standards, Western poll observers say.

"We have to conclude that this election did not meet a considerable number of ... European standards for democratic elections," an OSCE statement said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3971779.stm

Not good

 

[Hutch]

And probably not surprising. The EU's movement East has probably stopped at the Baltic states, I don't see much of the old USSR shaping up in the next decade to the point of full EU membership--corruption as much as lack of democratic institutions will stop it.

Turkey will get in before Ukraine, Belorussia, et. al.--IMHO, as always

 

[Nikk]

And probably not surprising. The EU's movement East has probably stopped at the Baltic states, I don't see much of the old USSR shaping up in the next decade to the point of full EU membership--corruption as much as lack of democratic institutions will stop it.

Turkey will get in before Ukraine, Belorussia, et. al.--IMHO, as always

Well it's going to go to a runoff vote and despite a whole series of irregularities there seems to be only 1% in it.

I would certainly think that the opposition candidate is the better option so there is now three weeks for the US and the EU to apply maximum pressure in favour of our candidate, ummm I mean in favour of a free and fair election .

 

[Questioninggeller]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2004/11/01/002.html

More than 900 ballots had been cast by 4 p.m. in an election led by Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and opposition candidate Viktor Yushchenko, Itar-Tass reported Sunday evening.

An exit poll showed Yushchenko leading with 49 percent at 5 p.m. and Yanukovych close behind with 45 percent, Interfax reported.

...

The Ukrainian observers noted no major violations at the Moscow polling station but expressed dismay at television reports that implied voters could simply show up with a Ukrainian passport and vote.

"The television stations are to blame for this," said Viktor Cherednichenko, an observer from the Ukrainian parliament.

Maria Domoslavskaya, an observer from the Yushchenko team, echoed him, telling Interfax that "the turnout was good, there were no blatant violations, and the most negative aspect was the information released by the press."