Kyiv: Hundreds of OSCE observers will monitor Ukraine's presidential elections
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine wrote on Facebook that about 850 representatives of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) will arrive to monitor the presidential elections in Ukraine.
Ministry advisor Ivan Stoiko said the Ministry is ready for close cooperation with the OSCE and ensuring the safety of observers. “We are ready to provide full assistance to the work of OSCE observers… we’re doing everything to ensure that the elections are fair, transparent and conducted in accordance with European standards,” he said.
Stoiko heads the newly created ad hoc working group on public safety during the election. Its staff includes officers from the National Police of Ukraine and public safety specialists. The group will work in close collaboration with the Central Election Commission of Ukraine or CEC, deal with the maintenance of public security during the electoral process and detect and prevent violations of the electoral legislation.
“Mechanisms of ensuring public safety and legitimacy of the elections were agreed at a meeting with the representatives of the Central Elections Committee, the Civil Network OPORA, panel members of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the National Police leadership. We will act decisively and in a coordinated manner," said Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will firmly reject proposals to accept Russian observers. This position was made clear by Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo Klimkin when he requested that the OSCE send an observation mission. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will not accept applications for registration of Russian observers. I consider this necessary when it comes to observers from the aggressor and occupant country,” Avakov emphasized.