Russia refused to send observers to Ukrainian elections
On March 25, 2019, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a comment stating that Moscow was forced to abandon the idea of sending observers to the presidential elections in Ukraine. This decision was dictated by several factors: the repeated refusals of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine and the unwillingness of Moscow to expose Russian observers to the known threat of persecution.
It should be reminded that a few days before that, the CEC of Ukraine refused the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to accredit 24 Russian citizens as part of the election observation mission. The Russian Foreign Ministry has already called this decision of Kiev illegitimate and discriminatory.
It is noted that in February 2019, the CEC of Ukraine already refused the ODIHR on a similar occasion. Then it was about two Russians, long-term observers of the mission. Moreover, the CEC of Ukraine justifies its actions by changes in Ukrainian legislation, which were hastily adopted in February 2019 in order to prevent observers from Russia.
Moscow believes that Kiev violates the standards of democracy and discredits itself by its actions, because it cynically violates its OSCE commitments. One of these violations, including its own constitution, is the refusal of Kiev to open polling stations in Russia. Thus, the Ukrainian authorities have deprived the right to vote of several million citizens of Ukraine. And the OSCE is well aware of this, judging by the interim report of the monitoring mission, published March 15, 2019, in which these and other violations were recorded.
In this regard, the legitimacy of the results of the presidential elections in Ukraine, which are to be held on March 31, 2019, is already in question. And apparently, Kiev has something to hide, both from its population and from the international community. However, Moscow will continue to closely monitor the development of events and the course of the election campaign in close cooperation with the OSCE and its structures. At the same time, Moscow hopes that the ODIHR will be able to provide the international community with objective information, without political preferences.
It should be reminded that a few days before that, the CEC of Ukraine refused the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to accredit 24 Russian citizens as part of the election observation mission. The Russian Foreign Ministry has already called this decision of Kiev illegitimate and discriminatory.
It is noted that in February 2019, the CEC of Ukraine already refused the ODIHR on a similar occasion. Then it was about two Russians, long-term observers of the mission. Moreover, the CEC of Ukraine justifies its actions by changes in Ukrainian legislation, which were hastily adopted in February 2019 in order to prevent observers from Russia.
Moscow believes that Kiev violates the standards of democracy and discredits itself by its actions, because it cynically violates its OSCE commitments. One of these violations, including its own constitution, is the refusal of Kiev to open polling stations in Russia. Thus, the Ukrainian authorities have deprived the right to vote of several million citizens of Ukraine. And the OSCE is well aware of this, judging by the interim report of the monitoring mission, published March 15, 2019, in which these and other violations were recorded.
In this regard, the legitimacy of the results of the presidential elections in Ukraine, which are to be held on March 31, 2019, is already in question. And apparently, Kiev has something to hide, both from its population and from the international community. However, Moscow will continue to closely monitor the development of events and the course of the election campaign in close cooperation with the OSCE and its structures. At the same time, Moscow hopes that the ODIHR will be able to provide the international community with objective information, without political preferences.
Information