UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CONGRESS ELECTION OBSERVER MISSION IN UKRAINE: OBSERVERS’ ACTIONS JUSTIFIED

Head of Mission, Orysia Sushko, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) says: “We have thoroughly investigated the incident and are completely satisfied that the observers were justified in the manner that they carried out their responsibilities as international observers. This is the fifth election in Ukraine in which UCC observers have participated. We certainly have the knowledge and experience to provide effective observers and have done so consistently. This situation was no exception.”

Chief Observer of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (Canada Ukraine Foundation) Mission Ron Chyczij affirms: “Contrary to the claims of certain parties and their presentation of the situation on local television, the observers did not contravene any laws of Ukraine. In fact, it was their sole aim to ensure that elections laws were being adhered to by all parties standing for election, which they executed in a professional manner.”

“This particular incident originated when the four Canadian Observers decided to investigate the fact that approximately 13,000 duplicate voters remained on voter lists overseen by this particular DEC – a situation that the Commission Members refused to address.  In my opinion it was this set of facts and not the conduct of our Canadian Observers that precipitated a plan to distract or prevent our Observers from performing their duties.”

The detailed report of the incident will follow this release.

UCC Media Contact
Darla Penner
Tel. (204) 942-4627
dpenner@ucc.ca
www.ucc.ca