The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) commends the Government of Canada on its bold commentary and leadership in calling upon the Government of Ukraine to ensure absence of intimidation and harassment on election day this Sunday and in the subsequent second round.

In response to the Ukrainian Canadian Congress' (UCC) request to the Right Honourable Paul Martin, Prime Minister of Canada, the Canadian Embassy in Ukraine issued a statement made by the Canadian delegation at a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. The statement was announced on October 28 in Vienna, Austria. [1]

"We are very pleased that Canada has taken a leadership role among the international community in supporting a civil society in Ukraine,” stated Irene (Orysia) Sushko, UCC President. “The UCC is troubled with the reported attempts by Ukrainian authorities to undermine the credibility of the presidential election process in Ukraine and we are very pleased Canada has again called on Ukrainian authorities to ensure absence of intimidation and harassment on election day."

In its statement, Canada called upon the Ukrainian authorities "to take steps now to end measures which are undermining the credibility of the election process and to ensure that the vote on October 31, and in any subsequent second round, guarantees Ukrainian citizens their right to vote in an atmosphere free of intimidation and harassment."

Canada noted that the Government of Ukraine has engaged in, and continues to engage in, systematic efforts to distort the electoral process, and to remove from the people of Ukraine the democratic right to decide upon their next President in a free and fair manner.

For example, the fourth interim report of the ODIHR (OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights) observation mission, released last week, found that the state administration is engaged in determined and widespread efforts to promote the candidature of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and to interfere with the electoral campaign of his chief opponent, Our Ukraine Coalition leader Viktor Yuschenko.

Canada is dismayed by administrative decisions that may result in the silencing of the only national independent broadcaster, Fifth Channel television station, at a critical time in the campaign.

Canada is also deeply troubled by reports that plain-clothed members of the state security forces have attacked supporters of the opposition candidate as they participated in a peaceful rally in the capital.

The statement emphasized that the Government of Ukraine, as an OSCE participating state, has taken on a politically binding commitment to ensure that the election is free and fair.

Canada reiterated the importance of a free and fair electoral procedure in the Ukrainian Presidential election on voting day, including in the counting of ballots. The statement read that "Only through a free and fair election will the new President of Ukraine be assured of the respect and legitimacy to which that office is entitled - both within Ukraine and in the international community."

October 29, 2004