Monday, November 22, 2004

Diaspora Recognizes Yuschenko President

STATEMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN DIASPORA ON THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE

The Ukrainian World Congress and its member organizations in thirty countries, actively monitored the electoral process in Ukraine on November 21, 2004. Our conclusions are based upon the observations of some 250 international monitors, accredited by the Central Elections Commission from the UWC and our member organization the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America which included a delegation from the Ukrainian Canadian Congress.

Irrespective of the final result to be announced by the CEC, at this time it is clear, even assuming the current numbers of the CEC, that the tally for each candidate is similar. For this reason we feel that the violations which took place to benefit candidate Victor Yanukovich influenced the result submitted by the CEC. Should the CEC declare Victor Yanukovich president, he cannot be deemed to have been elected by the voters. Should the CEC declare Victor Yushchenko president, he will have overcome substantial obstacles and violations.

Among the violations we include such primitive ones as proxy voting, procurement of more than one ballot by some voters, attempts to stuff the ballot box by representatives of the local elections commissions or their friends, the so called carousel, flagrant bribing, etc. More significant were events such as suggesting a vote for candidate Yanukovich by the local elections commissions, remitting invites to vote with a pamphlet about candidate Yanukovich, personal advice on how to vote given by local election commission members, directors of establishments of employment and others in positions of influence. The most severe results were due to an egregious abuse by candidate Yanukovich of administrative state resources, not only from the government of Ukraine but also from non-democratic foreign governments, i.e. Russia and the not-recognized Transdniester. Additionally, we mention detainments and attempts to frighten Yushchenko’s monitors.

The Ukrainian Diaspora, whose activities are coordinated by the UWC, sends greetings to Victor Yuschenko as the winner of the election and offers him its support for the benefit of the Ukrainian people and an independent democratic Ukrainian state.

Kyiv, November 22, 2004

Askold S. Lozynskyj
President UWC

Victor Pedenko
Secretary General UWC

Michael Sawkiw
President UCCA
Ostap Skrypnyk
Executive Director UCC

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