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OSCE/ODIHR concerned about attack on polling station during Ukrainian mayoral election
WARSAW 20 April 2004
WARSAW, 20 April 2004 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human rights has expressed concern today about polling station disruptions that took place during Sunday's mayoral election in the town of Mukachevo, south-western Ukraine.
Although the OSCE/ODIHR did not deploy an observation mission, two members of the ODIHR Election Section were present for polling day, as part of an effort to more closely follow the election process in Ukraine, prior to the presidential election later this year.
"Of deep concern was an attack on a polling station in Mukachevo by unidentified persons at the end of the vote count, which occurred in the presence of the OSCE/ODIHR representatives," said Gerald Mitchell, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Section.
"This blatant attempt to disrupt the election proceedings is an attack on the very foundations of the democratic process," he added.
"It threatened to compromise the rights of the some 1,600 Ukrainian citizens discharging their civil responsibilities in a distinguished manner at the polling station in question. All the perpetrators of this and other reported assaults should be held accountable without delay."
On election day, the OSCE/ODIHR representatives witnessed intimidation, including an unusually large police presence and unidentified persons loitering in and around polling stations. They were also concerned by a physical assault against a domestic observer by unidentified persons, without apparent intervention by the police, which resulted in his hospitalization. In addition, the secrecy of the vote may have been compromised in some polling stations during Sunday's mayoral election.
All these violations serve to underline the importance which the OSCE/ODIHR attaches to the presence of domestic non-partisan observers to enhance transparency, accountability and confidence at all stages of the election process. Furthermore, recent election legislation bars such persons from observing, and thus discriminates against citizens of Ukraine in contrast to the rights of international observers.
The OSCE/ODIHR will continue to follow election related developments in Ukraine in advance of the 31 October presidential election.
Although the OSCE/ODIHR did not deploy an observation mission, two members of the ODIHR Election Section were present for polling day, as part of an effort to more closely follow the election process in Ukraine, prior to the presidential election later this year.
"Of deep concern was an attack on a polling station in Mukachevo by unidentified persons at the end of the vote count, which occurred in the presence of the OSCE/ODIHR representatives," said Gerald Mitchell, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Section.
"This blatant attempt to disrupt the election proceedings is an attack on the very foundations of the democratic process," he added.
"It threatened to compromise the rights of the some 1,600 Ukrainian citizens discharging their civil responsibilities in a distinguished manner at the polling station in question. All the perpetrators of this and other reported assaults should be held accountable without delay."
On election day, the OSCE/ODIHR representatives witnessed intimidation, including an unusually large police presence and unidentified persons loitering in and around polling stations. They were also concerned by a physical assault against a domestic observer by unidentified persons, without apparent intervention by the police, which resulted in his hospitalization. In addition, the secrecy of the vote may have been compromised in some polling stations during Sunday's mayoral election.
All these violations serve to underline the importance which the OSCE/ODIHR attaches to the presence of domestic non-partisan observers to enhance transparency, accountability and confidence at all stages of the election process. Furthermore, recent election legislation bars such persons from observing, and thus discriminates against citizens of Ukraine in contrast to the rights of international observers.
The OSCE/ODIHR will continue to follow election related developments in Ukraine in advance of the 31 October presidential election.