EU: Nonparticipation of ’key opposition figures in elections to influence EU’s assessment

The European Union, while making its assessment of the holding of parliamentary elections in Ukraine, will take into account the fact that "key opposition representatives" cannot participate in them.

Maja Kocijancic, spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, announced this at a briefing in Brussels on Friday, a UKRINFORM correspondent said.

"We have repeatedly regretted the fact that the trials that do not respect international standards are preventing the key opposition representatives from standing in the parliamentary elections. And this, of course, will also influence our assessment of how the election takes place, " she said.

Kocijancic recalled the EU's position announced by Ashton and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule that the elections would become "a litmus test of Ukraine's democratic credentials."

"We expect that European observers will be allowed to do their job. We expect that they will make a preliminary report on the elections on Monday after which we expect to have a reaction very soon to the elections and ongoing campaign, " she said.

Kocijancic also expressed the EU's hope that the elections in Ukraine would be conducted in line with international standards, ensure respect for electoral law and guarantee a proper election atmosphere for all candidates.

"We believe that there needs to be a full transparency of all the activities of the Central Election Commission so that all the relevant issues are clarified, " she added.

Kocijancic also noted that the foreign ministers of EU member states would discuss the elections in Ukraine during their next meeting on November 19.