Kyiv: absolutely no possibility that Russian observers can be allowed to monitor Ukrainian presidential elections
Martians have more chances to be present at the presidential elections in Ukraine than Russian observers do, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin wrote on his Twitter page.
“Martians have more chances to observe the elections. Of course, if they manage to go through all the procedures and join the OSCE. But they will definitely better adhere to the fundamental principles of the OSCE,” the minister said.
Earlier, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that Moscow would offer the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to send candidates as short-term observers for the presidential elections in Ukraine. The request was submitted by the OSCE ODIHR.
The OSCE called the denial of Russian observers’ access to Ukrainian elections unprecedented.
On February 7, the Verkhovna Rada voted for a bill prohibiting Russian observers from monitoring the presidential elections in Ukraine. The Kremlin called the restriction unacceptable and said that such measures lower the legitimacy of the elections.
The OSCE also called the bill unprecedented and violating the obligations of all participants in the organization. OSCE Chairman-in-Office Miroslav Laichak suggested that Ukraine reconsider the decision to ban Russian observers from monitoring the elections in Ukraine.