Foreign Correspondence

[Amaunet]

Ukraine election heads to runoff vote

November 1, 2004
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine's pro-Russian prime minister and his reformist challenger were neck and neck in Ukrainian presidential elections, setting up a runoff vote, officials said Monday. Foreign observers from NATO and Europe said the vote did not meet European standards for democracy.

In an election seen as key to whether the former Soviet republic moves toward the West or toward Russia, the campaign has been plagued by worries over irregularities. The United States warned before Sunday's polls that it might take punitive action if the vote is not fair.

The observers found state media bias in favor of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych and state interference, including obstruction of opposition activities, said the joint mission, representing the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Council of Europe and NATO.

"With a heavy heart, we have to conclude that this election did not meet a considerable number of OSCE, Council of Europe and other European standards for democratic elections," one of the lead observers, Bruce George, said in a statement.

The Election Commission said that with 94.4% of the precincts counted, Yanukovych had 40.1% and challenger Viktor Yushchenko had 39.1%. The results, described as preliminary, made it impossible for either candidate to reach the 50-percent majority needed for a first-round victory. A runoff would be held Nov. 21.

The observers said the second round gave Ukraine another chance to prove itself.

"Ukraine now has three weeks to show that it is willing to organize democratic elections in accordance with its commitments," said Doros Christodoulides, who headed the delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

Some 600 observers participated in the monitoring mission. A delegation of observers from the former Soviet republics concluded that the vote was largely free and fair.

During Sunday's voting, both sides alleged voting-day electoral violations. Tensions have gripped Ukraine for weeks, as the opposition alleged widespread official intimidation and interference, while Yanukovych's side claimed its opponents aimed to foment mass civil unrest.

Yanukovych has the backing of outgoing President Leonid Kuchma, who has clamped down on opposition during his rule.

The Central Elections Commission building was encircled by metal barriers and dozens of policemen deployed inside the compound were backed by water cannons and armored vehicles. Security forces also beefed up protection of the building of Ukraine's state-run TV and other key facilities in Kiev late Sunday.

The vote was seen as a key test of democracy in this nation of 48 million people and as an indicator of what direction Ukrainians will choose for their nation, which has cultivated ties with the West and neighboring Russia. Ukraine, a country a little smaller than Texas, also has shown strong economic growth, primarily in heavy industry, after years of post-Soviet economic chaos.

Yushchenko is seen as aiming to move Ukraine closer to western Europe, while Yanukovych is inclined to cultivate closer relations with the Kremlin.

In all, 24 candidates were on the ballot. Turnout was around 75%, the Central Election Commission said.

Yushchenko's campaign said Monday its parallel count showed him ahead of his main rival about 46-33, with two-thirds of the precincts tallied, the Interfax news agency reported.

Mykola Tomenko, a Yushchenko ally, said the opposition would "protect its rights" if Yanukovych won a fraudulent vote and announced possible "rallies, strikes and demonstrations to protect people's rights."

Yanukovych's campaign announced that its count of 50% of votes showed the prime minister with 41.2%, as against 38.7% for Yushchenko.

The official results showed the Communist and Socialist candidates with another 11% of the vote in all. How those candidates' supporters vote in the next round could be critical.

Vladimir Polokhalo, the editor of the political journal Politichna Dumka, said he expected the leftist vote would split 60-40 for Yushchenko in a second round, Interfax reported.

The United States has warned it may take punitive actions if the voting is marred by irregularities in Ukraine, which has a brigade of troops in Iraq. Ukraine has been one of the top recipients of U.S. aid.

Both candidates have promised to push for more growth in the country where millions still live in poverty.

Yanukovych's detractors claim he will continue the crony capitalism they say was rampant under Kuchma and allowed a relative few to become extremely wealthy. They also fear Yanukovych will, like Kuchma, try to intimidate the opposition and independent media.

Yushchenko's allies complained that scores of opposition observers had been expelled from polling stations in the Ukraine's east, and that in the southern city of Odessa, two opposition officials were beaten by police.

Late Sunday, a group of armed men, firing several shots in the air, stormed three polling stations in the eastern city of Kirovohrad and seized ballot boxes, the Interfax news agency reported.




http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-11-01-ukraine-runoff_x.htm