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Ukraine Votes In Presidential Election

May 25, 2014

Ukraine votes in a presidential election on May 25.

Authorities hope the election can help resolve a confrontation with Russia that has split the country with pro-Russian separatists in control of much of two eastern regions, Donetsk and Luhansk.

Ukrainian officials have said many polling stations in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk are unlikely to open.

Acting Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk said the election will be the first step to stabilize the situation in the east.

Russian President Vladimir Putin promised that Russia would work with the new Ukrainian administration.

Eighteen candidates are competing to become Ukraine's next leader.

Polls show billionaire candy-maker Petro Poroshenko with a commanding lead, but short of the absolute majority needed to win in the first round.

His nearest challenger is Yulia Tymoshenko, the divisive former prime minister who is far behind.

Yatsenyuk, in a statement on May 24, told Ukrainians they have a responsibility to vote despite threats by 'bandits sponsored from abroad' to disrupt the election.

Yatsenyuk said he was sure the winner of the election will make a priority of signing a key political and free trade agreement with the European Union.

The refusal of Moscow-backed President Viktor Yanukovych's to sign the deal triggered months of mass protests that ended when he fled to Russia in February.

Yatsenyuk said the vote will be an expression 'of the will of Ukrainians from the west, east, north and south.'

In eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, however, pro-Russian rebels have seized or blocked the offices of around half of the election commissions, in some cases kidnapping and intimidating election officials.

Denis Pushilin, one of the leaders of the so-called 'Donetsk People's Republic' on May 24 threatened that 'if necessary,' the insurgents will use force to prevent voting taking place.

Authorities say they have mobilized tens of thousands of police and volunteers to try to ensure security on polling day.

Over 1,000 OSCE observers will check polling stations and counts across the country outside of Donetsk and Luhansk.

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-election-presidential-/25397120.html

Copyright (c) 2014. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.