UWC International Election Observation Mission releases Final Report on 2019 Parliamentary Election in Ukraine

On September 2, 2019, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) International Election Observation Mission (UWC Mission) to Ukraine’s 2019 Elections presented its Final Report on the Parliamentary Election held on July 21, 2019, during a press conference held at the Ukraine Crisis Media Center in Kyiv, Ukraine.

The UWC Mission mobilized 142 short-term observers from 30 countries and closely cooperated with UWC member organization, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), which registered 32 short-term observers. The UWC and UCCA missions monitored the electoral process in 20 oblasts of Ukraine and in Ukrainian diplomatic missions in 23 countries. In addition, 125 long-term observers from 28 countries monitored the media in 20 languages for any evidence of disinformation.  

Confirming that the 2019 Parliamentary Election in Ukraine met international standards for the conduct of democratic elections, the UWC Mіssion made several recommendations regarding the future conduct of elections, including:

1. Abolishing the “day of silence” as an outdated procedure which does not take into account the significant role of social networks, which have remained off limits to such a regulation;
2. Providing equal conditions for political parties and candidates in the media space, which would include equal airtime and uniform representation; and
3. Exploring new initiatives that would simplify the participation of Ukrainian voters abroad, some of whom had to travel very long distances in order to cast a vote during the Parliamentary Election. 

The UWC Mission long-term observers affirmed the existence of global disinformation about the Parliamentary Election and Ukraine in general. Based on its findings revealing the dissemination of various disinformation narratives in many languages and a range of media, the UWC Mission made a series of recommendations highlighting the need for Ukrainian authorities, civil society and the UWC to continue raising awareness of the serious threats that disinformation poses for political stability, socio-economic well-being and fundamental freedoms, and to conceive a strategic program for combating disinformation.

“The Ukrainian World Congress commends the Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian people on  democratic, transparent electoral processes during both the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections this year, and looks forward to working with Ukrainians on the continued implementation of electoral reforms,” stated Head of the UWC Mission Eugene Czolij.  

The Final Report of the UWC Mission can be read HERE.

The press conference regarding the Final Report of the UWC Mission can be viewed HERE.