OSCE/ODIHR opens election observation mission for presidential election in Ukraine

KYIV, 26 November 2009 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened its election observation mission for the 17 January 2010 presidential election in Ukraine.

The mission is headed by Ambassador Heidi Tagliavini, a senior Swiss diplomat, and consists of 16 experts based in the capital and 60 long-term observers to be deployed across the country shortly. In addition, ODIHR has requested 600 short-term observers to monitor election day proceedings.

The mission will assess the entire election process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation.

It will focus on the legislative framework and its implementation, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, the election campaign, the media, access of domestic observers, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results at all levels. For election day, the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will join efforts with the delegations of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and other parliamentary partners.

The day after the election, the mission will issue a statement of its preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately two months after the end of the observation mission.

The mission will remain in the country should there be a second round.

The OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine operate separately under their specific mandates.

Further information on the mission, including a Needs Assessment Mission report, can be found on the OSCE website at Observation of presidential election in Ukraine.