Problems with Ukrainian Election Commissions

Ukrainian Diaspora Organization Cites Problems with Ukrainian Election Commissions.UCCA Calls for Volunteers to Serve as International Election Observers.

New York, NY (UCCA) — The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), an organization with long-term experience in observing elections, will once again take an active part in the upcoming local elections in Ukraine slated for Sunday, October 31, 2010, by hosting a delegation of international election observers.

As one of the few non-governmental organizations, and the only Ukrainian American community organization, registered with Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC), the UCCA has been actively involved in sending international election observers to Ukraine since 1991.

The UCCA supports Ukraine’s commitment to OSCE standards for free and fair elections that accurately reflect the will of the electorate. Therefore, we are concerned and troubled by recent reports from around Ukraine, particularly Odesa, that state that the Party of Regions has been stacking local election commissions and the Territorial Election Commissions with their people in an effort to manipulate the election results.

We cannot allow for fraudulent elections to return to Ukraine. And thus, as in the past, the UCCA will be sending teams of international election observers to cities throughout Ukraine, including Odesa, to insure free and fair elections. The work of the UCCA Delegation assists in the election process by helping to ensure that they are conducted in a free and fair manner. The UCCA does not support any one candidate, political party or bloc. During the election program, the UCCA will conduct an extensive training seminar for its election observers, provide practical information on how best to serve as international monitors, coordinate in-country travel and lodging, translators and guides if necessary, provide official CEC accreditation, and comprehensive informational packets.

For further information about the UCCA’s International Election Observer program, or to register, please contact the National Office, either by email at or telephone at (212) 228-6840.

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA,) the national umbrella organization in the Untied States representing the interests of Americans of Ukrainian descent for 70 years has been conducting comprehensive civic education programs in Ukraine to teach citizens the benefits of democracy and free market economic reforms since 1991. A large part of the UCCA’s Civic Education work has included hosting delegations of international election observers to monitor Ukraine’s presidential and parliamentary elections. UCCA Delegations have monitored every election held in Ukraine since 1991. In 2004, during the historic Orange Revolution, the UCCA’s delegation, which numbered 2,408 individuals, was the largest delegation of International Election Observers ever registered by Ukraine’s Central Election Commission, surpassing the OSCE’s delegation by almost 1,000 observers.