12:42 21.11.2016

Compromise on Donbas elections' modality yet to be reached – Ukrainian TCG representative

2 min read
Compromise on Donbas elections' modality yet to be reached – Ukrainian TCG representative

Positions regarding elections in Donbas territories uncontrolled by Kyiv have yet to be reconciled, Ukrainian representative to the Trilateral Contact Group for Donbas' political subgroup Olha Aivazovska has said.

"I see no compromise on the elections' modality," Aivazovska told Hromadske Radio in an interview.

"The electoral system is a keynote issue" for Ukraine, she said, adding, "it should be reconciled with Ukrainian local elections and have a proportionate component with the mandatory involvement of political parties. Political parties should participate in the formation of elections commissions, and the Central Election Commission should also play a key role because of election disputes and the controlling function the CEC must have; besides, it would be necessary to administer certain processes uncharacteristic of traditional local elections (to arrange centralized production of ballot papers, to establish election results for the maximal number of councils and heads of city authorities, and to control expenses)," Aivazovska said, speaking of Ukraine's demands.

In her words, the other side disagreed and said that, "for instance, parties should take no part in the elections."

"Naturally, the Ukrainian side cannot change its standpoint or abandon the role of the CEC, transparent funding, electoral accountability, and resumption of media activity," she said.

"I do not see a single area where the sides have reconciled their positions," she said.

The only thing that both negotiating parties agree upon is that internally displaced persons should participate in the ballot, "but this 'acceptance' has totally different forms," she said.

"The Ukrainian side insists that special polling stations open across Ukraine, while the individual districts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions say they do not mind the voting by internally displaced persons per se but want them to come home and to vote there. This form of implementation means the denial of opportunity," she said.

In her words, Western partners have stopped insisting on a particular date of Donbas elections.

"They used to set some dates over a year ago, but now dates and deadlines are not being discussed. This process should be natural, and elections should be held only when they can be called democratic," the Ukrainian representative said.

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