The election observation mission of the Ukrainian World Congress has said that the parliamentary elections in Ukraine were held not in line with democratic standards.

"The mission described the parliamentary elections in Ukraine as incompliant with all international standards for holding democratic elections," cochairman of the mission Pavlo Hrod said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.

In particular, Hrod said that the imprisonment of leaders of the Batkivschyna United Opposition Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko was one of the drawbacks of the election campaign.

"Such trials [on opposition leaders] raise huge doubts that the elections could be free and fair," he said.

The observer also said that cases of persecution of the independent media took place during the election campaign.

He also pointed to non-transparent funding, the use of administrative leverage, and the bribery of voters.

"The absence of transparent funding and expenditures, the use of administrative leverage, and the bribery of voters are factors that have to be taken into account while assessing whether the elections were held in line with international standards, and they were not in terms of funding," he said.

Hrod also mentioned such violations as replacement of ballot boxes, shortage of ballots or their excessive number at some polling stations, the opening of some polling stations with delays, restricted access to observers in many cases, and an ineffective video surveillance system.

"These violations and drawbacks will obviously influence the results of the elections. However, it is very difficult to estimate their impact at the moment," he said.

The observer stressed that he has presented a preliminary report, while the final one will be published after the vote count is finished.