MISSION CANADA UKRAINE ELECTION 2012 FINAL REPORT MISSION CANADA UKRAINE ELECTION 2012 FINAL REPORT This report is available at www.CANADEM.ca/MissionCanada2012 and at www.CANADEMMissions.ca/Ukraine_reports TABLE OF CONTENTS Foreword .......................................................................................................................5 Executive Summary .........................................................................................................7 Recommendations ..................................................................................................................... 8 Election Observation Standards ..................................................................................... 11 International Standards for Elections ........................................................................................... 11 Ukrainian Law ........................................................................................................................ 11 Mission Canada Practices, Mandate and Scope .......................................................................... 12 Legal Framework and Electoral System for Ukraine’s Parliamentary Elections ...................13 Political Context ............................................................................................................14 Delineation of Single-Mandate Districts ........................................................................................ 14 Election Administration .................................................................................................15 The Central Election Commission (CEC) ....................................................................................... 15 The District Election Commissions (DECs) ...................................................................................... 15 The Precinct Election Commissions (PECs) ..................................................................................... 16 Voter Registration .........................................................................................................17 Candidate Registration ..................................................................................................17 Election Campaign ........................................................................................................18 Campaign Environment ............................................................................................................ 18 Campaign Finance .................................................................................................................. 19 Media Environment .......................................................................................................20 Complaints and Appeals ...............................................................................................21 Election Commissions ............................................................................................................... 22 Administrative Courts ............................................................................................................... 23 Participation of Women .................................................................................................27 Domestic and International Observers ............................................................................28 Election Days ................................................................................................................29 The Immediate Pre-Election Period ............................................................................................... 29 Election Day ........................................................................................................................... 29 Post-Election Developments ............................................................................................30 Tabulation of Results ................................................................................................................. 30 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................33 Recommendations .........................................................................................................34 Election Administration ............................................................................................................. 34 Electoral Law .......................................................................................................................... 34 Complaints and Appeals .......................................................................................................... 34 Domestic Observers and International Observers ........................................................................... 35 Annex 1 - About Mission Canada and CANADEM ........................................................36 Mission Canada Structure, Staffing, and Operations ...................................................................... 37 Annex 2 - Meetings held with Mission Canada’s Head of Mission ...................................39 Annex 3 - Schedules of Training: LTOs and STOs .............................................................40 Annex 4 - Mission Canada Observers ............................................................................46 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................... 51 Appendix - Statistical Results of Observations of Mission Canada ....................................52 Polling Stations visited prior to Election Day .................................................................................. 52 PEC Opening ......................................................................................................................... 54 Voting Period .......................................................................................................................... 55 Closing and Counting .............................................................................................................. 64 Ballot Transfers Witnessed ......................................................................................................... 71 Observations at DECs .............................................................................................................. 75 Foreword The quest for freedom runs deep in the soul of Ukrainians. Ukraine is the country that: i) in 1710 provided a modern constitution; ii) that pioneered multicultural rights in its 1917 and 1918 Universal Declarations, and; iii) that saw a pro- democracy movement re-emerge at the end of the Soviet era. Since independence in 1991, Ukraine has been in transition to develop itself into a free, modern and democratic state. While acknowledging much has been achieved, such as considerable pluralism of political parties and factions, the need for a strengthened civil society, economic progress, freedom of the press, independent judiciary, development of institutional capacities and for free and fair elections are still in precarious development. Ukraine is a major and significant European country, with a land mass larger than any other fully European state and a population approaching fifty million. Moreover, its geographical position between Europe to the west, and Russia and Asia Minor to the north, east and south, make it an important locus of international security, commerce, culture and strategic interest, as manifest throughout Ukraine’s history. Successive governments, and indeed most politicians in Ukraine, have indicated that they support the people of Ukraine in their aspirations to choose their leaders in a democratic fashion. Indeed, Ukraine is a member of OSCE and pledges to conduct elections in a free and fair manner. It is therefore important for the international community to monitor each and every election in Ukraine, until the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law become more permanently entrenched in this country. It is also important to ensure that local national observers, as the best interpreters of the election process in Ukraine, are supported to gain sufficient access, training and resources to monitor elections. Canada is uniquely positioned to assist Ukraine in its democratic development. Some 1.3 million Canadians trace their roots to Ukraine. Working through a strong organized community base, and motivated by the repression and hardship that led them to Canada, they have used their linguistic capacity, and their knowledge of the country and its history to advocate the need to assist Ukraine through its democratic transition. All Canadians, I believe, cherish and share these aspirations and values and have worked hard to forge a special relationship with the people of Ukraine. What happens in Ukraine is important to Canada and the international community. The commitment of such significant resources by the Government into this Mission is a testament to its concern for progress in Ukraine, and a pledge for the continued collaboration of Ukraine’s road to democracy. On behalf of all Mission Canada-Ukraine Election 2012 observers, I wish to thank and commend the Government of Canada for undertaking this independent bilateral mission, which was not only the largest bilateral mission, but the second-largest of all international missions. I want to state my admiration and gratitude to the observers themselves, for their perseverance