Report

On Sunday, July 21, 2019, a Canadian delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), composed of the Hon. Gwen Boniface, Senator, the Hon. Josée Forest-Niesing, Senator, and the Hon. Donald Plett, Senator, participated in an election observation mission that monitored the parliamentary election held in Ukraine. The delegation was accompanied by Mr. Grant McLaughlin, Association Secretary.

A. The Election Observation Mission in Ukraine   

The OSCE PA stipulates in its mandate to promote and monitor democratic elections. To this end, it leads Election Observation Missions across its 56 country members. Canada participated in the Parliamentary Election in Ukraine on July 21, 2019.

The OSCE election observation mission in Ukraine was a common endeavour, involving the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE PA, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly (NATO PA), and the European Parliament (EP). The mission was deployed at the invitation of the Government of Ukraine, pursuant to commitments made by all OSCE participating states.

On election day, 811 observers from 45 countries were deployed, including 719 long-term and short-term observers deployed by the ODIHR, as well as 60 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, 17 from NATO PA, and 15 from the EP. Voting was observed in over 2,600 polling stations. Counting was observed in 285 polling stations across 134 election districts.

B. Activities of the Canadian Delegation   

On Thursday, July 18, the delegation received a security briefing provided by Drew Evans, Readiness and Security Program Manager, Canadian Embassy in Ukraine.

Canadian delegates attended ODIHR briefing sessions for parliamentarians on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Over the course of the two days, delegates were provided an overview of the political background to the elections and exchanged with representatives of numerous political parties. They were also briefed on the administration of the elections and had panel discussions with representatives of civil society and representatives of mass media. The sessions concluded with ODIRH going over the process for election-day reporting and statistical analysis.

The delegation met with Mr. Roman Waschuk, Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine on the evening of July 19 for a dinner reception.

On election-day, delegates observed several aspects of the election process, including:

• the opening of a polling station in the morning;
• the voting process in a number of polling stations throughout election day; and
• the closing of a polling station and the vote count in that polling station.

Delegates reported regularly on their observations throughout the day by completing observation report forms at each polling station visited and submitting them to their assigned long-term observers.

C. Preliminary Findings and Conclusions   

Overall, during the 21 July early parliamentary elections in Ukraine, fundamental rights and freedoms were respected and the campaign was competitive, despite numerous malpractices, particularly in the majoritarian races. Generally, the electoral administration was competent and effective despite short time available to prepare the elections, which were seen as an opportunity to consolidate reforms and changes in politics that Ukrainian voters are hoping for.

The elections took place in the context of ongoing armed conflict and other hostilities in the east of the country and the illegal annexation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation. As a consequence, the elections could not be organized in Crimea and certain parts of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that are controlled by illegal armed groups.

Canadian delegates noticed that the election was held in a competitive fashion and that the fundamental rights of freedom were respected for the citizens of the country.

Polling stations were well organized, transparent and efficient with proper procedures generally adhered to. A peaceful and respectful climate reigned on election day throughout the nation of Ukraine. Canadian observers each witnessed 12 polling stations, including the special exercise of opening and the closing of the stations.

The full preliminary report, prepared jointly by the OSCE PA, ODIHR, NATO PA, and EP missions, is available in English at the following site:

Respectfully submitted,

Hon. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P.
Director
Canadian Delegation to the Organization for Security and Co-operation
in Europe Parliamentary Assembly
(OSCE PA)