October 19, 2012
MEDIA RELEASE
UWC DEPLOYS ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION TO UKRAINE
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is deploying 300 international observers to monitor the Parliamentary elections in Ukraine scheduled for Sunday, October 28, 2012. The observers, travelling to Ukraine from 20 countries, will monitor the electoral process in all regions of Ukraine.
“The goal of the UWC Short Term Election Observation Mission is to help ensure a more open and transparent electoral process in Ukraine,” stated UWC President Eugene Czolij.
Observers will also be monitoring the vote at Ukrainian embassies and consulates around the world, including Ottawa and Toronto in Canada, and Washington and New York in the United States, where Ukrainian citizens will have an opportunity to cast their ballot.
Heading the mission are co-chairs Tamara Olexy, President of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), and Paul Grod, President of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC). Both UCCA and UCC, along with the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF), previously merged their respective missions with that of the UWC to consolidate election observation experience and maximize effectiveness. The UWC mission will incorporate the work of the UCC/CUF long term observation mission which has been working in Ukraine since early July.
Chief Observer for the mission is former Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine, Derek Fraser.
To date the Central Election Commission of Ukraine has registered 2015 international observers.
For further information on the UWC Election Observation Mission (EOM) contact:
Ukraine
UWC 2012 EOM Office
Tel: 044-495-8541, 8540, and 8543
E-mail: [email protected]
Canada
Irene Mycak
Tel: 416.919.6566
E-mail: [email protected]
U.S.A.
Roksolana Lozynskyj
Tel: 646.867.3179
E-mail: [email protected]
The UWC is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. The UWC has member organizations in 33 countries and ties with Ukrainians in 14 additional countries. Founded in 1967 as a non-profit corporation, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization (NGO) with special consultative status.