CANADIANS GEAR UP TO OBSERVE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE
The early Ukrainian parliamentary elections are set to take place on October 26, 2014, and there will be no shortage of Canadian observers to monitor this important day in Ukraine’s history.
This will be the seventh parliamentary election since Ukraine’s independence in 1991, and it comes at a crucial time. Currently, Ukraine is in the process of trying to implement much needed reforms across many sectors, while also fighting off Russian-backed terrorists in the Donbas.
“I hope to see a free and fair election take place,” said Denys Volkov, “So many people have died in Ukraine since the start of the protests in November 2013 so it’s important to see the will of the people being recognized in a free vote.” Volkov, currently living in Winnipeg, is a native of the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and is the Director of Communications for the Canadian Election Observation Missions (CANEOM).
Many Canadians heading to Ukraine as electoral observers will be going as members of CANEOM, the bilateral Canadian observation mission, funded by the government of Canada. This mission will see the deployment of 40 long-term (LTO) and 150 short-term (STO) observers.
Canada has played an important role in Ukraine’s democratic development since 1991, and numerous Canadian election monitoring missions have contributed significantly to this tradition. Most recently, CANEOM deployed 38 LTOs and 100 STOs to observe the early presidential elections in Ukraine on May 25, 2014.
Motivating Christine Czoli to apply as an observer for the October election is its significance and importance in further developing Ukraine’s democracy. “Independent foreign observers will play a crucial role in assessing whether the upcoming elections meet international democratic standards,” Czoli said, “and I have applied to serve as an STO in order to assist with this crucial democratic exercise.”
For others such as Natalie Kardasz, who was in Ukraine as an observer for the presidential elections in May, it is her strong personal connections to her Ukrainian heritage which keep her coming back. “I signed up to show my solidarity with the people of Ukraine, to show that I support them and that people in the diaspora know about them and want to help them. It was important for me to play a role, however small, to help Ukraine achieve a true democracy.”
The consistent presence of Canadian observers during Ukraine’s major elections has not gone unnoticed by the Ukrainian people. As returning observer Nick Krawetz noted, “Canadian observers make a difference on the ground. Many [Ukrainian] election commissioners were extremely grateful that people from Canada took an interest in what is happening in Ukraine.” “Participating on behalf of Canada while supporting Ukraine is truly a tremendous honour,” he added.
“Canadian observers are highly regarded in Ukraine,” echoed Volkov. “I came across one election worker in eastern Ukraine in May, who thanked me for coming to Ukraine and thanked our government for sending observers. It was a special moment for me.”
Together with other international and domestic observers, Canadian election observers help promote credible elections and the adoption of internationally recognized best practices by Ukraine’s electoral establishment. CANEOM’s mission objectives are to observe, record, and report on the electoral exercise, and to aggregate these findings into a final report indicating whether the election results may be deemed to reflect the genuine democratic expression of the Ukrainian people.
Notably, it is not just polling stations in Ukraine that will be under the watchful eye of observers. Experienced election observer Stéphanie Plante, who has observed six elections internationally, including three in Ukraine, will be taking part in an Out of Country Voting (OCV) observation mission that will be present at polling stations at the Ukrainian embassy in Ottawa and consulate general in Toronto. “This mission will be different for me as [I’ll be] looking at how Ukrainians vote from the other side of the ocean,” says Plante. “The stakes are smaller, but the players are equally passionate.” She will also be keeping an eye on how the integrity of election materials is ensured when shipped to Canada and the chain of custody when the materials are sent back to Kyiv.
While the work of observers is technical and methodical, many agree that the benefits of election observation missions go beyond official reporting and assessments. Both Canadians and Ukrainians build important relationships with one another, relationships that help deepen the understanding and connection between Canada and Ukraine. “At this point I’ve been to Ukraine enough times that I’m completely invested and interested in seeing their legal and electoral framework flourish,” Plante remarked. “Since my first mission the country and its people have changed so much and I love being a witness to this process.”
“I have been very fortunate to have had many opportunities to strengthen relationships with average, hard-working Ukrainians who yearn to live in a democratic country,” says Krawetz. “Learning about the issues they face on a daily basis has further opened my eyes to Ukraine’s problems, and its huge potential.”
On October 26, Canadian observers will once again undoubtedly play an important role in helping to ensure that Ukrainians are able to freely and fairly cast their ballots and make their voices heard. Given the very difficult situation in which Ukraine finds itself today, this assistance emphasizes President Poroshenko’s comment during his official visit to Canada in September: “Canada is a friend indeed.”
