Canadians Volunteer to Monitor Ukraine Election

WINNIPEG , Jan. 29 /CNW/ - As Ukraine prepares to go to the polls on February 7, 2010 to elect a new President, hundreds of Canadians are travelling this weekend to once again be present, working as election observers. The election observer mission, organized by the Canada Ukraine Foundation (CUF) in partnership with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC), supports transparency and democracy by assessing the election process. These volunteers are there to monitor the process and by their presence, encourage a fair and democratic election.

The first round of elections was held on January 17, 2010 , a process which was reported to have been 'adequate' in its attempt to meet international election standards. Nonetheless, Canadian observers were diligent in their work and uncovered several irregularities including a well-organized attempt to sabotage the elections in 28 villages in the Kyiv region.

Included among this group of Canadians observers are MP James Bezan (Selkirk-Interlake) and MP Gerard Kennedy (Parkdale-High Park) who also observed the 2007 parliamentary elections in Ukraine .

(Mission Report and further information can be found at www.ucc.ca or www.cufoundation.ca)

For further information: Media Contact: Darla Penner, [phone], C: [phone], [email protected]; In Ukraine: Mission Office in Kyiv - 011-38-044-235-3757 & 239-7359, [email protected]; Bob Onyschuk (Head of Mission) - 011-38-067-166-3420, [email protected]; Yarema Bachynsky (Chief Observer) - 011-38-050-330-4194, [email protected]