Ukraine Election Rules - changes raise concerns. Elmar Brok MEP and Charles Tannock MEP

Brussels, 4th February 2010

Brussels, 4th February 2010 -- MEPs Charles Tannock and Elmar Brok (respectively EPP and ECR Group Coordinators in the Foreign Affairs Committee) today raised in an exchange of views with the Spanish Presidency the astonishing last minute changes in Ukraine's electoral law passed yesterday in the Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada.

They commented: "The decision to change the electoral rules in between Presidential election rounds now raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of these elections to violations and fraud which could undermine the final result."

"In the Foreign Affairs Committee today, Foreign Minister Moratinos, on behalf of the EU Spanish Presidency, passed responsibility for the EU's official response over to High Representative Baroness Ashton. Therefore it now falls on her to urgently raise and protest against the manner in which this election will be carried out and supervised."

For further information:
Elmar Brok MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847323
Lasse Boehm, EPP Group Press & Communications Service, Tel: +32-484-656897
Charles Tannock MEP, Tel: +32-2-2845870
James Holtum , ECR Group Press Office, Tel: +32-473-861762

Notes to Editors:
Pawel Kowal MEP, who was not present at the exchange with Mr Moratinos and who, as President of the EP Ukraine delegation, now leads the official EP Observer Mission for the Presidential election, joins in the call by Elmar Brok and Charles Tannock for Baroness Ashton to make a statement and protest against the 11th hour changes to Ukrainian electoral law.

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