NDI Fields International Observation Mission for Second Round of Ukrainian Presidential Election

The delegation includes political leaders, diplomats, former elected and government officials, and regional and electoral experts, including: William Taylor, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and executive vice president of the United States Institute of Peace (USIP); Audrey Glover, chairman of the Foreign Policy Centre and former director of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Office of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR); Laura Jewett, NDI Regional Director for Eurasia; and Mary O’Hagan, global associate and NDI senior resident director in Ukraine. The delegation will build on the work of NDI’s mission to the first round on March 31, the findings of long-term analysts who have been in Ukraine since January, and a pre-election assessment conducted in November 2018.

“On March 31st, for the second time since the Revolution of Dignity and despite Russian aggression, Ukraine held an election that broadly reflected the will of voters,” said William Taylor. “The success of Ukraine’s efforts to establish an independent and sovereign democracy is of vital importance to global security.”

“The needs of the Ukrainian people are urgent. A peaceful, orderly electoral process that inspires public confidence can bring the country closer to its aspirations,” said Audrey Glover. “There is room for improvement in the process and Ukrainians deserve a second round that exceeds the standards set in March.”

“NDI polling consistently shows that more than 80% of Ukrainians are committed to a democratic future,” said Laura Jewett. “The next president will need to make reform the top priority, and the first test will be a credible runoff election.”

The delegation’s purpose is to demonstrate the international community’s continuing support for democratic processes in Ukraine and to provide an objective assessment of the election process and the political environment surrounding it. Members of the delegation will meet with party and campaign representatives, government and election officials, as well as representatives of civil society, the media and the international community in Kyiv and 12 regions of the country. On election day, the NDI observers will visit polling stations for the opening, voting, closing and counting processes in their assigned regions.

NDI has organized international observation missions or assessments in more than 65 countries for more than 135 elections, earning a reputation for impartiality and professionalism. The NDI observer mission will conduct its activities in a nonpartisan, professional manner, in accordance with Ukrainian law and the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation. NDI also will remain in close contact with Ukrainian monitoring groups and other international observer delegations throughout the electoral period. The work of this mission is made possible with the support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

###

NDI is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government. For more information about NDI and its programs, please visit www.ndi.org.