Straw urges Ukrainian investigation
The Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has called on the Ukrainian authorities to co-operate fully with an investigation into the disputed presidential election.
Mr Straw said the situation was one of “deep concern” and urged the authorities to show restraint against the protestors.
Thousands of people are still on the streets in the Ukrainian capital following an all-night vigil. They believe that the authorities rigged Sunday’s presidential poll in favour of the current prime minister Viktor Yanukovich.
Opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko has warned that the country was “on the verge of civil conflict”.
The Organization for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OCSE), which monitored the election, said there were “significant shortcomings” in the election. In a preliminary report published on Monday, its observation mission stated that the state authorities “displayed a lack of will to conduct a genuine democratic election process.”
Speaking this morning, Mr Straw said he had been following developments closely, and the failure to ensure transparent elections was “a matter of deep concern.
“I urge the Ukrainian authorities to cooperate with the OSCE to ensure that all proper procedures, including legal challenges to the results, are fully followed before declaring a final result. The Ukrainian authorities should investigate all allegations of fraud to ensure that the result reflects the democratic will of the Ukrainian people.”
Mr Straw also called for all sides to refrain from violence.
