FOR THE RECORD: Sen. Campbell on pre-election developments in Ukraine (02/01/04)

FOR THE RECORD: Sen. Campbell on pre-election developments in Ukraine

Following is the January 20 Congressional Record Statement of Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (D-Colo.), co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission concerning "Troubling Pre-Election Developments in Ukraine ."

Mr. President, as co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission and the sponsor of the 2002 Senate-passed resolution urging the Ukrainian government to ensure a democratic, transparent and fair election process in advance of their parliamentary elections, I find recent developments relating to upcoming presidential elections in Ukraine deeply troubling.

Ten months before these critical elections, a constitutional amendment is making its way through the Ukrainian Parliament designed to ensure that the current, corruption-riddled powers-that-be retain their grip on power, neutralizing the leader of the biggest democratic fraction in Parliament and Ukraine's most popular politician, Victor Yushchenko. The amendment calls for abbreviating the presidential term for the October 2004 elections to two years, with the election of a president by the parliament in 2006, notwithstanding opinion polls indicating that the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians support preserving direct presidential elections.

This amendment had been approved by Ukraine's Constitutional Court in a decision which has led many observers both within and outside of Ukraine to question the independence of the court. The court's decision a few weeks ago to allow President [Leonid] Kuchma to run for a third term - despite the 1996 Constitution's two-term limit, has only raised more questions.

Media repression continues, including the issuance of directives sent to media by the presidential administration on what and how issues and events should be covered, especially in the electronic media. A recent Freedom House report concludes that "the current state of affairs of Ukraine's media raises serious questions as to whether a fair and balanced electoral contest can be held." Newspapers critical of the authorities are subjected to various methods of repression, including attacks against journalists, arrests of publishers, "special attention" via tax inspections, administrative controls over distribution and pressure on advertisers.

Mr. President, at the same time, administrative measures are being taken to prevent lawful political activity, the most stark example of which was the disruption - instigated by the authorities - of a national congress of the Yushchenko-led Our Ukraine bloc in Donetsk last November. Most recently, a presidential decree dismissed the elected Our Ukraine mayor of Mukachevo [Mukachiv] - despite a ruling by the Supreme Court which confirmed that he had been elected in a legitimate way. In a telling twist, an acting mayor from the political party led by the head of the presidential administration, Victor Medvedchuk, has been installed.

As co-chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I share the concern of colleagues on both sides of the aisle that the presidential elections in Ukraine scheduled for October be free, fair, open and transparent and conducted in a manner consistent with Ukraine's freely undertaken commitments as a member of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The Helsinki Commission, consistent with our mandate to monitor and encourage compliance with OSCE agreements by all participating States, will continue to follow the situation in Ukraine closely.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of a recent Washington Post editorial on troubling pre-election developments in Ukraine be included in the Record. Thank you, Mr. President.

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