STATEMENTS REGARDING UKRAINE'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

Ukrainian American Bar Association

The statement below was issued by the Ukrainian American Bar Association on November 24.

We, The Ukrainian American Bar Association, are a professional organization of lawyers and jurists of Ukrainian descent, whose objective for over 25 years has been to promote the rule of law in representative government throughout the world and particularly in Ukraine.

It is our strong belief that in democratic societies, governments are created by the people - for the people. Members of the Verkhovna Rada, as representatives duly elected by the people, have a solemn obligation to implement the sacred trust and mandate given them by their electorate, and to promulgate the rule of law in the land of our forefathers. Lawyers and jurists, as members of a profession dedicated to justice and fair play, are both individually and collectively morally bound in good conscience to object to clear abuses of the rule of law.

We are deeply concerned and troubled by the massive reports of widespread improprieties and tampering in the recent presidential elections in Ukraine which were observed by many objective international witnesses and official monitors to be seriously flawed, flagrantly biased and beneath minimal compliance with acceptable democratic standards.

Accordingly, we strongly urge the Verkhovna Rada and the entire legal community in Ukraine to investigate and review the events surrounding the recent elections, affirmatively address and confront all indications and allegations of fraud, and promptly take such action, including annulment, as may be required to implement the true will of the people in a fair and accurate vote. Only then can Ukraine reaffirm its position as a legitimate democratic nation where "law," "justice" and "fair play" are not mere hollow platitudes without real substance. In their long and arduous historic battle for a free society, the Ukrainian people certainly deserve better.

Andrew E. Steckiw, President

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 5, 2004, No. 49, Vol. LXXII

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