U.S. President Barack Obama's statement on the Ukrainian elections:
On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Ukraine on holding successful parliamentary elections on October 26. Despite a challenging security environment in certain regions, millions of Ukrainians turned out across the country to cast their ballots in an orderly and peaceful manner. I commend the Government of Ukraine for the conduct of the campaign and election day vote, which international monitoring organizations assess to have been largely in line with international standards.
At the same time, it is clear that Russian authorities occupying Crimea and Russian-backed separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine prevented many Ukrainian citizens from exercising their democratic rights to participate in national elections and cast their votes. I call on Russia to ensure that its proxies in eastern Ukraine allow voters in the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk subject to the Special Status Law to choose their representatives in legitimate local elections on December 7, in keeping with the agreement that Russia and separatist representatives signed in Minsk, Belarus, on September 5, 2014. The United States will not recognize any election held in separatist-held areas that does not comport with Ukrainian law and is not held with the express consent and under the authority of the Ukrainian government.
Yesterday’s parliamentary vote represents another important milestone in Ukraine’s democratic development. We look forward to the convening of the new parliament and the quick formation of a strong, inclusive government. The United States stands ready to support the choices of the Ukrainian people and Ukraine’s new government as it enacts and implements the reforms necessary to promote further democratic development, strengthen the rule of law, and foster economic stability and growth in Ukraine. The United States also will continue to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity as it works toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict in the east and a return of Crimea, and will stand with its people as they seek to build a more secure, prosperous, and democratic future.
Russia's traditional gas customers continue their rush for the exits:
There comes a moment when you know it's been a long day. Vote tabulation, 5AM in the morning, DEC. #UkraineVotes pic.twitter.com/pPFfs3cLFI
— Anna Zamejc (@stell7) October 27, 2014
OSCE statement on Oct. 26 #Ukraine parliamentary elections http://t.co/Tuob2eHEoO pic.twitter.com/yDIC0JtndV
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) October 27, 2014
The human-rights situation in Crimea has seriously deteriorated, Council of Europe says http://t.co/gSlyjJcO02 via @WSJ
— greg white (@whitegl) October 27, 2014
Here's a wrap-up from our news desk of the international reaction to the Ukraine vote:
International observers gave Ukraine's parliamentary election a stamp of approval today, while Russia said it hopes the vote will ease tension by ushering in a "constructive" government.
Kent Harstedt, special coordinator for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), told a news conference that the October 26 vote was "an amply contested election that offered voters real choice, and a general respect for fundamental freedoms."
He said voting and counting were transparent, election officials were impartial, and the campaign was competitive.
He also said there were some cases of intimidation and threats and that some media showed a lack of autonomy from political or corporate interests.
Pro-Europe parties won a sweeping victory in the election, which was marred by a lack of participation in eastern areas controlled by pro-Russian rebels and in Russian-annexed Crimea.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow hopes the election leads to the formation of a government "that will be constructive, not bent on continuing to escalate confrontation in society and with Russia."
(Reuters, TASS, AFP)
Very helpful research on which party gets how many seats in #Ukraine's newly elected parliament - by @ukrpravda_news http://t.co/3EbVt6objJ
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) October 27, 2014
Donetsk's high society is out in force for the Iozif Kobzon concert. pic.twitter.com/u5teoOfxcm
— max seddon (@maxseddon) October 27, 2014