Fearing “deliberate repression,” Russia does not send observers to Ukraine elections
Russia was forced to abandon the idea of sending observers to the presidential election in Ukraine, the press and information department of the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
The CEC of Ukraine has refused the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) permission to grant permits to 24 Russian citizens in the Observer Mission. The Russian Foreign Ministry called the decision illegal.
"The justification for such actions is the new legislative amendments that the Verkhovna Rada hastily adopted in February, when the ODIHR delegation was in the process of deployment in Ukraine," - the Russian Foreign Ministry's comment further explains.
Moscow decided not to expose its observers to the threat of deliberate repression.
Presidential elections will be held in Ukraine on March 31.
