Observers praise transparency in initial look at Ukraine's elections

KIEV, Ukraine, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The OSCE's International Election Observatory Mission released its preliminary assessment of Ukraine's early parliamentary elections held Sunday.

"There were many positive points to the process," the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe wrote in its report, "such as an impartial and efficient Central Election Commission, an amply contested election that offered voters real choice, and a general respect for fundamental freedoms."

The OSCE recognized that Ukraine's elections were held "in an increasingly challenging political and security environment" that curtailed the ability of some to participate.

The crisis in eastern Ukraine and Russia's illegal annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region made it difficult for nearly half of Ukraine's minorities who identify as native Russian speakers or Crimean Tatars to participate in the election.

"The nearly 30 seats that will be left empty in the new parliament serve as a stark reminder that illegal armed groups prevented voters in some parts of the country from being able to vote," said OSCE Parliamentary Assembly delegation head Doris Barnett.

Despite the disturbances, Barnett clarified at a press conference Monday, "These illegal actions do not call into question the validity of the overall election." Rather, she said, "We look forward to these seats being filled as soon as possible so that representatives of those areas can join their colleagues in an open dialogue to the benefit of all Ukrainians."

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko's bloc was the clear winner in Sunday's election, followed by Prime Minister Arseny Yatsenyuk's People's Front. Both parties are pro-European and support further Ukranian integration with the European Union.