ENEMO

ENEMO has deployed the International Observation Mission for the Local Elections in Ukraine

07. Oct. 2020.

Kyiv, October 7, 2020 - The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) has accredited nine international election experts and 48 Long Term Observers for the upcoming Local Elections, which will be held on October 25th, 2020 in Ukraine. This was stated during the press conference held at UKRINFORM.

The mission consists of nine Core Team members and twenty four teams composed of two long-term observers, which have been deployed in various “oblasts” (regions) in Ukraine starting from September 28, 2020.

Mr. Zlatko Vujovic, Head of the Mission stated: “ENEMO operates in full compliance with the international standards for election observation. All ENEMO observers have signed the Code of Conduct for International Election Observers. Objectivity, impartiality and trustworthiness of the information collected by our observers are the top priorities of the mission”. Furthermore, he added: “ENEMO will observe, assess and report on key findings related to monitoring of the overall electoral process, including respect of fundamental human and political rights but also the conduct of election management bodies, electoral campaigns of parties and individuals, complaints, appeals as well as the voting process during the Election Day”.

Additionally, he has said that ENEMO is well aware of the difficulties of organizing elections in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Local elections in Ukraine are going to be held during the economic crisis and COVID-19 represents a significant challenge for the entire system. We are very concerned about the rapid increase in the number of people infected with the COVID-19 and how it will affect the election process but we hope that Ukrainian citizens will respect all measures and contribute to holding these elections safely, Vujovic said. “We are aware that this represents a considerable challenge not only for election management bodies in the electoral process but also for voters, candidates and other stakeholders in this process. Despite these challenges ENEMO will observe, assess the election campaign as well as all key aspects of the electoral process in Ukraine’’, he explained.

Mr. Pierre Peytier, Deputy Head of the Mission announced that the part of the Core Team will be based in Kyiv while the rest of experts, as well as the LTOs will be conducting their work remotely and observe the election process throughout all the regions of the country.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated risks, ENEMO’s mission is operating under a different format in these elections, with 48 virtual long-term observers (LTOs) operating remotely and conducting online observation. Additionally, ENEMO’s mission counts on an Election Administration Analyst and CEC observer, one Election Campaign Analyst, one Legal Analyst, and one Media Analyst to follow all key aspects of the electoral process mentioned by our Head of Mission. Both Core Team analysts and LTOs will have local assistants on the ground helping them conduct their remote observation” he explained.

He has said that ENEMO will assess the electoral process according to the international standards for democratic elections and Ukrainian legislation. Despite short deadlines and challenging circumstances under which we are operating, we are confident that the mission will be very successful, in line with previous missions of ENEMO.

Through monitoring and reporting on the crucial aspects of the elections, ENEMO mission aims to ensure the respect of free will of voters. Mr. Peytier, added: “All ENEMO reports and conclusions to be presented to the public will be evidence-based through observers’ findings, which will focus on all crucial aspects of the electoral process”.

ENEMO works in close cooperation with domestic and international observation missions whose observation methodology meets international standards. Deputy Head of the Mission, Mr. Pierre Peytier said: “ENEMO observers will meet online with different relevant stakeholders, civil society and media representatives for more comprehensive overview of the electoral process”. 

Maja Milikic, Press Officer stated: “This is the thirteenth observation mission of ENEMO in Ukraine. In the next weeks we will try to ensure the presence of ENEMO observers on Election Day, who shall observe opening, voting and counting procedures as well as the transfer of protocols”.

ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission to Ukraine 2020 for Local Elections is financially supported by USAID through the National Democratic Institute (NDI). 

At the press conference, on behalf of ENEMO were speaking: Mr. Zlatko Vujovic, Head of the Mission, Mr. Pierre Peytier, Deputy Head of the Mission and Ms. Maja Milikic, Press Officer.

For additional information, please contact: Maja Milikic Phone: +380 68 939 0686 or e-mail: maja.milikic@enemo.eu.

PressReleaseUKR07Oct.pdf

PressreleaseENG07Oct.pdf

PREVIOUS NEWS

ENEMO attends the CEC Moldova's post-electoral review conference “General Local Elections from the Republic of Moldova of 5 November 2023. The impact of electoral reform: lessons learned, recommendations and steps ahead”

ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission for the 2023 Local Elections in Moldova presented the Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions for the second round

On 23-24 October 2023, President of ENEMO Ana Mihajlovic spoke at the High-level event organized by the EU Commission in Brussels on "Election observation for fair transparent electoral processes".

The Core Team members of ENEMO's Election Observation Mission to 2023 General Local Elections in Moldova met with the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic Moldova, Ms. Domnica Manole and the judges of the Court

ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission for the 2023 Local Elections in Moldova presented the Preliminary Statement

ENEMO’s International Election Observation Mission for the 2023 Local Elections in Moldova presented the Interim Report