United States Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker says that Ukraine's security concerns about Russian observers at its elections are real.
"We welcome Ukraine's readiness to facilitate the OSCE ODHIR mission's activities. We have confidence in Ukraine's commitment to transparency and the conduct of free and fair elections. Must remember that Russia is the aggressor in Ukraine, so Ukraine's security concerns about Russia are real," he wrote on Twitter on February 7.
Volker says that Russian monitors could work under ODIHR authority.
Read alsoUkrainian parliament bans Russian citizens as election observers in Ukraine
"Ukraine needs ODIHR monitors to prove it adheres to democratic standards. Otherwise allows people to question [the Ukrainian] election. OK if Russian monitors are part – but under ODIHR authority. No games. Ukraine needs to have confidence in its own democratic institutions," he wrote.
As was reported earlier, Ukraine's parliament on February 7 passed a bill that will bar Russian observers from participating in an observation mission during elections in Ukraine.
