Hon. Benjamin L. Cardin, Chairman
Hon. Christopher H. Smith, Co-Chairman
For Immediate Release

www.csce.gov
November 7, 2014

HELSINKI COMMISSION TO HOLD PUBLIC BRIEFING ON UKRAINIAN ELECTIONS

WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, today announced the following public briefing:

“Ukraine’s Pivotal Parliamentary Poll”

Friday, November 14, 2014
2:00PM – 3:30PM
Dirksen Senate Office Building
Room 608

On October 26, Ukraine held early parliamentary elections that international observers—including the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe—assessed as largely positive, with the exception of the disenfranchisement of voters in Russian-occupied Crimea and southeastern Ukraine. The elections, which swept into power Ukraine’s most pro-Western parliament in history, represented a critical milestone in the country’s democratic evolution.

Experts from three major organizations with decades of on-the-ground experience in Ukraine will examine the conduct and results of the elections, as well as the potential for the newly elected parliament to confront the coming challenge of forging a democratic, secure, independent future for their strategically important country.

The following panelists are scheduled to participate:

Olha Aivazovska, Board Chair, Ukrainian citizen network OPORA
Katie Fox, Deputy Director, Eurasia, National Democratic Institute
Stephen Nix, Director of Eurasia, International Republican Institute
Gavin Weise, Deputy Director, Europe and Eurasia, International Foundation for Electoral Systems

The briefing will be webcast live at http://www.senate.gov/isvp/?type=live&comm=csce&filename=csce111414.

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Media Contact: Stacy Hope
202.225.1901

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