We should trust Ukrainians to make the right choice in Sunday's elections
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Version 0 of 1. Trust in the ability of people to make decisions about their own future is a fundamental tenet of democracy. On Sunday, the citizens of Ukraine go to the polls to elect a new president in one of the most important elections of their history. Every voter in Ukraine should have their say on the future they want for their country. And as our foreign secretary, William Hague, said in his video message to Ukrainian voters this morning, they have the UK's strong support. I am encouraged that polling is set to take place in more than 90% of the polling districts across Ukraine except Crimea, and is likely to be unhindered in the majority of the country's 25 regions. It is also good news that the Ukrainian parliament is making special arrangements for those who live in Crimea to vote. After months of headlines about instability, often fuelled by Russian propaganda, it is easy to forget that much of the country has been unaffected. If you go to almost any town in the vast territory of Ukraine – it is twice the size of the UK – the country's citizens are getting on with their lives. With a positive assessment of preparations from the independent OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights election observation mission, by any standard these will be credible elections with a wide range of candidates expressing different views via an independent media that will reflect the will of the people of Ukraine. These elections were a response to a president abandoning his post after years of running a venal and corrupt regime. Ukraine's legitimately elected parliament reacted properly by calling these elections and appointing authorities to take charge in the meantime. They asked for and received the support of most of the international community for this period of transition. The Russian Federation has taken advantage by illegally annexing Crimea and stirring up trouble elsewhere in the south and east of Ukraine. The violent separatists do not represent the people of Donetsk and Luhansk or the east of Ukraine, let alone the country as a whole. A recent poll showed that 70% of people in the east wanted to stay part of Ukraine. Yet these so-called pro-Russian separatists, led by people who by their training, equipment and behaviour give every appearance of sometimes being Russian special forces, are trying to destabilise Ukraine. In some places they have run laughable referenda, with pantomime leaders and farcical governments. The problem is that this is no joke: they have killed, kidnapped or beaten those who have stood up to them in their small fiefdoms. They have ignored condemnation by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the international community, and have intimidated and abducted journalists, elected officials and election staff. These thugs have turned to crime, robbing banks, seizing weapons and acting like a mafia force. There is a legitimate concern in Ukraine about making sure the country has its voice heard, and that its future constitution effectively balances local and regional governance with national representation and authority. It is important that those in the east and the south who were concerned about the future of the country are represented and have their voices heard. But the Ukrainian government and parliament have responded: we have seen significant legislation passed that ensures the whole country is represented, and we have already seen the launch of a national dialogue with representatives of the country, including a significant number of people from the east of Ukraine. Ukraine is rightly trying to find its own solution to the challenges it faces and the international community must give it time to do so. This is why we are so concerned that Moscow has been fostering a climate of fear, backed by an unremitting barrage of propaganda that has misrepresented the level of local support for separatists and the stability of the Ukrainian nation. Ukraine is a sovereign, strong and united country. When voting on Sunday, the people of Ukraine – whoever they vote for – will be voting for Ukraine. Earlier this month the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, described the elections as "a step in the right direction". A stable, prosperous and peaceful Ukraine is in the interests of everyone in the region. These elections will be an important step on that path. Ukrainians are entitled to decide their own future. |