Thursday, May 17, 2 p.m.
210 Cannon House Office Building
Ukraine will hold parliamentary elections in October. Under President Victor Yanukovych, Ukraine has experienced democratic regression, including the unjust imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko and other senior members of her government. There are widespread concerns that the upcoming elections — in contrast to the four previous national elections — will not meet international standards. Experts from three key organizations working in Ukraine will discuss their work with political parties, civil society and domestic observers ahead of the elections, the electoral framework, as well as the broader political context.
Panelists:
- Stephen B. Nix, Regional Director, Eurasia, International Republican Institute (IRI)
- Katie Fox, Deputy Director, Eurasia, National Democratic Institute (NDI)
- Gavin Weise, Deputy Director, Europe and Asia, International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
For more information contact Shelly Han, 202-225-1901, shelly.han@mail.house.gov; http://www.csce.gov
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.
