Home > 2.3 Observation > UKRAINE - Law on Elections of the People's Deputies
 
 
 
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Article 79.
 

Official Observers from Foreign States and International Organizations


1. Official observers from foreign states or international organizations shall be registered by the Central Election Commission. Proposals regarding registration of official observers shall be submitted by foreign states or international organizations to the Central Election Commission directly or through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs no later than seven days prior to the day of voting. The Central Election Commission shall establish the procedure for registration of official observers from foreign states and international organizations.


 



  1. A decision on registration or refusal to register official observers from foreign states or international organizations shall be made by the Central Election Commission no later than five days prior to the day of voting.


 



  1. Citizens of Ukraine may not be registered as official observers from foreign states or international organizations. Citizens of Ukraine, or foreigners, or persons without citizenship who speak Ukrainian may accompany registered official observers from foreign states and international organizations in the territory of the election precincts and during meetings of election commissions, provided that he or she acts only as an interpreter (no more than one person with each official observer).


 



  1. The Central Election Commission shall issue identification documents, of a form established by it, to official observers from foreign states or international organizations.


 



  1. Persons registered as official observers from foreign states or international organizations shall exercise their powers in the territory of Ukraine as well as in foreign election district.


 



  1. An official observer from a foreign state or an international organization shall be entitled to:


 


1)  be present at the meetings of MP candidates or parties’ authorized persons with voters, at election campaign meetings, rallies, and meetings of election commissions;


 


2)  familiarize himself or herself with the election campaigning materials;


 


3)   be present, adhering to the requirements of this Law, at the meetings and stay in the premises of precinct and district election commissions, observe from any distance the actions of election commission members, including the issuance of ballot papers to voters in the premises for voting and at the voter’s place of stay, as well as vote counting and establishing the voting results, without physically obstructing the election commission members;


 


{Clause 3 Part 6 Article 79 in the wording of the Law № 709-VII dd. 21.11.2013}


 


4)  make photographic, film, audio and video recordings, without violating the secrecy of voting;


 


5)    receive copies of protocols on acceptance of ballot papers by the district election commission, delivery of ballot papers to precinct election commissions, on counting the voters’ votes and establishing the voting results, and other documents in the cases provided for by this Law;


 


{A new clause was added to Part 6 Article 79 pursuant to the Law № 709-VII dd. 21.11.2013}


 


6)  publicly express proposals, after the end of the election, relating to the organization of the parliamentary elections and improving the legislation of Ukraine, taking into consideration the international experience; hold press-conferences in accordance with the requirements of the laws of Ukraine;


7)   together with other observers from foreign states or international organizations, create temporary groups of official observers for coordination of their activities within the scope of their powers specified by this Law, notifying the Central Election Commission thereof within one day.


 



  1. Official observers from foreign states or international organizations shall perform observations autonomously and independently.


 



  1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, other state executive bodies, state bodies of the Autonomous Republic of Ukraine, local self-government bodies, and election commissions shall facilitate official observers from foreign states or international organizations in exercising their powers


 



  1. Financial and material support for the activities of official observers from foreign states or international organizations shall be provided at the expense of funds of the states or organizations which have sent such observers to Ukraine, or at the observers’ own expense.


 


10.Official observers from foreign states and international organizations may not: interfere with the work of the election commission, perform actions that impede the lawful course of the election process , or unlawfully prevent the election commission members from exercising their powers; fill out a ballot paper for a voter (in particular upon his or her request) or violate the secrecy of voting in any other way and use their status in an activity not pertaining to the election process observation. These restrictions shall also apply to persons who, in compliance with Part 3 of this Article, accompany official observers, at the time when they directly work with the official observer from a foreign state or an international organization.