CIS Interparliamentary Assembly observer mission to the local and regional elections in Ukraine has not noticed any major violations in the voting process, Alexander Torshin, Russian Federation Council's First Deputy Speaker and head of the mission, said.
Ukrainians are going to polls on Sunday to cast their ballots in local and regional elections widely seen as a popularity test for President Viktor Yanukovych.
Torshin has visited a range of polling stations in several Ukrainian regions. "The elections run calmly," he said.
Observers from the international association For Honest Elections approved the voting process and called it transparent and corresponding to international norms.
"Ukraine moves toward democracy. It is good when people go to polls willingly and all the necessary conditions for free expression of will have been created for them," Anna Churdova, an observer from the association said.
Earlier, an opposition party claimed mass violations at local and regional elections. Batkyvshchina (Fatherland) party led by ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko who had lost presidential elections to Yanukovych early this year claimed that from 20% to 30% of polling stations across Ukraine did not open on time while local authorities failed to ensure normal organizational work on the day of voting.
MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti)
