MOSCOW, May 26 (RIA Novosti) – Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin said Monday that Sunday's presidential election in Ukraine was a step away from lawlessness and toward a lawful government in Kiev.
“In general, the election is a step forward to return the legal environment to the state,” said Naryshkin, the speaker of Russia’s lower house of parliament.
“This is a step forward over the coup d’état in February and the lawlessness that takes place in the country,” he said.
Naryshkin added, however, that the presidential election in Ukraine could not be described as totally free and democratic.
“The election cannot certainly be called totally free, and democratic if we have in mind the fact that the presidential candidates faced the strongest pressure, if we have in mind the ongoing punitive operations against civilians in Southeastern Ukraine, and if we have in mind the restriction imposed on the press that reflects one point of view,” Naryshkin said.
“Russia treats with respect the will of the Ukrainian people,” the Duma speaker added.
Ukraine went to the polls on Sunday to vote in a new president. The snap election was conducted against the backdrop of a deep political chasm and a massive military crackdown on the country’s east that has left scores of civilians dead.
A total of 21 candidates ran for president. The central elections commission is still counting the returns, but billionaire confectionary tycoon Petro Poroshenko is widely predicted to win, with preliminary results giving him 54.6 percent of the votes against over 55 percent predicted by exit polls.
