TOKYO, October 3 (RIA Novosti) - Japan is set to send a group of observers to monitor the upcoming Ukrainian parliamentary elections, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official told RIA Novosti on Friday.
"The exact number is not yet determined, but the group will most likely consist of 10 people, like during the presidential elections in May. The group will include four regular citizens, plus staff from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, most likely from the diplomatic mission in Kiev," said Ikuo Shoji of the Central European division of Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is responsible for setting up the observer team.
Japanese observers will be able to monitor the election process in Ukraine alongside the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. Japan is OSCE's long-time Partner for Cooperation.
Early elections to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, are set to take place on October 26.
