News / Europe

Ukrainian Court Reviews Election Fraud Claim

TEXT SIZE - +

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko urged a court Friday to examine carefully all the evidence regarding Ukraine's run-off presidential election, which she says was rigged.

A court in Kyiv began hearing the prime minister's appeal to block the inauguration later this month of her rival, Viktor Yanukovych.

Ms. Tymoshenko said she would accept the court's decision if all the evidence regarding the February 7 vote is studied thoroughly.

Yanukovych is due to be sworn in February 25 after beating Prime Minister Tymoshenko by more than 3.5 percentage points.  

She says massive election fraud puts in question one million votes and could have affected the outcome.

European election monitors have said that Ukraine's presidential election was generally free and fair.

The court has put the election results on hold until it rules.

Yanukovych's supporters call the court's decision a routine procedure, and say the inauguration will go on as scheduled.

Mr. Yanukovych has resigned his post in parliament ahead of the inauguration.

Tymoshenko says she delivered a box of documented evidence to Kiev's Higher Administrative Court that she says will prove the vote was rigged.

Ms. Tymoshenko was one of the main leaders of Ukraine's massive 2004 protests, following a presidential election which initially showed Yanukovych as the winner.  The huge protests over alleged election fraud led to a new vote, won by Viktor Yushchenko.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

You May Like

Doctors Without Borders Shuts Clinic in Northern Nigeria

Decision comes after five gunmen hijacked an aid vehicle on Saturday More

Experts Weigh In on Challenges of Closing Guantanamo Prison

Former chief military prosecutor at Guantanamo delivers petition to White House with more than 370,000 signatures, demanding facility be closed down immediately More

Karzai to Discuss Enhancing Defense Ties with India

Afghanistan looking for more military aid as it prepares for withdrawal of NATO forces by next year More

Burmese President Opens US Visit with VOA Town Hall Meeting

Ahead of his meeting with President Obama Monday, Thein Sein answered questions on human rights and economic development in his country More

This forum has been closed.
Comments
     
There are no comments in this forum. Be first and add one

Featured Videos

Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player. Get the latest Flash player.
Video

Video Calls Grow For An End to Sexual Assaults in US Military

A recent Pentagon report says the number of sexual assaults among people in the military continues to grow. The estimated number of incidents, ranging from groping to rape, increased by 37 percent last year. Both men and women were victims. This is prompting them, and activists, to push for deep changes in the US military. VOA Pentagon correspondent Luis Ramirez reports.