Opposition Platform party won't recognize Ukrainian presidential election if it's rigged - Medvedchuk
MOSCOW. March 23 (Interfax) - The Opposition Platform - For Life party will not recognize the results of the presidential election in Ukraine, if it emerges that it is rigged, Viktor Medvedchuk, the head of the party's political council, said.
The party will act in this manner, regardless of what stance Russia takes following the election, Medvedchuk said on the television program Pravo Znat (Right to Know), which is to be broadcast on Saturday.
"If there is rigging during the electoral process, the vote counting, the first thing our party Opposition Platform - For Life will do is making a political decision not to recognize this election," he said.
"And we will see what decision make the Russian authorities," the Ukrainian politician said.
Over two-thirds of the candidates running in the Ukrainian election are technical, he said. "Incumbent President Petro Poroshenko has the majority of the technical candidates. I am confident Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko has them. I am confident that a few more candidates have them as well," Medvedchuk said, adding that, in his opinion, these individuals "are the guarantee of the election rigging."
Medvedchuk said he believes there are four real presidential candidates: Tymoshenko, Volodymyr Zelensky, Yuriy Boiko, and Petro Poroshenko.
"Boiko may reap dividends in the southeast, where the Russian-speaking population prevails. I perceive Zelensky as a virtual candidate and his chances are the most serious today. He does not need technical candidates. Zelensky has his own party, it is virtual as well. He is a gifted actor," Medvedchuk said.
He promised that the Opposition Platform - For Life party "will cooperate with other candidates in ensuring the honesty of the fixation of the election results."