Turchynov urges heads of regional administrations to ensure equal rights of presidential candidates
KYIV. April 30 (Interfax) - Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada Chairman and interim President Oleksandr Turchynov has called on the heads of regional administrations to ensure unimpeded election campaigns of all presidential candidates representing various political forces.
"I am addressing the heads of administrations. We want these elections to be held honestly, transparently, and democratically. All, even political opponents, should run in these elections," Turchynov said. "I am addressing you with the demand that those politicians who may not even be accepted in some regions should have the opportunity to conduct their political campaign," Turchynov said at a meeting with the heads of regional administrations in Kyiv.
In particular, the people's right to take part in the presidential elections should be guaranteed in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Turchynov said. "We must do all we can so that the citizens of Ukraine in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions have the right to take part in the elections and elect a president of Ukraine, and we must ensure this right," he said.
"The security agencies, the heads that are present here must ensure security of the elections, not allow the election process to be disrupted, and defend the people's right to choose," he said.
The elections are scheduled for May 25. The Central Elections Commission originally registered 23 people as presidential candidates, but Oleh Tsariov announced on April 29 that he withdrew from the race, claiming that the authorities were unable to ensure his security in all regions of the country.