2014 Ukrainian presidential election explained

Country:Ukraine
Type:presidential
Previous Election:2010 Ukrainian presidential election
Previous Year:2010
Next Election:2019 Ukrainian presidential election
Next Year:2019
Turnout:59.88%
Image1:Official portrait of Petro Poroshenko (cropped).jpg
Nominee1:Petro Poroshenko
Party1:Independent (UDAR)
Color1:94044d
Popular Vote1:9,857,308
Percentage1:55.46%
Nominee2:Yulia Tymoshenko
Party2:Batkivshchyna
Popular Vote2:2,310,085
Percentage2:13.00%
Image3:Ляшко, Олег Валерьевич 0076 Чуприна Вадим А (cropped).jpg
Nominee3:Oleh Liashko
Party3:Radical Party of Oleh Liashko
Popular Vote3:1,500,377
Percentage3:8.44%
Image4:Гриценко А.С. портрет 3×4.jpg
Nominee4:Anatoliy Hrytsenko
Party4:Civil Position
Popular Vote4:989,029
Percentage4:5.56%
Image5:Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Sergei Tigipko (8240397873) (cropped).jpg
Nominee5:Serhiy Tihipko
Party5:Independent (SU)
Popular Vote5:943,430
Percentage5:5.31%
President
Before Election:Oleksandr Turchynov (acting)
After Election:Petro Poroshenko
Before Party:Batkivshchyna
After Party:Independent politician

Snap presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 25 May 2014 and resulted in Petro Poroshenko being elected President of Ukraine.[1] Originally scheduled to take place on 29 March 2015, the date was brought forward following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution.[2] [3] Poroshenko won the elections with 55% of the vote, enough to win in a single round.[4] [5] His closest competitor, Yulia Tymoshenko, got 13% of the vote.[4] The Central Election Commission reported voter turnout over 60%, excluding the regions not under government control.[6] [7] Since Poroshenko obtained an absolute majority in the first round, a run-off second ballot (scheduled for 15 June 2014[8]) was unnecessary.[1]

The election was not held everywhere in Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimean crisis, Ukraine lost control over Crimea, which was unilaterally annexed by Russia in March 2014.[9] As a result, elections were not held in Crimea.[1] Of the 2,430 planned ballot stations (in Donbas), only 426 opened for polling. The self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, controlling large parts of Donbas, had vowed to do everything possible to disrupt the elections on their territory.

Petro Poroshenko won the presidency and served a full presidential term until 2019, losing to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Background

Prior to the rescheduling of the election

Initially the elections were scheduled for 29 March 2015.[10]

On 7 December 2012 Batkivshchyna nominated Yulia Tymoshenko as its presidential candidate.[11] On 14 June 2013, the congress of her party approved the decision to nominate her as its candidate for the presidential election.[12] On 11 October 2011, a Ukrainian court found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of power, sentenced her to seven years in jail and banned her from seeking elected office for her period of imprisonment.[13] [14] [15] Because Tymoshenko was in prison during the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election, Arseniy Yatsenyuk headed the election list of Batkivshchyna.[16] [17] Tymoshenko remained in prison until 22 February 2014, after parliament voted for her release and removal of her criminal record, allowing her to compete for elected office once again.[18]

In May 2013 Batkivshchyna, UDAR, and Svoboda vowed to coordinate their actions during the presidential campaign, and promised "to support the candidate from among these parties who wins a place in the run-off election".[19] If the election format were to change to a single round, the three parties vowed to agree on a single candidate.[19]

On 24 October 2013, the leader[20] of UDAR, Vitali Klitschko, announced he intended to take part in the election.[21] Experts and lawyers argued that it is unclear if Klitschko could take part.[21] Under Ukrainian law a presidential candidate must have had his residence in Ukraine for the past ten years prior to election day. Klitschko has lived for many years in both Ukraine and Germany, where, according to media reports, he has a residence permit.[21] Klitschko confirmed on 28 February 2014 that he would take part in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election.[22] However, on 29 March, he withdrew from the race for the presidency, simultaneously pledging his support for Petro Poroshenko.[23]

Former President Viktor Yanukovych, prior to his dismissal and subsequent flight from the country (see below), was considered likely to run for his second and final term.[24] But, as of 19 December 2013, he had made no final decision on this.[25] On 19 December 2013, Yanukovych alluded to not participating when he stated "If, theoretically speaking, my rating is low and has no prospects, I won't hinder the country's development and movement ahead".[25]

Early 2014 elections

See also: Euromaidan, Revolution of Dignity and War in Donbas (2014–2022).

Scheduling

On 21 November 2013, the Ukrainian Second Azarov Government suspended preparations for signing an association agreement with the European Union.[18] [26] The decision to postpone the signing of the association agreement led to massive protests across Ukraine.[27] These led to the removal of President Viktor Yanukovych and his government by the parliament in February, as part of the 2014 Ukrainian revolution, during which Yanukovych fled the country to Russia.[18] [28] On 22 February 2014, the Verkhovna Rada voted 328–0[29] to dismiss Yanukovych as president.[30] Oleksandr Turchynov, deputy chairman of Batkivshchyna, who had been appointed as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada earlier that day, was named acting Prime Minister,[31] and, due to Yanukovych's deposition, acting president, until new elections could be held.

In a press conference in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don on 28 February, Yanukovych stated that he would not take part in the elections, stating that "I believe they are unlawful, and I will not take part in them".[32] It was later speculated that Serhiy Tihipko would be the presidential candidate of the Party of Regions, Yanukovych's former party.[33] The party's nomination went to Mykhailo Dobkin, however, and Tihipko entered the elections as an independent candidate. Dobkin was amongst the persons wanted by the (then new) Yatsenyuk Government to be sent for trial at the International Criminal Court.[34]

During the 2014 Crimean crisis and Russian military intervention, Ukraine lost control over the Crimea, which was unilaterally annexed by Russia in March 2014.[18] [9] As a result, elections were not held in the Crimea, but Ukrainians who had kept their Ukrainian citizenship were allowed to vote elsewhere in Ukraine.[1]

Escalation of pro-Russian unrest

In the Donbas region of the Eastern Ukraine, pro-Russian protests escalated into an armed separatist insurgency early in April 2014, when masked gunmen took control of several of the region's government buildings and towns.[18] [35]

On 15 April 2014, Ukrainian media reported that the General Prosecutor of Ukraine had launched criminal proceedings against then-candidate Oleh Tsarov for allegedly aiding separatists and thus violating Ukraine's territorial integrity.[36] Tsarov withdrew his candidacy on 29 April.

Serhiy Taruta, governor of Donetsk, has suggested a referendum, to be held on 15 June, at the same time as the potential second round of the election. The referendum would address the decentralization of political power, potentially giving regions a greater say in their own affairs, such as greater control over the taxes they levy and the power to make Russian a second official language.[8]

On 16 May 2014, the Constitutional Court of Ukraine ruled that the candidate elected as a result of the presidential election would serve a full five-year term of office.[37] On 17 May 2014, the Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) stated that, due to "illegal actions of unknown people", it could not arrange for the "preparation and conduct of elections" in six constituencies in the Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.[38] According to the CEC, members of district election commissions there had received threats to their own personal safety and to that of their families.[38] The CEC warned that two million people in the two oblasts (provinces), about 5.6% of Ukraine's approximately 36 million eligible voters, could be deprived of their right to vote if the situation there did not improve.[38] On 22 May, the work of eighteen of the thirty-four election commissions in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts had been stopped fully or partially by representatives of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic.[39] By 23 May, this number had increased to twenty of the thirty-four.[40] The Committee of Voters of Ukraine predicted on 23 May that, due to "ongoing acts of terrorism and armed insurgency", 10% of the Ukrainian population would be unable to vote.[41] On the same day, the leader of the Luhansk People's Republic advised citizens not to go to the polls to vote, warning of possible provocative "explosions" set by Ukrainian military.[42]

Simultaneous mayoral elections

On 25 May 2014, 27 mayoral elections were also held, including those in Odesa and 2014 Kyiv local election.[43] [44]

Russian reaction

Initially Russia opposed rescheduling the election because the Russian government considered the removal of then President Viktor Yanukovych illegal and his temporary successors an "illegitimate junta".[45] But on 7 May 2014 Russian President Vladimir Putin stated the election would be a step "in the right direction" but that the vote would decide nothing unless the rights of "all citizens" were protected.[46] At the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on 23 May 2014, Putin appeared to further move away from Russia's initial position by announcing that Russia would respect the outcome of the elections in Ukraine and was ready to work with whoever won the presidency.[47]

The US and European Union vowed early May 2014 that they would impose further sanctions against Russia (sanctions have been in place against Russia since its annexation of Crimea[48]) if it disrupted the election. However, unlike previous sanctions which were limited to individuals and companies, the third stage is set to target entire sectors of the Russian economy.[49] Earlier the US and the EU had accused Russia of destabilising Ukraine by stoking the 2014 pro-Russian rebellion in Eastern Ukraine, a charge Russia has denied.[50]

Electoral system

The term of office for the Ukrainian president is five years.[51] [52] [53] If no candidate had obtained an absolute majority in the first round, then the two highest polling candidates would have contested a run-off second ballot on 15 June 2014.[1] [54]

Information technology framework for electoral monitoring – Elections 2014

Arsen Avakov underlined the importance of Elections 2014 a new IT elections monitoring system ("Ukrainian: Вибори 2014") that allowed voters to track the progress of the elections in real time, potentially increasing transparency, and avoiding the post-election disturbances seen in prior Ukrainian elections.[55] On 22 May 2014, three days before the election, hacker group CyberBerkut announced that it had compromised the primary servers of the Central Election Commission and stolen passwords from the servers.[56] [57] As well, the Security Service of Ukraine investigated the servers and discovered malware that would have destroyed election results.[58] On election day, authorities arrested a group of hackers with specialized equipment in Kyiv. They had been attempting to rig the election.[59]

Candidates

21 candidates took part in the elections; seven of them had been nominated by political parties, 15 were self-nominees.[60] [61] A total of 18 candidates ran for president in 2010. Before 7 April 2014, four Party of Regions members were running for election, but on 7 April 2014 the political council of the party expelled the presidential candidates Serhiy Tihipko, Oleh Tsarov and Yuriy Boiko from the party. On 29 March a Party of Regions convention supported Mykhailo Dobkin's nomination as a presidential candidate.[62]

Candidates were able to nominate themselves at the Central Election Commission of Ukraine from 25 February 2014 until 30 March 2014. The last date for registering candidates was 4 April 2014.[63] [64] [65] Candidates needed to submit a full package of documents and a 2.5 million deposit.[63]

Registered candidates

Withdrawn candidates

Before deadline

After deadline

The Central Election Commission was unable to remove from the ballot the names of candidates who withdrew from the race after the deadline of 1 May 2014.[75] [76]

Rejected candidates

The Central Election Commission rejected some applications for candidate registration early in the process. It refused to register O. Burnashova, V. Marynych, A. Makhlai, A. Kucheryavenko, V. Chopei, L. Rozhnova, L. Maksymenko, D. Myroshnychenko, P. Rekal, T. Onopriyuk, and Z. Abbasov.[77] [78] [79] [80] [81] On 3 April 2014 the CEC rejected a further three candidates: a man named Darth Vader, Evhen Terekhov, and Yuriy Ivanitsky.[82]

On 29 March 2014, Vitali Klitschko (UDAR) endorsed Petro Poroshenko,[83] and announced he would run for Mayor of Kyiv in the local election taking place alongside the presidential election.[84] [85]

Opinion polls

See main article: Opinion polling for the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election.

International observers

The Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) had registered 543 international official observers on 2 May 2014.[86] On 23 May (two days before the election) this number had risen to 3,607 (CEC had completed the registration of observers on 19 May but on 23 May had allowed 823 members of the observer organization European Platform for Democratic Elections).[87] Among others OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE's Parliamentary Assembly, the Ukrainian World Congress and the United States sent observers.[86] OSCE deployed 100 long-term observers and 900 short-term observers.[88] On 9 May 2014 U.S. Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs Victoria Nuland stated her country would support 255 long-term and more than 3,300 short-term observers.[89] Russia did not send observers.[90] Other Commonwealth of Independent States members also did not send observers; because Ukraine had not sent an invitation to the CIS Election Monitoring Organisation.[91]

Results

Petro Poroshenko won the elections with 55% of the vote.[4] His closest competitor was Yulia Tymoshenko, who emerged with 13% of the votes.[4] The Central Election Commission reported voter turnout at 60% excluding those regions not under government control.[6] [7] In the Donbas region of Ukraine only 20% of the ballot stations were open due to threats and violence by pro-Russia separatists. Of the 2,430 planned ballot stations (in Donbas) only 426 remained open for polling.[92]

Exit polls had also predicted that Poroshenko won the election outright[93] with over 55.9% of the votes,[92]

Reactions

Despite Russia's earlier protest at rescheduling the election and the general tense relation between the countries at the time because of the annexation of Crimea and the Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the vote.[94]

The leaders of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic, controlling large parts of the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine, declared that the regions had made their choice shown in the results of the status referendum of 11 May.[92]

US President Barack Obama congratulated Petro Poroshenko with his victory by telephone 2 days after the election.[95] This was also done by President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and European Parliament President Martin Schulz and other EU leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande.[96] [97]

Notes and References

  1. News: Ukraine elections: Runners and risks . BBC News . 2014-05-22 . 2014-05-23.
  2. Web site: BBC News – Ukrainian president and opposition sign early poll deal . Bbc.co.uk . 21 February 2014.
  3. Web site: Ukraine president announces early elections – Europe . Al Jazeera English .
  4. Web site: On the results of the presidential elections of Ukraine. Central Election Commission.
  5. News: Ukraine's Poroshenko to be sworn in as east seethes with separatist conflict. Balmforth. Richard. Reuters. 6 June 2014.
  6. Web site: Interfax . Ukrainian presidential election turnout tops 60 percent - chief election official Russia Beyond The Headlines . Rbth.com . 26 May 2014 . 2 June 2014 . 19 October 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171019073757/https://www.rbth.com/news/2014/05/26/ukrainian_presidential_election_turnout_tops_60_percent_-_chief_election_36931.html . dead .
  7. Web site: CEC chair: Ukrainian presidential election turnout tops 60 percent . Kyivpost.com . 26 May 2014 . 2 June 2014.
  8. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/ukraine-talks-set-to-open-without-pro-russian-separatists/2014/05/14/621dbc6a-c7d9-40bc-b2e5-814a4108bbef_story.html Ukraine talks set to open without pro-Russian separatists
  9. http://eeas.europa.eu/statements/docs/2014/140417_03_en.pdf EU & Ukraine 17 April 2014 FACT SHEET
  10. http://gorshenin.eu/media/uploads/088/10/52b96c7f9dae6.pdf Gorshenin Weekly 12/23/2013
  11. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/politics/united-opposition-nominates-tymoshenko-as-single-presidential-candidate-317296.html United Opposition nominates Tymoshenko as single presidential candidate
  12. http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/batkivschyna-to-nominate-tymoshenko-for-presidency-yatseniuk-heads-partys-political-council/ Batkivschyna to nominate Tymoshenko for presidency, Yatseniuk heads party's political council
  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15250742 Ukraine ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko jailed over gas deal
  14. http://zib.com.ua/ua/5728.html The Tymoshenko verdict. Full text of the sentence
  15. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/114528/ Tymoshenko convicted, sentenced to 7 years in prison, ordered to pay state,8 million (update)
  16. http://ukrainianweek.com/Politics/58995 They Call Themselves the Opposition
  17. Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради, Ukrainska Pravda (11 November 2012)
  18. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-26248275 Ukraine crisis timeline
  19. http://www.interfax.co.uk/ukraine-news/batkivschyna-udar-svoboda-to-coordinate-their-actions-at-presidential-election-2/ Batkivschyna, UDAR, Svoboda to coordinate their actions at presidential election
  20. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20031821 Q&A:Ukrainian parliamentary election
  21. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/171819.html Vitali Klitschko says intends to run for president in Ukraine
  22. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193451.html Klitschko confirms he, Tymoshenko will run for president
  23. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/boxing-champion-klitschko-withdraws-ukraine-presidential-race-n66771 Boxing Champion Klitschko Withdraws from Ukraine Presidential Race
  24. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/138644.html Regions Party is hoping for Yanukovych's reelection as president
  25. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/182928.html Yanukovych vows not to run in 2015 presidential elections if his rating is low
  26. News: Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia. Al Jazeera. 21 November 2013. 22 November 2013.
  27. News: Ukraine still wants historic pact with EU . . 27 November 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131128081219/http://main.omanobserver.om/?p=34172 . 28 November 2013 . dmy-all .
    Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps, BBC News (9 December 2013)
  28. News: Archrival Is Freed as Ukraine Leader Flees . . 22 February 2014. 23 February 2014.
  29. Web site: Kyiv Post . Parliament votes 328–0 to dismiss Yanukovych on Feb. 22; sets May 25 for new election; Tymoshenko free (LIVE UPDATES, VIDEO) . Kyivpost.com . 23 February 2014.
  30. Web site: Ukraine drops EU plans and looks to Russia. aljazeera.com. 21 November 2013.
    government issues decree to suspend preparations for signing of association agreement with EU, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
    Rada votes down all bills on allowing Tymoshenko's medical treatment abroad, Interfax-Ukraine (21 November 2013)
  31. Web site: Ukraine's Parliament Appoints Opposition Leader Acting PM. Novinite.com. 22 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20081201194141/http://www.novinite.com/articles/158429/Ukraine%27s+Parliament+to+Appoint+Opposition+Leader+Acting+PM. 1 December 2008. live.
  32. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/193466.html Yanukovych: Presidential elections slated for May 25 unlawful, I won't run
  33. Web site: ? Как к Вам обращаться? . Партия регионов выдвинет в президенты Тигипко? . Gazeta.ua . 15 May 2014.
  34. Web site: Uhr . Ukraine – Der Wahlkampf hat begonnen . Deutschlandradiokultur.de .
  35. http://in.reuters.com/article/ukraine-crisis-horlivka-idINKBN0DG0FY20140430 Masked gunmen tighten grip on eastern Ukraine
  36. Web site: Прокуратура открыла уголовное производство против Царева за сепаратистские идеи : Новости УНИАН . Unian.net . 15 April 2014.
  37. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/205114.html New Ukrainian president will be elected for 5-year term – Constitutional Court
  38. http://www.euronews.com/2014/05/18/fighting-rages-in-east-ukraine-as-talks-continue/ Fighting rages in East Ukraine as talks continue
  39. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/206079.html Eighteen of thirty-four district election commissions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions captured – CEC
  40. http://www.unian.info/politics/921034-20-out-of-34-decs-remain-blocked-by-terrorists-in-donetsk-and-luhansk-oblast-cec.html 20 out of 34 DECs remain blocked by terrorists in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast – CEC
  41. Web site: Лише третина виборців Донбасу зможуть проголосувати 25 травня – експерти – Вибори президента – ТСН.ua . Tsn.ua . 23 May 2014.
  42. Web site: Лідер терористів "ЛНР" анонсує вибухи в день виборів Українська правда . Pravda.com.ua .
  43. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198450.html sushko to compete for post of Odesa mayor
  44. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192688.html Parliament sets elections for Kyiv mayor and Kyiv City Council deputies for May 25
  45. https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/world/europe/ukraine.html?_r=0 As Ukrainian Election Looms, Western Powers and Russia Campaign for Influence
  46. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27314816 Ukraine crisis: Russia's Putin 'backs 25 May election'
  47. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27542057 Russia's Vladimir Putin 'to respect' Ukraine vote
  48. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26613567 Ukraine crisis: EU and US impose sanctions over Crimea
  49. https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/ukraine-crisis/obama-merkel-more-sanctions-if-russia-disrupts-election-n95731 Obama, Merkel: More Sanctions If Russia Disrupts Election
  50. http://www.aljazeera.com/news/europe/2014/05/west-warns-russia-not-disrupt-kiev-polls-201451513460138259.html West warns Russia not to disrupt Kiev polls
  51. Янукович отримав контрольний пакет у парламенті, Ukrainska Pravda (2 February 2010)
  52. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/96077/ Parliament sets parliamentary elections for October 2012, presidential elections for February 2014
  53. http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/96081/ Ukraine sets parliamentary vote for October 2012
  54. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8460978.stm Q&A: Ukraine presidential election
  55. Web site: http://www.avakov.com/news/?year=2014&news_id=4715. ru:Геоинформационная система МВД "Выборы 2014". Арсен Аваков. Geoinformation system Ministry of Internal Affairs "Elections 2014". Arsen Avakov. ru. 22 May 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140525065954/http://www.avakov.com/news/?year=2014&news_id=4715. 25 May 2014.
  56. News: Pro-Russian Hackers Attack Central Election Commission of Ukraine.
  57. News: Ukraine: Electoral committee cyber-virus 'liquidated' – SBU chief. 23 May 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140524022603/http://www.frequency.com/video/ukraine-electoral-committee-cyber-virus/170501391/-/5-15954222. 24 May 2014. dead.
  58. Web site: СБУ ліквідувала вірус, що мав знищити результати виборів Українська правда . Pravda.com.ua . 23 May 2014.
  59. Web site: Authorities: Hackers foiled in bid to rig Ukraine presidential election results . Kyiv Post. 25 May 2014. 27 March 2019.
  60. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199103.html Twenty-three candidates to run for Ukraine's presidency
  61. Web site: В избирательном бюллетене остается 21 кандидат на пост президента – Магера : Новости УНИАН . Unian.net .
  62. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/199490.html Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko
  63. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198540.html CEC registers seven more presidential candidates, including Poroshenko, Tymoshenko
  64. News: President of All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress Rabynovych to register as presidential candidate. En.interfax.com.ua. 25 March 2014.
  65. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/192454.html Nomination of presidential candidates in Ukraine to begin on February 25, says CEC head
  66. http://www.spu.in.ua/uk/news2/1/14930 At the presidential elections SPU will support Olha Bohomolets
  67. Web site: ЦВК зареєструвала кандидатами в президенти Тягнибока, Гриценка та ще двох . Pravda.com.ua .
  68. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/203141.html Korolevska withdraws her presidential bid – CEC
  69. http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraines-pro-russian-candidate-quits-presidential-race/25366951.html Ukraine's Pro-Russian Candidate Quits Presidential Race
  70. http://www.ukrinform.ua/ukr/news/shkiryak_pid_chas_debativ_znyavsya_z_viboriv_1937258 Shkiryak during debates withdrew from elections
  71. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine/communist-leader-symonenko-withdraws-his-candidacy-from-presidential-race-348211.html Communist leader Symonenko withdraws his candidacy from presidential race
  72. Web site: Симоненко снялся с выборов. УНИАН.
  73. Out of the presidential race fell out another candidate, Ukrainska Pravda (18 May 2014)
  74. Web site: Цушко снимается с выборов . Segodnya.ua .
  75. Simonenko left the ballot, Ukrainska Pravda (17 May 2014)
  76. Zoryan Shkiryak withdrew from the presidential race, Segodnya (10 May 2014)
  77. Web site: + a.html + . ЦВК відмовила у реєстрації першому кандидату на посаду президента . Tvi.ua . 28 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150509185324/http://tvi.ua/new/2014/03/04/cvk_vidmovyla_u_reyestraciyi_pershomu_kandydatu_na_posadu_prezydenty . 9 May 2015 . dead.
  78. Web site: ЦИК отказал в регистрации двум кандидатам в президенты Украины . Segodnya.ua .
  79. Web site: https://day.kyiv.ua/uk/news/100314-dvom-osobam-vidmovleno-reiestraciyi-na-post-prezidenta . uk:Двом особам відмовлено реєстрації на пост Президента . uk . Day.kyiv.ua . 7 October 2011.
  80. Web site: ЦИК зарегистрировала Бойко кандидатом в президенты . Korrespondent.net .
  81. Web site: ЦВК зареєструвала кандидатами у Президенти . Cvk.gov.ua . 28 March 2014 . 29 March 2014 . 29 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140329185428/http://www.cvk.gov.ua/news/news_28032014.htm . dead .
  82. Web site: ЦИК не пустила на президентские выборы Дарта Вейдера и еще двоих кандидатов : Новости УНИАН . Unian.net .
  83. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198348.html Klitschko believes only presidential candidate from democratic forces should be Poroshenko
  84. Web site: Кличко вирішив. Йде у мери Києва . Pravda.com.ua .
  85. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/198350.html Klitschko will run for mayor of Kyiv
  86. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/203200.html CEC registers 543 international official observers for presidential elections
  87. In Ukraine will come three thousand observers, Ukrainska Pravda (23 May 2014)
  88. http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/dde01232-e28f-11e3-ba64-00144feabdc0.html#axzz32eC94qZP Ukraine officials battle 'chaos' in east as rebels target election
  89. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/204188.html US to provide support to several thousands of observers at Ukrainian elections – Nuland
  90. http://en.interfax.com.ua/news/general/206185.html Russia will not send its observers to Ukraine election – Kremlin official
  91. Observers from the CIS on elections in Ukraine will not be – Executive Committee, Ukrainska Pravda (23 May 2014)
  92. https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304811904579583413180447156 Poroshenko Declares Victory in Ukraine Presidential Election
  93. Web site: Petro Poroshenko claims Ukraine presidency . BBC . 25 May 2014. 26 May 2014.
  94. Web site: U.S. Lauds Ukraine Election Amid Hopes for Easing Standoff . The Wall Street Journal . 26 May 2014. 27 May 2014. Talley, Ian.
  95. https://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304811904579588171670090480 Obama Calls Ukrainian President-Elect Poroshenko With Congratulations
  96. http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=37402&id_type=1&lang_id=450 Ukraine: EU leaders congratulate Poroshenko and praise elections held against the odds
  97. http://www.kyivpost.com/content/ukraine-abroad/wall-street-journal-merkel-congratulates-ukraines-poroshenko-on-election-win-349628.html Wall Street Journal: Merkel congratulates Ukraine's Poroshenko on election win