Ottawa, Ontario - 26 October 2014
Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement following the completion of voting in the October 26, 2014, Parliamentary elections in Ukraine:
"On behalf of the Government of Canada, I would like to congratulate the people of Ukraine for stepping up, for the second time in 2014, to exercise their fundamental democratic rights.
"Today's elections represent an important step in the process of strengthening democracy in Ukraine, and its people continue to show resilience, courage and commitment to building a more peaceful and prosperous country for themselves, in the face of military aggression by the Putin regime, which seeks to deny them this right.
"Since 2004, Canada has provided election observers to eight successive Ukrainian elections to monitor and report on their conduct and to help ensure free and fair elections in that country. We are proud to have contributed hundreds of observers to monitor the latest vote, and to have supported the democratic expression of the will of the Ukrainian people. I would like to thank Senator Raynell Andreychuk for her leadership as well as all members of Canada's election observer mission to Ukraine for their bravery, dedication and passion for the cause of Ukrainian democracy.
"Much work lies ahead for Ukraine's leaders as they take transformative steps to ensure economic, social and political stability for their country. Canada will continue to proudly stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the Ukrainian people as they chart a new course in history, one that is peaceful and where Ukraine is recognized by all nations as free, democratic and sovereign."
