Reuters video from Kramatorsk: A day after voting in Ukraine's parliamentary elections, there was a calm atmosphere in the eastern city of Kramatorsk. Ukrainian government forces recaptured the city from pro-Russian separatists in July. Residents interviewed October 27 spoke of their hopes for the future now that the election has been held.
Here's an update from our news desk:
The European Union has hailed the parliamentary election in Ukraine as a victory for democracy and pro-European reforms in the ex-Soviet republic.
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said in a tweet on October 27: "Congratulations to the people of #Ukraine! Victory of democracy and European reforms' agenda."
Pro-Europe parties won a sweeping victory in a parliamentary election that Ukrainians hope will strengthen the country after a year of political turmoil and months of warfare against Russian-supported separatists in the east.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said it was clear the election was valid "in spite of the rather harsh and dirty campaign," Interfax news agency reported.
He said the new Rada would have to "start an inclusive dialogue with the entire society."
(AFP, Interfax)
!!! BREAKING !!!
OSCE observers say Ukraine's parliamentary election offered a real choice and "a general respect for fundamental freedoms."
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Russia hopes the Ukrainian parliamentary election will allow for the formation of a government that will be constructive and not intent on confrontation.
(Reuters, AFP, Tass)
Despite enormous challenges & the war, intl observes largely impressed by the quality of #UkraineVotes elections pic.twitter.com/iwDcV643Jd
— Maxim Eristavi (@MaximEristavi) October 27, 2014
Donetsk's high society is out in force for the Iozif Kobzon concert. pic.twitter.com/u5teoOfxcm
— max seddon (@maxseddon) October 27, 2014
Very helpful research on which party gets how many seats in #Ukraine's newly elected parliament - by @ukrpravda_news http://t.co/3EbVt6objJ
— Myroslava Petsa (@myroslavapetsa) October 27, 2014
Here's a wrap-up from our news desk of the international reaction to the Ukraine vote:
International observers gave Ukraine's parliamentary election a stamp of approval today, while Russia said it hopes the vote will ease tension by ushering in a "constructive" government.
Kent Harstedt, special coordinator for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), told a news conference that the October 26 vote was "an amply contested election that offered voters real choice, and a general respect for fundamental freedoms."
He said voting and counting were transparent, election officials were impartial, and the campaign was competitive.
He also said there were some cases of intimidation and threats and that some media showed a lack of autonomy from political or corporate interests.
Pro-Europe parties won a sweeping victory in the election, which was marred by a lack of participation in eastern areas controlled by pro-Russian rebels and in Russian-annexed Crimea.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow hopes the election leads to the formation of a government "that will be constructive, not bent on continuing to escalate confrontation in society and with Russia."
(Reuters, TASS, AFP)
The human-rights situation in Crimea has seriously deteriorated, Council of Europe says http://t.co/gSlyjJcO02 via @WSJ
— greg white (@whitegl) October 27, 2014
OSCE statement on Oct. 26 #Ukraine parliamentary elections http://t.co/Tuob2eHEoO pic.twitter.com/yDIC0JtndV
— Kyiv Post (@KyivPost) October 27, 2014