News

• Oct 27, 2014: Petro Poroshenko set to consolidate power in Ukraine elections, The Guardian (2014)
• Oct 30, 2012: Observers Denounce Ukrainian Election, New York Times (2012) Monday's parliamentary election in Ukraine has been denounced as unfair due to abuse of power and resources.
• Aug 29, 2012: Ukraine: Central Election Commission: Ballot-papers not to be issued in Russian language, Kyiv Post (2012) The law implementing a wider use of Russian language in Ukraine hasn’t come fully in force yet, thus there will be no voting ballots drawn in Russian language.
• Aug 29, 2012: Ukraine: Yanukovych: Parliamentary elections should be held in line with democratic standards, Kyiv Post (2012) President of Ukraine assured that the parliamentary elections will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.
• Aug 29, 2012: Ukraine: Central Election Commission redistributes spending on preparations for parliamentary elections, Kyiv Post (2012) Ukraine Central Election Commission modified the spending plan foreseen for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
• Aug 29, 2012: Ukraine: Central Election Commission forms 225 district election commissions, Kyiv Post (2012) The Central Election Commission decided to form 225 district election commissions for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine.
• Aug 29, 2012: Ukraine: Grassroots fundraising hits political campaigns, Kyiv Post (2012) In the new political campaign candidates for the seats in the parliament collect donation from the citizens – something that wasn’t popular before.
• Aug 14, 2012: News Release — Canada Announces Observation Mission to Ukraine Elections, cic.gc.ca (2012) Canada’s Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism announced that they’re sending 500 observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine.
• Aug 14, 2012:
• Aug 09, 2012: Ukraine: People First: The latest in the Watch on Ukrainian democracy, Kyiv Post (2012) Some negative, antidemocratic traits in the Ukraine’s electoral campaign, which started on 30th of July, already observed.
• Aug 09, 2012: Ukraine: Ex-head of CEC Davydovych nominated as candidate in majority constituency, Kyiv Post (2012) Former head of Central Election Commission has been nominated as a candidate for peoples deputy in a majority constituency.
• Aug 09, 2012:
• Aug 09, 2012: Ukraine: CEC refuses to register Tymoshenko, Lutsenko as candidates for people's deputies, Kyiv Post (2012) CEC refused to register former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko and former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko as candidates for people's deputies due to their convictions.
• Aug 07, 2012: Ukraine: Central Election Commission: Deputies with previous convictions may not run for elections, Kyiv Post (2012) Member of Ukraine CEC Mykhailo Okhendovsky confirmed that convicted persons, who did not serve their sentence, are prohibited to candidate in the parliamentary elections. Such list of persons would include former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Lutsenko to that list.
• Aug 07, 2012: Ukraine: Central Election Commission registers 552 candidates for majority constituencies, Kyiv Post (2012) Ukraine Central Election Commission registered another 329 candidates thus making the overall 522 candidates in people's deputies for majority constituencies.
• Aug 01, 2012: Parliamentary election campaign begins in Ukraine on July 30, KyivPost (2012) The parliamentary election campaign has started in Ukraine for the upcoming parliamentary elections which will take place on 28th of October.
• Jul 10, 2012: Webcams in Polling Booths Will Aid Transparency in Ukraine Election, PR Newswire (2012) Ukraine will introduce web-cams to the polling stations with a purpose to ensure the transparency in the electoral process. At the same time, the privacy necessary to exercise a democratic freedoms shall be protected.
• Jul 06, 2012: Ukraine leader says snap election possible, Reuters (2012) Ukraine president Yanukovich said that Ukraine may have to hold early parliamentary elections if the turmoil around controversial language law continues.
• Jun 15, 2012: OSCE proposes to send 700 observers to monitor elections in Ukraine, Ukraine Business Online (2012) OSCE proposed to send 100 long-term and 600 short-term observers to Ukraine, which would observe the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 28, 2012.
• Jun 15, 2012:
• Jun 15, 2012: Ukraine: Yanukovych invites OSCE observers to monitor parliamentary elections, Ukrinform.ua, (2012) President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych invited observers from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections on October 28, 2012 in Ukraine.
• Jun 15, 2012:
• Jun 06, 2012: Ukraine’s upcoming elections: A pivotal moment, KyivPost (2012) Stephen B. Nix, director of the Eurasia Division at the International Republican Institute provided some insight about the upcoming Ukraine Parliamentary elections, underlining the importance to fulfill the standards of contemporary democratic society.
• Jun 06, 2012: Ukrainian Opposition Presents Parliamentary Election Program, The Moscow Times (2012) United opposition group in Kiev presented new parliamentary election program for the upcoming parliamentary elections in fall.
• Apr 26, 2012: Opposition Parties Unite For Ukrainian Election, rferl (2012) Six opposition parties in Ukraine have announced that they will join forces for parliamentary elections in October parliamentary elections.
• Apr 16, 2012: Azarov invites Canadian observers to parliamentary elections in Ukraine, kyivpost (2012) Canadian observers are invited to monitor the parliamentary elections in Ukraine on October 28, 2012.
• Apr 06, 2012: Ukraines main news Ukrainians cannot vote at foreign polling stations for candidates in single-mandate constituencies at 2012 elections to Rada, according to Constitutional Court, interfax (2012) A provision of the law on parliamentary elections attributing polling stations outside Ukraine to all single-mandate constituencies that are created in Kyiv was recognized as unconstitutional by The Constitutional Court of Ukraine. In the upcoming elections Ukrainians voting at polling stations abroad will be able to vote only for the candidates on party lists.
• Dec 16, 2011:
• Dec 16, 2011:
• Dec 16, 2011:
• Oct 21, 2011: Ukraine’s draft parliamentary election law can be made fairer, say ODIHR and the Venice Commission, OSCE (2011) ODIHR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission jointly reviewed Ukraine’s Draft Law on Election of People’s Deputies. (OSCE/Shiv Sharma)
• Oct 13, 2011: Venice Commission finalizing its conclusions on draft election law of Ukraine, The National Radio Company of Ukraine (2011) The Venice Commission is preparing a final conclusion on the draft law on elections of deputies of Ukraine. The assessment of the document is not mandatory but of recommendational character.
• Aug 15, 2011: Ukraine:Parliamentary election 2012 will cost UAH 1.57 billion, Ukraine radio (2011) Expected parliamentary elections will be held on the last Sunday of October 2012 in Ukraine. According to Central Election Committee Chairman Volodymyr Shapoval the draft state budget of Ukraine for 2012 is estimated to the amount of UAH 1.57 billion.
• Jul 13, 2011: Ukraine:Nine Oppositional Parties Agree To Meet On September 12 To Create Committee To Ensure Fair Elections, Ukrainian News (2011) According to oppositional political forces on September 12 nine Ukrainian parties will create a committee for protection of fair elections. The parties discussed necessity in elaboration of a draft law on parliamentary elections in order to guarantee their democracy and fairness. The meeting on September 12 is open for non-governmental organizations too.
• Jul 06, 2011: Kyiv unable to tell investors date of mayoral elections, KyivPost (2011) Because the amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine extended mayor`s service time from 4 to 5 years now it is not clear when the next mayoral election is to be held. The previous snap elections were held on May 2008 but after amendment of the Constitution next elections expected not in 2012 but in 2013.
• Jun 21, 2011: Yanukovych: New draft law on election to be submitted to Venice Commission, unian.net (2011) Viktor Yanukovych Ukrainian President said a commission headed by Justice Minister Oleksandr Lavrynovych worked out a draft electoral law and they are ready to forward it to the Venice Commission. According to President Yanukovych a large number of NGOs, political parties and international consultants were involved to prepare the new election law promptly.
• Jan 11, 2011: Leader of Party of Industrialists killed in Ukraine, Itar-Tass (2011) Alexander Korobchinsky, leader of the Party of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (PIE), has been killed in Ukraine.
• Nov 24, 2010: BYTB Demanding Court Bind CEC Announce Start Of Parliamentary Election Campaign (Ukranian News, 2010) The Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc - Batkivschyna faction at the Verkhovna Rada is demanding the Kyiv district administrative court rule unlawful inactivity of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) in the announcement of a start of a parliamentary election campaign, MP Viktor Shvets from the BYTB has informed Ukrainian News.
• Nov 24, 2010: CEC rejects decision to announce start of parliamentary election campaign (nrcu, 2010) The Central Election Commission of Ukraine denied to start election campaign of parliamentary elections to be held in March 2011.
• Nov 24, 2010: Central Election Commission: Parliament to amend constitution (Kyiv Post, 2010) Opinion of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine prior to the constitution law amendments on the new proposal regarding election law.
• Nov 24, 2010: Ukrainian Constitutional Court approves 2012 parliamentary polls (RIA Novosti, 2010) On Friday 19th November the Ukrainian Constitutional Court approved to hold parliamentary elections in October 2012 instead of 2011.
• Nov 24, 2010: Parliament gives preliminary approval to amendments to constitution on dates of next presidential and parliamentary elections (Interfax, 2010) Preliminary approval was given by Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, on amendments to the Constitution of the dates of next presidential and parliamentary elections.
• Nov 24, 2010: Ukraine to have next parliamentary election in October 2012 (Itar-Tass, 2010) The Constitutional Court of Ukraine has passed a resolution saying the next parliamentary election in Ukraine is due in October 2012, Alexander Yefremov, the leader of the Regions Party’s faction in parliament said Thursday.
• Nov 24, 2010: President denies problem with Ukraine press freedom (AFP, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has a little questionable connection toward the Medias. Is that true that nothing had changed?
• Nov 19, 2010: Ukraine: Parliament gives preliminary approval to amendments to constitution on dates of next presidential and parliamentary elections, Interfax (2010) This news article is on the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, which has given preliminary approval to amendments to the Constitution on the dates of the next presidential and parliamentary elections.
• Nov 02, 2010: EU monitors give mixed report on Ukraine vote (EUobserver, 2010) Even though the voting processes looked fair to the 2 MEPs who monitored the local elections held on the 31st October, EU institutions are unhappy about irregularities in the run-up to the polls.
• Nov 02, 2010: Voting In Local Elections In Ukraine Closes At 22:00 (Ukranian News) General information on the local elections of 31 October 2010.
• Nov 02, 2010: Europe offers Ukraine to work on Election Code together (Kyiv Post, 2010) Delegates from the Council of Europe have offered Ukraine to work on the country's Election Code together.
• Nov 02, 2010: Ukraine: Yanukovych Stronger After Vote (The Moscow Times, 2010) According to exit polls findings the Party of the Regions easily retained its position during elections.
• Nov 02, 2010: Yushchenko: Our Ukraine considers local elections valid, not to challenge results (Kyiv Post, 2010) Viktor Yushchenko, former Ukrainian President, the honorary chairman of party 'Our Ukraine' considers the elections to local councils valid and is not planning to challenge their results.
• Nov 02, 2010: OSCE reports no major violations during local elections in Ukraine (ITAR TASS) No mayor violations during local elections in Ukraine - reports OSCE representative Marat Sarsembayev.
• Nov 02, 2010: Europe observers: Voting in local elections in Ukraine conducted smoothly (Kyiv Post, 2010) Observers of the Council of Europe (CoE) reported that elections in Ukraine on the 31st October were conducted on a calm and peaceful way.
• Oct 27, 2010: International community complicit in Ukraine’s step backward (Kyiv Post, 2010) On how election fraud might be pre-established by the structure of local and regional election commissions. There is no law regulation that would state that both the major and opposition parties representatives should have executive positions in the commissions. Statements of OSCE, NATO and the Council of Europe.
• Oct 27, 2010: Yanukovych: Provocations biggest threat to local elections (Kyiv Post, 2010) Political provocations are the biggest threat of the upcoming elections according to president Yanukovych.
• Oct 27, 2010: Local elections in Ukraine will be fair and democratic, Prime Minister says (Radio Ukraine, 2010) Elections shall be democratic, and all statements about undemocratic processes are to be claimed by the opposition, who would not be able to accept the defeat.
• Oct 27, 2010: No exit poll expected at Ukraine local elections (Radio Ukraine, 2010) In four cities (Odesa, Lviv, Kharkiv and Dnipropetrovsk) previously announced exit polls are declined due to lack of funds.
• Oct 27, 2010: Kiev’s choice – EU or Russia? (Financial Times, 2010) Discussing possible choices of Ukraine.
• Oct 22, 2010: President of Ukraine to Meet the Opposition to Ensure Transparency of October 31 Elections (PR Newswire, 2010) The President of Ukraine Victor Yanukovych will meet with representatives of the opposition parties to ensure transparent elections.
• Oct 22, 2010: Two members of European Parliament to observe local elections in Ukraine (Kyiv Post, 2010) EP members to monitor local elections in Ukraine.
• Oct 22, 2010: Ukraine: President - October 31 election to be transparent (Unian, 2010) The opinion of Viktor Yanukovych, president of Ukraine on the upcoming local elections.
• Oct 22, 2010: Election authorities continue registering international observers (Radio Ukraine, 2010) Continued registration of international observers for the upcoming local elections.
• Oct 22, 2010: Yedynyi Tsentr To Hold Exit-Poll At Local Elections (Ukranian News, 2010) About the exit-poll interviews to be done during local elections in the Ukraine, carried out by Yedynyi Tsentr party.
• Oct 22, 2010: Parliament sends bill on term of authorities to Constitutional Court (Radio Ukraine, 2010) Proposed amendments of the Constitution of Ukraine regarding the elections.
• Oct 22, 2010: OSCE Observation Mission For Ukrainian Local Elections To Begin Work On October 20 (Ukranian News, 2010) Information of the OSCE election observation mission started on the 20th October 2010.
• Oct 22, 2010: European parliamentarians hope Ukraine won't take step back in democracy during local elections (Kyiv Post, 2010) Members of the European Parliament hopes that upcoming local elections will happen on a fair and democratic way in Ukraine.
• Oct 22, 2010: European Parliament to send observers to local elections in Ukraine (Kyiv Post, 2010) The European Parliament is to decide on Thursday, whether it will send observers to the local elections of Ukraine.
• Oct 22, 2010: CEC registers 65 international observers (Radio Ukraine, 2010) At the elections of deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of the Republic of Crimea the Central Election Commission of Ukraine registered 65 international observers to observe the local elections to be held on the 31st October 2010.
• Oct 21, 2010: Tymoshenko hit by fraud accusations before Ukrainian election (Deutsche Welle, 2010) Fraud accusations against Julia Tymoshenko - "politically motivated" audits can be in the background, say aides, of Tyomoshenko.
• Oct 14, 2010: European Parliament to send observers to local elections in Ukraine, The Kyiv Post (2010) This article reports on a possible electoral observation mission of the European Parliament to monitor the local elections in Ukraine. President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek announced this possibility after holding meetings with the Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov.
• Oct 05, 2010: Possible date for next elections announced (Kyiv Post, 2010) Ukraine must hold its next parliamentary elections in the fall of 2012 and presidential election in February 2015, Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr said at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday.
• Oct 04, 2010: IFES Deploys Technical Election Assessment Mission to Ukraine, IFES (2010) This week IFES will be conducting a pre-election assessment in Ukraine in advance of the October 31, 2010 elections. The delegation, led by electoral experts Gavin Weise and Ben Goldsmith, will be reviewing Ukraine’s system of election administration, which largely flows from the adoption of a new local election law this July.
• Sep 29, 2010: Ukraine's Yanukovych promises fair local elections (RIA Novosti, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has pledged to do his best to ensure that Ukraine's local elections scheduled for late October are fair, the president's press service said.
• Sep 29, 2010: Ukraine's Yanukovych promises fair local elections (Ukranian News, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych urges the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to send to Ukraine observers to the local elections in the country set for October 31, 2010.
• Sep 24, 2010: Four CEC members warn Yanukovych – no fair elections likely in Ukraine (ZIK, 2010) Four members of the Central Election Commission have sent an open letter to Pres Yanukovych specifying factors that will prevent Ukraine to hold fair local elections due Oct. 31, LigaBiznesInform reports Sept. 23.
• Sep 24, 2010: Ukraine: Tymoshenko ready for battle again (Kyiv Post, 2010) Something in the morning papers had annoyed Yulia Tymoshenko. A steely glint flashed in her eyes as she reached for copies of two newspapers she said are controlled by the Party of Regions.
• Sep 24, 2010: Opposition Blues in Ukraine (BRAMA, 2010) Introducing a rightwing political party, this time in Ukraine. Earlier in September it has disrupted an important opposition rally in Kyiv. Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union is usually described as a nationalist party. It stands far to the right of democratic Rukh Party which pictures itself as being right-of-center.
• Sep 22, 2010: Ukraine invites PACE monitors to assess objectivity of election campaign (NRCU - Ukrainian Radio, 2010) Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov invites observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to assess objectivity of the local authority election campaign. The Prime Minister said this during his meeting with PACE President Mevlut Cavusoglu, who is on a visit in Ukraine.
• Sep 22, 2010: MPs desert defeated Ukraine candidate Yulia Tymoshenko (BBC News, 2010) Ukraine's parliament has confirmed the migration of 28 MPs from the bloc led by Yulia Tymoshenko, who was defeated in this year's presidential election.
• Sep 22, 2010: Yanukovych Urges PACE To Send Observers To Local Elections In Ukraine (Ukrainian News Agency, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych urges the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe to send to Ukraine observers to the local elections in the country set for October 31, 2010.
• Sep 22, 2010: Ukraine invites PACE monitors to assess objectivity of election campaign, Ukrainian Radio (2010) This article reports on the Prime Minister's invitation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Ukraine. PACE is invited to assess the objectivity of the local authority election campaign in the country. The Prime Minister Mykola Azarov stated that he invited observers to monitor the elections as well, which is scheduled for October 31.
• Sep 15, 2010: Ukraine: Party Of Regions Invites International Observers To Monitor Local Elections (Ukrainian News Agency, 2010) The Party of the Regions has invited international observers to monitor the forthcoming local elections in Ukraine.
• Sep 15, 2010: Ukraine: CEC Holds Draw For Seats On Local Election Commissions Among Non-Parliamentary Parties On September 13 (Ukrainian News Agency, 2010) The Central Electoral Commission has held a draw for seats on local election commissions among political parties that are not represented in the parliament.
• Sep 09, 2010: Ukraine may hold early parliamentary elections next year - expert (RIA Novosti, 2010) Ukraine may hold early parliamentary elections in 2011, the director of Ukrainian independent think tank Institute of Global Strategies said.
• Sep 09, 2010: Tymoshenko vows to continue 'purge' of Ukrainian opposition ranks (RIA Novosti, 2010) Ukraine's former prime minister and current opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko has pledged to continue strengthening the opposition by "purging" it of "weak" members.
• Sep 09, 2010: Lazarenko's lawyer denies reports of his return to Ukraine (Kyiv Post, 2010) The lawyer of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, Maryna Dolhopola, has denied reports that Lazarenko is allegedly planning to return to Ukraine to participate in the local elections, which were published in the media on her behalf on Tuesday.
• Sep 09, 2010: Lazarenko planning to return to Ukraine to participate in local elections (Kyiv Post, 2010) Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko is planning to return to Ukraine to participate in the local elections on October 31, 2010.
• Aug 31, 2010: People First: The latest in the watch on Ukrainian democracy (Kyiv Post, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych addresses the issue of the Crimean Tatars, while attempting to quell accusations of pressure on freedom of speech in Ukraine. Against a background of critical growth in the external debt of Ukraine, the largest political parties began preparations for local elections.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine: Mejlis leaders want Yanukovych to change format for talks (Kyiv Post, 2010) Members of the Mejlis, the parliament of the Crimean Tatars, who were appointed to the Council of representatives of the Crimean Tatars of the president of Ukraine, will not participate in its work, Chairman of the Mejlis Mustafa Dzhemilev has said.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine: Anti-elections (The Day Weekly Digest, 2010) Recently the Kyiv council decided to assume power in the capital, by harassing, or possibly eliminating their rivals: the district councils. A corresponding initiative came from acting mayor Oleksandr Popov, who almost entirely replaced a Leonid Chernovetsky vacationing in Switzerland.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine - President sure today's introduction of alterations to local election law proves democratization of Ukraine (ISRIA, 2010) Viktor Yanukovych is confident that today's extraordinary session of Parliament to amend the law on local elections is another example of democratization of our country, he said at the press conference in Berlin.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine: Verkhovna Rada changes electoral law (The Day Weekly Digest, 2010) On Monday, August 30, Ukraine’s ruling coalition changed the electoral law enabling newly established parties to participate in the coming local elections. The previous ammendments were heavily criticised by domestic and foreign observers.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine: New local elections law aimed to balkanize opposition electorate (ZIK, 2010) The ruling majority has given newly formed parties the green light to participate in the local elections with the sole purpose of balkanizing opposition voters, political expert Viktor Kotyhorenko of the Kyiv-based Kuras Institute of Political Research said, speaking to ZIK Aug. 30.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine approves new law scrapping restrictions on local elections (RIA Novosti, 2010) The Ukrainian Parliament on Monday scrapped restrictions on participation in local elections for parties which have been established less than a year before elections.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine: Presidential, parliamentary elections should be synchronized (NRCU, 2010) The election of the president and the parliament should be synchronized in time. This opinion was expressed by the chairman of the Ukrainian parliament, Volodymyr Lytvyn.
• Aug 31, 2010: Ukraine tweaks election rules before October vote (Reuters, 2010) Ukraine's parliament Monday changed the law on regional elections in a move that is likely to dilute support for the party of Yulia Tymoshenko, the main opponent of President Viktor Yanukovich.
• Aug 30, 2010: The rebalancing of Ukraine's political system (BNE, 2010) In a speech given to mark Ukraine's 19th year of independence on Aug 24, President Viktor Yanukovych declared that he has a "formula" for strengthening Ukraine that includes "a strong president who has real powers to coordinate and control the implementation of key reform issues and the country's strategic course." The main ingredient in the president's "formula" is a return of Ukraine's government to the presidential-parliamentary system of the Kuchma era. In order to accomplish this, Yanukovych is pushing for a repeal of law No. 2222-IV.
• Aug 30, 2010: Ukraine: Extraordinary session of Verkhovna Rada has opened (NRCU, 2010) An extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament) of Ukraine has opened with three questions put on the agenda of its meeting.
• Aug 30, 2010: Ukraine: Rift widens between Yanukovych, Medjlis (Ukrainian Journal, 2010) The rift between President Viktor Yanukovych and Medjlis, the ruling body of Crimean Tatars, the third-largest ethnic group in Crimea, widened on Sunday, threatening to undermine efforts to improve local policies.
• Aug 30, 2010: Ukraine: Tomenko forecasts 'electoral paradox' at local elections (Kyiv Post, 2010) Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Mykola Tomenko (BYuT) has said he is convinced that holding local elections under a mixed system might cause an electoral paradox: local communities will vote for the programs of one party, and the majority will be based on the programs of other parties.
• Aug 27, 2010: Yanukovych could preserve power in Kyiv by cancelling elections (Kyiv Post, 2010) Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych appears to be attempting to extend his power grab to the country’s capital via a local initiative to eliminate the city of Kyiv’s district councils.
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