On 6 March 2019 the First Deputy of the Permanent Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea Izet Hdanov met with the delegation of the CANADEM Election Observation Mission Ukraine to discuss the issues regarding the preparation for elections to be held on 31 March 2019, particularly the creation of conditions for the exercise the electoral rights of the Ukrainian citizens, residing in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine in AR of Crimea.
The Head of Mission, Olya Odynska-Grod told about the mission’s mandate which is to provide an assessment of the presidential electoral process as well as assessment of Ukraine’s compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections including national legislation.
Izet Gdanov, in turn, emphasized the basic mandate and the activity of the Mission, particularly in promotion of exercising of the rights and fundamental freedoms of the citizens of Ukraine, residing in the TOT of Ukraine in AR of Crimea or migrated from there. He paid attention to the collaboration of the Mission with the relevant services and institutions in solving the issues of obtaining the State certificates, crossing the administrative boundary line with the TOT of Ukraine in Crimea and the mechanism of realization of the electoral rights of the Ukrainian citizens, residing in the temporarily occupied territory.
In the context of the theme, the sides discussed the possible actions by the occupying authorities to impede the citizens of Ukraine from the occupied peninsula to exercise their constitutional right to vote on Election Day.
As the result of the meeting, the sides agreed to collaborate in future on the above-mentioned issues.