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Snap presidential elections held in Ukraine on 25 May 2014 resulted in Petro Poroshenko being elected President of Ukraine.Ukraine elections: Runners and risks
BBC News (22 May 2014) Originally scheduled to take place on 29 March 2015, the date was changed following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Poroshenko won the elections with 54.7% of the votes, enough to win in a single round. His closest competitor, Yulia Tymoshenko, emerged with 12.81% of the votes. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine, Central Election Commission reported voter turnout over 60%, excluding the regions not under government control. Since Poroshenko obtained an absolute majority in the first round, a Two-round system, run-off second ballot (on 15 June 2014Ukraine talks set to open without pro-Russian separatists
The Washington Post (14 May 2014)) was unnecessary. The election was not held everywhere in Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimean crisis, Ukraine lost control over Crimea, which Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, was unilaterally annexed by Russia in March 2014.EU & Ukraine 17 April 2014 FACT SHEET
European External Action Service (17 April 2014) As a result, elections were not held in Crimea. Of the 2,430 planned ballot stations (in Donbas), only 426 remained open 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 Ukrainian presidential election, 2019, losing to Volodymyr Zelensky.
''Kyiv Post'' (7 December 2012)Yatseniuk: Tymoshenko will be able to run for presidency in 2015
''Kyiv Post'' (7 December 2012) On 14 June 2013, the congress of her party approved the decision to nominate her as its candidate for the presidential election.Batkivschyna to nominate Tymoshenko for presidency, Yatseniuk heads party's political council
Interfax-Ukraine (14 June 2013) On 11 October 2011, a Ukrainian court found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of power, Criminal cases against Yulia Tymoshenko since 2010, sentenced her to seven years in jail and banned her from seeking elected office for her period of imprisonment.Ukraine ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko jailed over gas deal
BBC News (11 October 2011)Tymoshenko convicted, sentenced to 7 years in prison, ordered to pay state ,8 million (update)
''Kyiv Post'' (11 October 2011) Because Tymoshenko was in prison during the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election, Arseniy Yatsenyuk headed the election list of All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland.Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради
''Ukrayinska Pravda'' (11 November 2012) 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.Ukraine crisis timeline
BBC News In May 2013, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland, Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, UDAR, and Svoboda (political party), 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".Batkivschyna, UDAR, Svoboda to coordinate their actions at presidential election
Interfax-Ukraine (16 May 2013) If the election format were to change to a single round, the three parties vowed to agree on a single candidate. On 24 October 2013, the leaderQ&A:Ukrainian parliamentary election
BBC News (23 October 2012) of Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, UDAR, Vitali Klitschko, announced he intended to take part in the election.Vitali Klitschko says intends to run for president in Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine (24 October 2013)
Parliament passes law that could prevent Klitschko from running for president
Interfax-Ukraine (24 October 2013) Experts and lawyers argued that it is unclear if Klitschko could take part. 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. Klitschko confirmed on 28 February 2014 that he would take part in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election. However, on 29 March, he withdrew from the race for the presidency, simultaneously pledging his support for Petro Poroshenko. Former Ukrainian President, 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.Regions Party is hoping for Yanukovych's reelection as president
Interfax-Ukraine (1 February 2013)
Analysts: Yanukovych beginning his presidential campaign, alarm clock set for March 2015
Interfax-Ukraine (1 March 2013)
No alternative to Yanukovych, Ukraine to be stable for 7 more years, says Azarov
Interfax-Ukraine (14 June 2013) But, as of 19 December 2013, he had made no final decision on this.Yanukovych vows not to run in 2015 presidential elections if his rating is low
Interfax-Ukraine (19 December 2013) 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".
Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps
BBC News (9 December 2013) 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. On 22 February 2014, the Verkhovna Rada voted 328–0 to dismiss Yanukovych as president.
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) Oleksandr Turchynov, deputy chairman of All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland, who had been appointed as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada earlier that day, was named acting Prime Minister of Ukraine, Prime Minister, 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".Yanukovych: Presidential elections slated for May 25 unlawful, I won't run
Interfax-Ukraine (28 February 2014) It was later speculated that Serhiy Tihipko would be the presidential candidate of the Party of Regions, Yanukovych's former party. 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) First Yatsenyuk Government, Yatsenyuk Government to be sent for trial at the International Criminal Court. During the 2014 Crimean crisis and Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present), Russian military intervention, Ukraine lost control over the Crimea, which was unilaterally Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed by Russia in March 2014. 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.
Interfax-Ukraine (16 May 2014)
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 Oblast, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.Fighting rages in East Ukraine as talks continue
, Euronews (18 May 2014)
At Ukraine Peace Talks, Eastern Leaders Assail Central Government
VOA (17 May 2014)
CEC: Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk region becomes increasingly difficult
Ukrayinska Pravda (17 May 2014) According to the CEC, members of district election commissions there had received threats to their own personal safety and to that of their families. The CEC warned that two million people in the two Administrative divisions of Ukraine, 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. 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. By 23 May, this number had increased to twenty of the thirty-four. 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. 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.
Interfax-Ukraine (29 March 2014)Parliament sets elections for Kyiv mayor and Kyiv City Council deputies for May 25
Interfax-Ukraine (25 February 2014)
Kyiv Post (1 February 2011)Ukraine sets parliamentary vote for October 2012
Kyiv Post (1 February 2011) If no candidate had obtained an absolute majority in the first round, then the two highest polling candidates would have contested a Two-round system, run-off second ballot on 15 June 2014.Q&A: Ukraine presidential election
BBC News (7 February 2010)
Interfax-Ukraine (3 April 2014) A total of 18 candidates ran for president in 2010 Ukrainian presidential election, 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, Oleg Tsarov, 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.Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko
, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2014) 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.CEC registers seven more presidential candidates, including Poroshenko, Tymoshenko
Interfax-Ukraine (31 March 2014) Candidates needed to submit a full package of documents and a Ukrainian hryvnia, ₴2.5 million deposit.
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (29 April 2014)
Ukrayinska Pravda (17 May 2014)Zoryan Shkiryak withdrew from the presidential race
Segodnya (10 May 2014)
Interfax-Ukraine (2 May 2014) 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). Among others OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE's OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly, the Ukrainian World Congress and the United States sent observers. OSCE deployed 100 long-term observers and 900 short-term observers. On 9 May 2014 Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 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. Russia did not send observers. Other Commonwealth of Independent States members also did not send observers; because Ukraine had not sent an invitation to the Commonwealth of Independent States#Controversial election observation mission, CIS Election Monitoring Organisation.
The Wall Street Journal (25 May 2014) Exit polls had also predicted that Poroshenko won the election outright with over 55.9% of the votes,
Wall Street Journal: Merkel congratulates Ukraine's Poroshenko on election win
Kyiv Post (27 May 2014)
BBC News (22 May 2014) Originally scheduled to take place on 29 March 2015, the date was changed following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Poroshenko won the elections with 54.7% of the votes, enough to win in a single round. His closest competitor, Yulia Tymoshenko, emerged with 12.81% of the votes. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine, Central Election Commission reported voter turnout over 60%, excluding the regions not under government control. Since Poroshenko obtained an absolute majority in the first round, a Two-round system, run-off second ballot (on 15 June 2014Ukraine talks set to open without pro-Russian separatists
The Washington Post (14 May 2014)) was unnecessary. The election was not held everywhere in Ukraine. During the 2014 Crimean crisis, Ukraine lost control over Crimea, which Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, was unilaterally annexed by Russia in March 2014.EU & Ukraine 17 April 2014 FACT SHEET
European External Action Service (17 April 2014) As a result, elections were not held in Crimea. Of the 2,430 planned ballot stations (in Donbas), only 426 remained open 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 Ukrainian presidential election, 2019, losing to Volodymyr Zelensky.
Background
Prior to the rescheduling of the election
Initially the elections were scheduled for 29 March 2015. On 7 December 2012, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland nominated Yulia Tymoshenko as its presidential candidate.United Opposition nominates Tymoshenko as single presidential candidate''Kyiv Post'' (7 December 2012)
''Kyiv Post'' (7 December 2012)
Interfax-Ukraine (14 June 2013) On 11 October 2011, a Ukrainian court found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of power, Criminal cases against Yulia Tymoshenko since 2010, sentenced her to seven years in jail and banned her from seeking elected office for her period of imprisonment.Ukraine ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko jailed over gas deal
BBC News (11 October 2011)Tymoshenko convicted, sentenced to 7 years in prison, ordered to pay state ,8 million (update)
''Kyiv Post'' (11 October 2011) Because Tymoshenko was in prison during the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election, Arseniy Yatsenyuk headed the election list of All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland.Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради
''Ukrayinska Pravda'' (11 November 2012) 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.Ukraine crisis timeline
BBC News In May 2013, All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland, Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, UDAR, and Svoboda (political party), 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".Batkivschyna, UDAR, Svoboda to coordinate their actions at presidential election
Interfax-Ukraine (16 May 2013) If the election format were to change to a single round, the three parties vowed to agree on a single candidate. On 24 October 2013, the leaderQ&A:Ukrainian parliamentary election
BBC News (23 October 2012) of Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, UDAR, Vitali Klitschko, announced he intended to take part in the election.Vitali Klitschko says intends to run for president in Ukraine
Interfax-Ukraine (24 October 2013)
Parliament passes law that could prevent Klitschko from running for president
Interfax-Ukraine (24 October 2013) Experts and lawyers argued that it is unclear if Klitschko could take part. 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. Klitschko confirmed on 28 February 2014 that he would take part in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election. However, on 29 March, he withdrew from the race for the presidency, simultaneously pledging his support for Petro Poroshenko. Former Ukrainian President, 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.Regions Party is hoping for Yanukovych's reelection as president
Interfax-Ukraine (1 February 2013)
Analysts: Yanukovych beginning his presidential campaign, alarm clock set for March 2015
Interfax-Ukraine (1 March 2013)
No alternative to Yanukovych, Ukraine to be stable for 7 more years, says Azarov
Interfax-Ukraine (14 June 2013) But, as of 19 December 2013, he had made no final decision on this.Yanukovych vows not to run in 2015 presidential elections if his rating is low
Interfax-Ukraine (19 December 2013) 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".
Early 2014 elections
Scheduling
On 21 November 2013, the Ukrainian Second Azarov Government suspended Plan on Priority Measures for European Integration of Ukraine, preparations for signing an Ukraine–European Union Association Agreement, association agreement with the European Union. The decision to postpone the signing of the association agreement led to 2013 Ukraine protests, massive protests across Ukraine.Ukraine police dismantle Kiev protest camps
BBC News (9 December 2013) 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. On 22 February 2014, the Verkhovna Rada voted 328–0 to dismiss Yanukovych as president.
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) Oleksandr Turchynov, deputy chairman of All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland, who had been appointed as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada earlier that day, was named acting Prime Minister of Ukraine, Prime Minister, 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".Yanukovych: Presidential elections slated for May 25 unlawful, I won't run
Interfax-Ukraine (28 February 2014) It was later speculated that Serhiy Tihipko would be the presidential candidate of the Party of Regions, Yanukovych's former party. 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) First Yatsenyuk Government, Yatsenyuk Government to be sent for trial at the International Criminal Court. During the 2014 Crimean crisis and Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present), Russian military intervention, Ukraine lost control over the Crimea, which was unilaterally Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation, annexed by Russia in March 2014. 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.
Escalation of pro-Russian unrest
In the Donbas region of the Eastern Ukraine, 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine, pro-Russian protests escalated into an armed separatist War in Donbas (2014–2022), insurgency early in April 2014, when masked gunmen took control of several of the region's government buildings and towns. 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. 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. 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.New Ukrainian president will be elected for 5-year term – Constitutional CourtInterfax-Ukraine (16 May 2014)
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 Oblast, Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts.Fighting rages in East Ukraine as talks continue, Euronews (18 May 2014)
At Ukraine Peace Talks, Eastern Leaders Assail Central Government
VOA (17 May 2014)
CEC: Elections in Donetsk and Luhansk region becomes increasingly difficult
Ukrayinska Pravda (17 May 2014) According to the CEC, members of district election commissions there had received threats to their own personal safety and to that of their families. The CEC warned that two million people in the two Administrative divisions of Ukraine, 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. 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. By 23 May, this number had increased to twenty of the thirty-four. 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. 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.
Simultaneous mayoral elections
On 25 May 2014, 2014 Ukrainian local elections, 27 mayoral elections were also held, including those in 2014 Odessa local election, Odessa and 2014 Kyiv local election.sushko to compete for post of Odesa mayorInterfax-Ukraine (29 March 2014)Parliament sets elections for Kyiv mayor and Kyiv City Council deputies for May 25
Interfax-Ukraine (25 February 2014)
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 Military junta, junta". 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. 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. The US and European Union vowed early May 2014 that they would impose further List of individuals sanctioned during the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine, sanctions against Russia (sanctions have been in place against Russia since the 2014 Crimean crisis) 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. Earlier the US and the EU had accused Russia of destabilising Ukraine by stoking the 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine, 2014 pro-Russian rebellion in Eastern Ukraine, a charge Russia has denied.Electoral system
The term of office for the Ukrainian president is five years.Parliament sets parliamentary elections for October 2012, presidential elections for February 2014Kyiv Post (1 February 2011)Ukraine sets parliamentary vote for October 2012
Kyiv Post (1 February 2011) If no candidate had obtained an absolute majority in the first round, then the two highest polling candidates would have contested a Two-round system, run-off second ballot on 15 June 2014.Q&A: Ukraine presidential election
BBC News (7 February 2010)
Information technology framework for electoral monitoring – Elections 2014
Arsen Avakov (politician), Arsen Avakov underlined the importance of Elections 2014 a new IT elections monitoring system (" uk, 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. 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. As well, the Security Service of Ukraine investigated the servers and discovered malware that would have destroyed election results. On election day, authorities arrested a group of hackers with specialized equipment in Kyiv. They had been attempting to rig the election.Candidates
21 candidates took part in the elections; seven of them had been nominated by Political parties in Ukraine, political parties, 15 were self-nominees.Twenty-three candidates to run for Ukraine's presidencyInterfax-Ukraine (3 April 2014) A total of 18 candidates ran for president in 2010 Ukrainian presidential election, 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, Oleg Tsarov, 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.Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko
, Interfax-Ukraine (7 April 2014) 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.CEC registers seven more presidential candidates, including Poroshenko, Tymoshenko
Interfax-Ukraine (31 March 2014) Candidates needed to submit a full package of documents and a Ukrainian hryvnia, ₴2.5 million deposit.
Registered candidates
* Olha Bohomolets (Independent (politician), independent) (supported by the Socialist Party of Ukraine) * Yuriy Boyko (self-nominated) * Mykhailo Dobkin (Party of Regions) * Andriy Hrynenko (Independent (politician), independent) * Anatoliy Hrytsenko (Civil Position) * Valeriy Konovalyuk (Independent (politician), independent) * Vasyl Kuybida (People's Movement of Ukraine) * Renat Kuzmin (Independent (politician), independent) * Oleh Lyashko (Radical Party (Ukraine), Radical Party) * Mykola Malomuzh (Independent (politician), independent) * Petro Poroshenko (Independent (politician), independent) (supported by UDAR) * Vadym Rabynovych (Independent (politician), independent) * Volodymyr Saranov (Independent (politician), independent) * Serhiy Tihipko (self-nominated) (supported by Strong Ukraine) * Oleh Tyahnybok (Svoboda (political party), Svoboda) * Yulia Tymoshenko (All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland", Fatherland) * Dmytro Yarosh (Right Sector, self-nominated)Withdrawn candidates
Before deadline
* Natalia Korolevska (Independent (politician), independent), withdrew from race on 1 May. * Oleg Tsaryov, Oleh Tsarov (self-nominated), withdrew from race on 29 April.Ukraine's Pro-Russian Candidate Quits Presidential RaceRadio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (29 April 2014)
After deadline
* Zoryan Shkiryak (Independent (politician), independent), withdrew from race on 10 May. * Petro Symonenko (Communist Party of Ukraine), withdrew from race on 16 May. * Oleksandr Ivanovych Klymenko, Oleksandr Klymenko (Ukrainian People's Party), withdrew his candidacy on May 18 "to support Petro Poroshenko as the sole representative of the national democratic forces". * Vasyl Tsushko (Independent (politician), independent), withdrew from race on 22 May. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine, 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.Simonenko left the ballotUkrayinska Pravda (17 May 2014)Zoryan Shkiryak withdrew from the presidential race
Segodnya (10 May 2014)
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. On 3 April 2014 the CEC rejected a further three candidates: a man named Darth Vader, Evhen Terekhov, and Yuriy Ivanitsky. On 29 March 2014, Vitali Klitschko (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform, UDAR) endorsed Petro Poroshenko, and announced he would run for Mayor of Kyiv in the 2014 Kyiv local election, local election taking place alongside the presidential election.Opinion polls
International observers
The Central Election Commission of Ukraine (CEC) had registered 543 international official observers on 2 May 2014.CEC registers 543 international official observers for presidential electionsInterfax-Ukraine (2 May 2014) 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). Among others OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE's OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Parliamentary Assembly, the Ukrainian World Congress and the United States sent observers. OSCE deployed 100 long-term observers and 900 short-term observers. On 9 May 2014 Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, 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. Russia did not send observers. Other Commonwealth of Independent States members also did not send observers; because Ukraine had not sent an invitation to the Commonwealth of Independent States#Controversial election observation mission, CIS Election Monitoring Organisation.
Results
Petro Poroshenko won the elections with 54.7% of the votes. His closest competitor was Yulia Tymoshenko, who emerged with 12.81% of the votes. The Central Election Commission of Ukraine, Central Election Commission reported voter turnout at over 60% excluding those regions not under government control. In the Donbas region of Ukraine only 20% of the ballot stations were open due to threats and violence by 2014 pro-Russian conflict in Ukraine, pro-Russia separatists. Of the 2,430 planned ballot stations (in Donbas) only 426 remained open for polling.Poroshenko Declares Victory in Ukraine Presidential ElectionThe Wall Street Journal (25 May 2014) Exit polls had also predicted that Poroshenko won the election outright with over 55.9% of the votes,
Reactions
Despite 2014 Ukrainian presidential election#Russian reaction, 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 by the Russian Federation, annexation of Crimea and the Russian military intervention in Ukraine (2014–present), Russian military intervention in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin recognised the vote. 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 2014 Donbas status referendums, status referendum of 11 May. US President Barack Obama congratulated Petro Poroshenko with his victory by telephone 2 days after the election. This was also done by President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and President of the European Parliament, European Parliament President Martin Schulz and other EU leaders such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande.Kyiv Post (27 May 2014)
See also
*2014 Ukrainian parliamentary electionNotes
References
External links
* {{Euromaidan 2014 elections in Ukraine, Presidential Presidential elections in Ukraine May 2014 events in Ukraine 2014 pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine Euromaidan Petro Poroshenko Yulia Tymoshenko