SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS CALLS FOR NEW ELECTIONS IN UKRAINE

Washington, DC -- Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine) today called for new elections in Ukraine, citing "credible allegations of widespread fraud that taint the apparent victory of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych." The Ukrainian Central Elections Commission has declared Yanukovych the winner over the opposition leader, ViktorYushchenko. Last August, Senator Collins and Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) met with Yushchenko in Ukraine. At that time, Yushchenko expressed his fear that the government controlled by President Kuchma would rig the election in favor of Yanukovych.

"The fears that Yushchenko expressed to us have become a reality," Senator Collins said. "These elections have been neither free nor fair according to U.S. and other international observers. The only option is a new election under strict rules to prevent fraud and voter intimidation." During the Senators' travel to Ukraine, they also met with President Kuchma and members of the Central Election Commission.

"I am very disappointed that the President and the election commissioners did not heed our warnings that the world would be closely watching these elections to determine if they were fair," Senator Collins said. "The people of Ukraine have the right to choose their own leader through the ballot box. This crisis can only be resolved by new elections that are truly fair and that allow the citizens of this country to determine their own leader."

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