About 500 Ukrainian citizens voted in Chisinau by midday

About 500 persons cast their votes at the Ukrainian Embassy in Chisinau on Sunday, March 26 by midday for the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. Another over 100 persons, mostly from Transnistria, queued in front of the embassy to exert their constitutional right. Ludmila Zaharova, member of the electoral office, has stated to Info-Prim Neo that the Ukraine Embassy in Chisinau expects 49,908 electors. Ukrainian nationals who reside the southern and central regions of Moldova may attend the elections there. Another polling station is open in Balti for Ukrainian nationals living in the north of Moldova. She noted that no violations or incidents were registered by midday. Ukrainian Ambassador to Moldova Pyotr Chaly confirmed that no shortcomings were registered, noting that the Moldovan authorities have ensured the security for normal elections. Unfortunately, citizens willing to attend the elections stay in queues because the schedule which was earlier worked out of participation was not respected, the ambassador underlined. He stressed that he does not know data on participation in elections in Balti, but considers that the situation is like in Chisinau. Observers on behalf of electoral candidates also said that no breaches were registered by noon. About 20 buses, minibuses and private cars with number plates registered in Moldova’s Transnistrian region were stationing in the Vasile Lupu street in front of the embassy at noon. More than 100 persons were waiting at the gate of the embassy for their turn to attend the elections. Ukraine has opened more polling stations in Moldova at its precedent elections than on March 26, but its new legislation allows the opening of polling stations abroad only at embassy, representation or mission. Taking part in the elections for the Ukrainian Supreme Rada are 45 electoral competitors. Surveys credit six parties or alliances with chances to succeed to the parliament, predicting that none of them will gain the absolute majority. More than 37 million electors are expected to attend the scrutiny, including about 400,000 in other countries. Polling stations will close at 22:00.