Transnistrian officials ask Ukraine to set up polling places in Transnistria for January 17 presidential elections

The Transnistrian official responsible for human rights Vasili Kaliko asked Ukrainian ombudswoman Nina Karpachova to pass on the request to open polling stations in Transnistria for the Ukrainian January 17 presidential elections to the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, Info-Prim Neo's correspondent in Tiraspol reports. Vasili Kaliko said they must make everything possible for the Transnistrians with Ukrainian nationality to be able to take part in the presidential elections. The Supreme Rada introduced amendments to the electoral legislation, under which polling stations outside Ukraine can be set up only at the country's embassies. “The previous experience showed that the embassy in Chisinau cannot cope with the large number of voters. Furthermore, many Transnistrian residents cannot travel to Chisinau to vote there,” Kaliko said. Vasili Kaliko added that the Ukrainian law on presidential elections does not ban the opening of polling places outside Ukraine. From legal viewpoint, neither the Embassy of Ukraine in Moldova nor the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry have reasons to refuse opening polling stations in the Transnistrian region, the official said.