Snap presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 25 May 2014 and resulted in Petro Poroshenko being elected President of Ukraine. Originally scheduled to take place on 29 March 2015, the date was brought forward following the 2014 Ukrainian revolution. Poroshenko won the elections with 55% of the vote, enough to win in a single round. His closest competitor, Yulia Tymoshenko, received 13% of the vote. The 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 run-off second ballot (scheduled for 15 June 2014)Ukraine 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 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 opened 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, losing to Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Background
Prior to the rescheduling of the election Initially the elections were scheduled for 29 March 2015.Gorshenin Weekly 12/23/2013, Gorshenin Institute (23 December 2013)
On 7 December 2012 Batkivshchyna nominated Yulia Tymoshenko as its presidential candidate.United Opposition nominates Tymoshenko as single presidential candidate, 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, 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)The Tymoshenko verdict. Full text of the sentence, Law & Business (13 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 Batkivshchyna.They Call Themselves the Opposition, The Ukrainian Week (31 August 2012) Список депутатів нової Верховної Ради, Ukrainska 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 Batkivshchyna, UDAR, and 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 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.Klitschko confirms he, Tymoshenko will run for president, Interfax-Ukraine (28 February 2014) However, on 29 March, he withdrew from the race for the presidency, simultaneously pledging his support for Petro Poroshenko.Boxing Champion Klitschko Withdraws from Ukraine Presidential Race, NBC News (29 March 2014)
Former 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 preparations for signing an association agreement with the European Union. The decision to postpone the signing of the association agreement led to 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.Ukrainian 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 Batkivshchyna, who had been appointed as Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada earlier that day, was named acting 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) Yatsenyuk Government to be sent for trial at the International Criminal Court.
During the 2014 Crimean crisis and Russian military intervention, Ukraine lost control over the Crimea, which was unilaterally 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, pro-Russian protests escalated into an armed separatist insurgency early in April 2014, when masked gunmen took control of several of the region's government buildings and towns.Masked gunmen tighten grip on eastern Ukraine, Reuters (30 April 2014)
On 15 April 2014, Ukrainian media reported that the General Prosecutor of Ukraine had launched criminal proceedings against then-candidate Oleg Tsaryov 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 Court, 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 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, Ukrainska 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 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.Eighteen of thirty-four district election commissions in Donetsk and Luhansk regions captured – CEC, Interfax-Ukraine (22 May 2014) By 23 May, this number had increased to twenty of the thirty-four.20 out of 34 DECs remain blocked by terrorists in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblast – CEC, UNIAN (23 May 2014) 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 elections Local elections On 25 May 2014, 27 mayoral elections were also held, including those in Odesa and 2014 Kyiv local election.sushko to compete for post of Odesa mayor, Interfax-Ukraine (29 March 2014)Parliament sets elections for Kyiv mayor and Kyiv City Council deputies for May 25, Interfax-Ukraine (25 February 2014)
A by-election to Verkhovna rada A parliamentary by-election was also held in single-member constituency No. 83, centred on Ivano-Frankivsk, following the resignation of MP Oleksandr Sych after his appointment as Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine..
Russian reaction