International and Ukrainian human rights NGOs have signed a joint statement arguing that parliamentary elections are incompatible with a full-scale war, despite President Zelensky hinting at organizing them in 2024—if the West is footing the bill. Instead, the NGOs called for extending the mandate of all elected officials until the end of the war, the Euromaidan Press wrote on Thursday, September 21st.
The joint appeal against holding Ukrainian elections next year came in response to growing pressure from the West, mainly from senior U.S. lawmakers, to proceed with the vote as if the country was in peacetime, arguing that Washington did hold wartime elections in the past.
“I want free and fair elections to occur in this country, even under attack,” U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham recently said. “I believe it’s time for Ukraine to take the next step in its democratic development, particularly to hold elections in 2024.”
However, the statement—signed by a hundred NGOs, including Transparency International, OPORA Civil Network, and the Kyiv School of Economics—explains that elections are not just about one day of voting, but months of heated and “unbearably open” political debate that could lead to the loss public morale, national unity, and the legitimacy of political leadership, which could “destabilize the state as a whole” and prove detrimental to the war effort.
Besides, as the letter pointed out, the Constitution of Ukraine specifically prohibits holding elections during martial law or a state of emergency, and organizing the 2024 elections would, therefore, require a constitutional change.
Furthermore, the letter also lists several technical problems associated with the prospect of wartime elections, such as opening up the country for Russian disinformation that could influence the outcome; the inability to ensure the full participation of active servicemen and refugees living abroad; the current restriction of free speech under martial law provisions that would hinder campaign messaging; and massive security challenges stemming from the fact that 40% of the country is either occupied or within range of Russian artillery that could target polling stations directly.
Moreover, the NGOs added that the cost of organizing an election is another important factor. “In wartime, such expenses are unjustified and cynical, as Ukraine is still fighting for its existence. Ukraine’s more pressing needs are weapons, ammunition, medical supplies, and other vital aid.”
This was one of President Zelensky’s major points too when he was asked about the possibility of elections last month. The president explained that even if Kyiv were to introduce legislative changes to allow wartime elections, it would still need to secure enough funds for it—billions of dollars, at that.
At the same time, he hinted that if the West were to foot the bill—and provide logistical support—the 2024 elections could be back on the table:
Let’s assume, I told [Sen. Graham], you are ready to give me $5 billion, because I can’t just take $5 billion from the budget, as it seems to me that this is the amount needed to hold elections in normal times, and in wartime, I don’t know what the amount would be—if the USA together with Europe gives us financial support [then Ukraine will hold elections].
I’m sorry, I’m not asking for anything. I will not hold elections on credit. I will not take money from [what we’re spending on] weapons and allocate it to elections, either. This is provided for by law. But if you give me this financial support and if the parliamentarians understand that we need to do this, then let’s change the legislation quickly…
