Each month, The Observer visits Kyiv bars popular with expats to obtain answers to a common question.
This month, The Observer visited people at O'Brien's, The Drum, and TGI Friday's.
We asked this month's Board of Drinkers:
"Will Ukraine's March parliamentary elections be 'free and fair'?"
"Compared with previous elections, I believe these will be more free and fair. There's a just/unjust continuum of electioneering that Ukraine is traveling down, in the right direction, I believe. As an aside, we all know there are advances to be made in our home [US] elections. Let's not forget Florida 2000."
Martin Clarke,
Self-employed teacher.
Five years in Ukraine.
"I think the elections will be more free and fair than the presidential elections, however I still expect that certain factions will try to get away with whatever they can get away with, especially intimidation tactics in Eastern Ukraine. A lot of what happens depends on the influence of the international observers that appear."
Wayne Joseph Yablonsky,
CEO, JV Technologies, Inc.
Two years in Ukraine.
"To be honest, I believe that these may be the most free and fair elections that Ukraine has seen. I honestly believe that things here are getting better. However I do not think that they will be 'free and fair' in a Western sense. Rome wasn't built in a day, and Ukrainian politics won't be either!"
Natalia Romas,
Teacher, International House.
Three years in Uukraine.
"In my opinion, March elections will be more or less fair, though there will be some minor irregularities. To be respected in the region and world, Ukraine should continue to work hard to become a fully democratic country."
M. Hanif Younus,
Private Entrepreneur.
Eight years in Ukraine.
"I am not sure that the elections will be free and fair throughout Ukraine. There will always be pressure put on voters by different means in secondary regions especially. Having said that, I believe these elections will be more transparent than in the past, as happened in the latter part of the Orange Revolution."
Desmond Reid
General Manager, O'Brien's Irish Bar.
Three years in Ukraine.
"Inevitably, Ukraine will develop into a free and fair country. For example, Moscow was very corrupt, now it is changing for the better. Every country comes from a shady past, like Chicago in the '20's and '30's, with the mob running rampant. As I see it, Ukraine is on its way to a bright future."
David T. Farmos,
Founder, Donovan Group.
1 year in Ukraine.
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