Ukrainians head to polls on Sunday to elect a new parliament in the first nationwide elections since Viktor Yanukovych became president. RFE/RL and Radio Svoboda will provide expert coverage, including an election liveblog, more than six hours of live broadcasting from Kyiv, and real-time reporting on Twitter (@RFERL and @radiosvoboda) with quotes, photos, and video links. Ukrainian Service Managing Editor Maryana Drach is available for comment and analysis at drachm@rferl.org and +420 602 612 714.
A sampling of RFE/RL's pre-election coverage:
# As Ukrainians prepare for the elections, some are openly offering to sell their votes on a popular Russian-language social network. The illegal practice is just one in a string of electoral violations observers are warning could take place. Correspondents Irena Stelmakh and Claire Bigg investigate.
# The long and twisted tale of former Ukrainian presidential bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko just got more twisted. After resisting extradition to Ukraine for more than a year, he suddenly turned up at Kyiv's international airport where he was promptly arrested. Correspondents Dmytro Shurkhal and Robert Coalson take a look at the mysterious Melnychenko and the speculation surrounding his return to Ukraine.
# As the clock ticks down to voting day, the Udar party of world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko is enjoying a surprising surge in the polls. Is it his star power or his political program that is attracting supporters? Correspondent Tom Balmforth rode with the Klitschko campaign on a recent swing through the Kyiv Oblast to find out.
# Jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is calling on Ukrainians to vote against Yanukovych with charges that he is leading the country back to dictatorship. (with AFP reporting and Reuters video)
For breaking news in all RFE/RL regions find us on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.
A sampling of RFE/RL's pre-election coverage:
# As Ukrainians prepare for the elections, some are openly offering to sell their votes on a popular Russian-language social network. The illegal practice is just one in a string of electoral violations observers are warning could take place. Correspondents Irena Stelmakh and Claire Bigg investigate.
# The long and twisted tale of former Ukrainian presidential bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko just got more twisted. After resisting extradition to Ukraine for more than a year, he suddenly turned up at Kyiv's international airport where he was promptly arrested. Correspondents Dmytro Shurkhal and Robert Coalson take a look at the mysterious Melnychenko and the speculation surrounding his return to Ukraine.
# As the clock ticks down to voting day, the Udar party of world heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko is enjoying a surprising surge in the polls. Is it his star power or his political program that is attracting supporters? Correspondent Tom Balmforth rode with the Klitschko campaign on a recent swing through the Kyiv Oblast to find out.
# Jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko is calling on Ukrainians to vote against Yanukovych with charges that he is leading the country back to dictatorship. (with AFP reporting and Reuters video)
For breaking news in all RFE/RL regions find us on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Pinterest.