Resolution: Rejection of Registration of New Parties in Ukraine

The Executive Committee of the Liberal International convening in Palma de Mallorca, Spain on 6 November 2005

- notes that out of 27 new parties that wanted to register after the orange revolution, only ten have been registered and the reasons from the Ministry of Justice of rejecting registration have in some cases not been adequate and correct,

- welcomes the registration of the new party PORA founded by leading opposition forces in the orange revolution. The party was first rejected registration but after appeal to the supreme court the party was registered in the summer of 2005 and will be able to participate in next year's parliamentary elections,

- regrets that the new liberal party, Party for Public Rule, based in Donetsk, which has fulfilled all criteria for getting registered was denied registration on 16 August 2005 and is now in appeal court,

- regrets that government authorities especially in Eastern Ukraine still ignores efforts from opposition parties to register and participate in the political life in Ukraine,

- calls on the Ukrainian government to continue the development of democracy as implemented after the orange revolution in December 2004,

- calls on the Ukrainian government to consider all registrations for the founding of new parties on objective and legitimate grounds,

- calls on the Ukrainian government to assure that the upcoming parliamentary elections in Ukraine in March 2006 are free and fair and the opposition parties have the right and possibilities to take part in the elections on equal grounds.