Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said on Thursday that the country's National Guard could "effectively counteract" attempts to destabilize the situation in the country ahead of the upcoming election campaigns.
KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2018) Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov said on Thursday that the country's National Guard could "effectively counteract" attempts to destabilize the situation in the country ahead of the upcoming election campaigns.
Ukraine will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections in March and October 2019, respectively.
"Today, guards have modern equipment, special means and weapons, and most importantly - a high level of professional training in order to stop any criminals, effectively counteract any attempts of internal destabilization ... Any attempts to disrupt, illegally affect or interfere with the fair, transparent, democratic elections in Ukraine should be severely stopped and punished," Turchynov said following the National Guard's tactical exercises, as quoted on the National Security and Defense Council's website.
According to Turchynov, as "agents, traitors and paid-up provocateurs" are being used in order to destabilize the situation, it is important to "guarantee and ensure the free expression of the will" of the Ukrainian citizens.
A recent poll, conducted by the Ukrainian Rating sociological group, showed that seven Ukrainian parties may secure parliamentary seats in the next years's elections by overcoming the five percent barrier. The party of Ukrainian former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko tops the rating.
