U.S. vice president voices concern to Ukrainian president

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden called Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych on Nov. 13 to express his concern with the Oct. 28 parliamentary election, Radio Liberty reported today. Biden asked Yanukovych to ensure a just and transparent conclusion to the vote. He also called on the Ukrainian president to affirm his commitment to democracy and stop the selective persecution of political opponents, a reference to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is imprisoned for seven years. Ukraine’s Central Election Commission (CEC) called for a revote in five single-mandate districts on Nov. 8, while a court forbade the CEC on Nov. 13 to declare the results of two more districts.