Ukrainian opposition presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko
shows a victory sign during a celebration rally at the Independence Square in
Kiev, Dec. 27. Voting in Ukraine's repeat presidential run-off has ended and
several separate exit polls show the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko to have
decisively won the contest. (Xinhua Photo)
Voting in Ukraine's repeat presidential run-off has ended and several
separate exit polls show the opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko to have
decisively won the contest.
A poll conducted by the Ukrainian Institute of Social Research and Monitoring
shows Yushchenko to have polled 56.5 percent compared to 41.3 percent for his
rival, Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovich.
A second poll, conducted by Razumkov center similarly gave 56.5 percent to
Yushchenko and 41.3 percent to Yanukovich.
The initial results from Ukraine's Central Election Commission (CEC) will be
announced, Monday.
Sunday's re-election took place after the Supreme Court annulled Yanukovich's
victory in the Nov. 21 election due to allegations of widespread electoral
fraud.
In a press conference held late Sunday, Yanukovich told journalists he will
accept defeat if he loses this race.
Some 32,118 polling stations across Ukraine opened for voters to cast their
ballots.
Ukraine's Interior Ministry said that they had registered no incidents or
serious crimes during the revote.