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Kiev registered 2,784 international observers for presidential elections

The highest number of observers - 1,056 - have been registered from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the OSCE

KIEV, May 20 /ITAR-TASS/. The Central Election Commission (CEC) of Ukraine has finished registering observers from international organizations and states for Ukraine’s upcoming early presidential elections, the CEC said Monday.

Overall, 2,784 observers from 19 countries (Canada, the United States, 14 European countries as well as three Asian states - Turkey, Kazakhstan, Japan) and 19 international organizations have been registered.

The highest number of observers - 1,056 - have been registered from the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

Ukraine is in turmoil after a coup occurred in the country in February. New people were propelled to power amid riots as security concerns caused President Viktor Yanukovich to leave the country the same month. The new leaders set early presidential elections for May 25.

Massive protests against the new Ukrainian authorities erupted in Ukraine’s Russian-speaking southeastern territories after the secession of the Crimean Peninsula, which declared independence on March 11 and joined Russia on March 18 following a referendum.

Kiev has been conducting a punitive operation against pro-federalization activists in Ukraine's southeast.