Ukrainians Vote as Yanukovych Poised to Control Parliament
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Ukrainians are voting in parliamentary elections today, with President Viktor Yanukovych’s party set to retain control as support in his eastern heartland quells challenges from a world boxing champion and a jailed ex-premier.
The Party of Regions, which rules the former Soviet republic in coalition with the Communists, was predicted by opinion polls to lead by seven percentage points. Voting for the 450-seat Verkhovna Rada began at 8 a.m. local time and will end at 8 p.m., when the first exit polls will be published. Turnout at noon was 23.62 percent, according to Ukraine’s Central Electoral Commission.