The Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition joins the statement of Ukrainian civil society organizations on the impossibility of holding democratic elections without sustainable peace.

Democracy in time of war must be even more protected than in peacetime, because the cost of a mistake or loss of trust is extremely high. The energy of friends and partners should be channelled into systematic work to ensure that the end result of a genuine expression of will in a secure future reflects exclusively the political will of the Ukrainian people. Just as there are no different international standards for peaceful and post-conflict elections, there is no other measure of democracy than the real access of citizens to govern their state through their representatives, legally elected in free and fair elections by secret ballot without intimidation or threats. It is Russia that, through an unprovoked act of aggression against a sovereign state, is making it impossible to hold presidential and parliamentary elections in Ukraine. This country is not a democracy: there is no opposition, no media, no minimum rights and freedoms, and no political pluralism. Instead, the Ukrainian consensus on elections no earlier than six months after the end of martial law is supported by the government, opposition, and society. The legitimacy of the Ukrainian government is the exclusive prerogative of the Ukrainian people. 

Any peace process should take into account the voice of Ukraine and a logical sequence of actions to restore electoral cycles: 1) a sustainable ceasefire under the security guarantees of the guarantor countries; 2) preparation for elections and restoration of the relevant infrastructure; 3) holding elections after sustainable peace is achieved, martial law is lifted and the war is regulated by international law.

Elections in the next six months do not correspond to security realities, the political and economic situation, or public sentiment in Ukraine. As of February 2025, 69% of Ukrainians believed that Volodymyr Zelenskyy should remain President until the end of martial law without holding elections. This is a real proof of unity in society and respect for the military, which is currently defending Ukraine and cannot fully participate in the political process. 

Obviously, from the point of view of the Constitution and legislation, holding elections during martial law is prohibited, and the government continues to legitimately and uninterruptedly exercise its powers during this period. 

One of the main challenges for holding elections in Ukraine without sustainable peace is the lack of proper legal mechanisms for organizing them and ensuring voter participation. The development of these mechanisms should take into account the consequences of the aggression. In addition to establishing the necessary legal framework for post-war elections, let alone wartime elections, Ukraine needs to ensure voting for millions of citizens, including those who are forced to stay abroad, internally displaced persons who have fled their homes due to the destruction of settlements, and military personnel defending the country.

In turn, democratic conditions must be created for the proper conduct of elections, including the possibility of free activity of the media, political parties, and civil society organizations, and the search for parliamentary consensus on the rules. Therefore, additional time is needed for the transformational transition between the legal regime of martial law and the election campaign.

Elections are about the freedom to form political will and to prepare and organize voting. Equally important are the day-to-day tasks that are of critical importance in a post-war environment: the work of election commissions, secure voting facilities, information systems protected from cyberattacks, and the transparency and security of the process as a whole.

The unstable security situation, the threat of shelling, terrorist attacks and sabotage, as well as large-scale mining of territories create significant obstacles at all stages of the election process: from the delivery of ballots to polling stations to the possibility of proper observation of election procedures, from campaigning to potentially low voter turnout due to security threats. The fundamental principles of equal and universal suffrage could be jeopardized. The very idea of holding elections in an environment where candidates and voters could be targeted by missiles and drones is contrary to human rights principles.

The biggest challenge for electoral democracy in Ukraine will be interference in this process by Russia, which will be ready to use any means to do so – from cyberattacks to direct bribery of voters, from spreading disinformation and dividing society with it to discrediting candidates “unacceptable” to the Russian authorities and financing the campaigns of loyal politicians.  Ukraine – both the state and society – must prepare for such interference in order to preserve the sovereignty, democracy and freedom that Ukrainians defend on the battlefield. This requires sufficient time, an independent audit of risks, and a significant strengthening of mechanisms to counter illegal interference in elections.

Undoubtedly, elections in Ukraine must take place – but only after the war is over and sustainable peace is achieved, and security and other conditions are in place to allow for free, fair, democratic and accessible elections. Ukraine has never refused to hold elections, but organizing them takes time and resources, not demands.

We would sincerely appreciate it if the leaders of the free world would invest energy and resources in guaranteeing security for Ukraine and preparing for the first post-war elections as a matter of priority. This will help ensure that they are held as soon as possible in accordance with international standards. 

To sign the statement, please follow the link.

THE STATEMENT WAS SIGNED BY

Reanimation Package of Reforms Coalition 

Charitable Foundation “East-SOS”

Detector Media

Association of Public Advisors of Ukraine

Institute of civil society

Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting

Institute for Euro-Atlantic Cooperation

Institute of Regional Press Development

Committee of Voters of Ukraine

NGO “EasyBusiness”

ICF “Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health”

Plast

NGO “Together Against Corruption”

Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research

Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation

New Europe Center

Center for Civic Representation “Life”

Center for Democracy and Rule of Law

Center for Liberation Movement Studies

Center for Policy and Legal Reforms

Center for Political Studies and Analysis “Eidos”

Center for Innovation Development

NGO “Legal Hundred”

National Union of Cinematographers of Ukraine

NGO “Parents for Vaccination”

School of Political Analysis

Institute Respublica

Center for Economic Growth LRHub

NGO “Fight for Rights”

Civil network OPORA

Network for the Protection of National Interests ANTS 

Anti-Corruption Action Center

NGO “Public holding ”GROUP OF INFLUENCE”

International Renaissance Foundation

International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV)

Frontier Institute

Initiative group “First of December”

UkraineWorld 

Human Rights Center ZMINA

Movement CHESNO

Institute of Mass Information (IMI)

Independent Anti-Corruption Commission (NAKO)

Association of Women Lawyers of Ukraine “YurFem”

Ukrainian Center for European Policy

Digital Security Lab

Center for Global Studies “Strategy XXI”

Kyiv School of Economics 

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group

NGO “Donbas SOS”

NGO European Pravda 

Struggle for rights

All-Ukrainian human rights organization “Legal Hundred”

Ukrainian independent center for political research

NGO Lviv Media Forum 

Ukrainian Bar Association

Ukrainian Women’s Fund

NGO Decolonization

NGO “All-Ukrainian Association of Persons with Disabilities ”Active Rehabilitation Group” 

NGO “Women in Media”

NGO “League of the Strong”

NGO “Ukrainian Volunteer Service”

Public Diplomacy Platform

NGO “Diy-Kramatorsk”

Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Ukraine

Youth NGO “Molodvizh”

NGO “Women’s Anti-Corruption Movement”

Zarvanytsia Public Initiative

NGO “Social Synergy”

Council of IDPs

Lviv Open Laboratory NG

Movement “Space of Freedom”

NGO Center for civic initiatives “Perspective”

NGO “Network of Responsible”

Anti-corruption center MEZA

Expert group “Sova”

NGO “Eradum”

NGO “League of Social Workers of Ukraine”

NGO “Horizon of Changes”

Informal association “Youth movement”

NGO “Power of the Future”

NGO “Expert Corps” 

NGO “Access Point”

Public union “Association of civil society organizations of Luhansk region”

Space Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Ukrainian Astronomical Association

International Charitable Organization “Partnership ”Every Child”

NGO Association of Public Advisers of Ukraine

NGO “Volyn Institute of Law” 

NGO “It has come and gone”

NGO “Center for Gender Culture”

NGO Union of large families 

NGO “Ukrainian Union of Young Geographers”

NGO “Anti-Corruption Headquarters”

NGO “August Virlych Foundation”

Territorial Department of the Judicial Protection Service in Poltava region 

NGO “Unitek Association”

NGO “Pharmatik”

ICF “Ukrainian Foundation for Public Health”

NGO Wild East

NGO “Rohanski Bees” 

NGO “Free because we are unbreakable”

NGO “Together with everyone! Next to everyone!”

CO Charitable Foundation “Step into a new life”

NGO “ECO-shell”

NGO “Center for Equal Opportunities ”Parity”

NGO “Other Woman”

NGO Social Capital

CO Charitable Foundation for the Realization of Ideas 

Online media “First Kryvyi Rih/1KR.UA”

Media ground

NGO Public Movement Faith, Hope, Love

NGO “FLOWERS OF VICTORY”

NGO “Volunteer Center of Zaporizhzhia”

CSO “Motivational circle”

Council of IDPs at Poltava City Council

NGO “Women’s Hub 2.0”

NGO Grunska community development fund

Public organization “Spilno HAB”

NGO “Development of Pryazovia”

NGO “Agency of Changes ”For the time being”

Analytical Center and NGO “Cultural Business Education Hub”

Association of Energy Efficient Cities of Ukraine

Charitable organization “Charitable Foundation ”Sisters of the Heart”

NGO “Amadoka”

NGO Epiprosvita (EPI-Prosvita)

NGO Center for Women’s Perspectives 

“United for Action” 

NGO “Ray of Hope Center”

NGO “Prosto Production Media”

NGO “Family for people with disabilities”