Ukraine’s CEC drops two candidates from presidential race at their request

The Ukrainian Central Election Commission (CEC) has cancelled registration of two candidates, namely lawmaker of the country’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, Olhg Tsariov and former Minister of Social Policy Natalia Korolevskaya for presidential elections in the country on Friday, the country’s CEC press service reported.

The CEC has satisfied requests to this effect which these presidential candidates had made on May 1.
After registration of Tsariov and Korolevskaya at early presidential elections due on May 25 was cancelled 21 candidates will run in elections.

Oleh Tsariov withdraws from Ukraine's presidential race
On April 29, Tsariov said that he withdrew his candidacy from presidential race. “I believed and believe that while self-appointed central Kiev authorities work for a split in the country, regions can take real steps to preserve Ukraine. Talking and coming to agreement with each other and avoiding puppet authorities in Kiev they will attain a larger agreement. But Kiev authorities stripped me of this opportunity in violation of all democratic standards,” the lawmaker noted.

“I decided to withdraw my candidacy, because the status of candidate is ineffective in such conditions,” Tsariov stated.
“We will seek for other information channels and possibilities to inform residents in central and western Ukraine about our thoughts and positions. I appeal to all other candidates, including Pyotro Simonenko, Mikhail Dobkin, Sergey Tigipko, Rinat Kuzmin and other candidates basic electorate of which live in southeast of the country to withdraw from presidential race. Elections which are held amid a civil war should be boycotted,” Tsariov added.