KIEV: Ukrainian lawmakers on Thursday voted to ban Russians from monitoring a forthcoming presidential election, as tensions between the neighbours flare before the poll.Kiev, fighting a Moscow-backed insurgency in eastern Ukraine, has said it suspects Russia of planning to interfere in the election. Lawmakers also voted to allocate around US$350 million (308 million euros) to the intelligence services to counter the perceived threat.Thursday’s measure would block Russian nationals from taking part in international election-monitoring missions, and would also apply to parliamentary and local votes. The proposal has been condemned by Moscow and Kiev’s Western allies alike.Kurt Volker, the US special …read more
Source: The News International
