On Tuesday, 50 long-term observers from 17 countries of Europe and Asia arrived in Kiev. Today they will depart for the different regions of the country to monitor the presidential election process.

[Taksyn Rakhimbek, Head, Mission "European Network of Election Monitoring"]:
"We represent 23 non-governmental organizations, which are also non-governmental organizations in their own countries and, in general, we can say, that they are professionals in their work."
 
Observers in each of the 24 regions in Ukraine will be sending periodic reports to the head office.
 
[Florin Poenaru, Coordinator of Long-Term Observers]:
"Work will be based mainly on meetings with the participants of electoral process and with representatives of the press. Observers will also attend election campaign activities organized by the different candidates."
 
"European Network for Election Monitoring" also plans to invite about 400 short-term observers on January 17 - the day of the vote. They will monitor the electoral process throughout the country.

The 2004 presidential election in Ukraine was marred by fraud.

This sparked a mass protest of voters who demanded a re-count of the votes.

Since then, the protest has been known as the "orange revolution," which brought  the current president – Viktor Yushchenko - to power.