A high-level seminar in Istanbul, entitled “Forging Ukraine’s Post-Conflict Future: Assessing Electoral Capacity and Readiness,” will examine Ukraine’s preparedness to tackle the complex challenges of organizing potential post-conflict elections. The event is open to the media.
How prepared is Ukraine for holding elections once martial law is lifted? What must be done to strengthen Ukraine’s democratic infrastructure and address the unique challenges of organizing elections in a post-war context? Join a high-level discussion addressing these questions in Istanbul this Sunday at an event co-organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, on the eve of the OSCE PA’s 23rd Autumn Meeting.
With support from the national delegations of Ukraine, Türkiye, Canada, and the United Kingdom to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the event will explore lessons learned and international best practices, with input from practitioners and experts, including from countries that have been through similar experiences.
Participants will discuss the resilience of Ukraine’s democratic institutions in the face of the ongoing war and identify avenues to support Ukraine in addressing its preparedness for organizing and conducting post-conflict elections in line with international democratic standards. With a long-term goal of developing inclusive and secure electoral processes, the event will examine key challenges, contribute to shaping a roadmap for future elections, and strengthen collaboration between national and international partners.
WHEN: Sunday, 16 November 2025, 13:00 -17:30
WHERE: Hilton Bomonti Conference Center, Room MR25, Floor M2
WHO: Pere Joan Pons, President of the OSCE PA; Selami Altinok, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the OSCE PA; Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada; Sir John Whittingdale, Member of the United Kingdom Delegation to the OSCE PA, and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine; Dr. Hedy Fry, Head of the Canadian Delegation to the OSCE PA; and more (please see below for the full list of speakers).
The event is open to accredited members of the media. To register, please send an email to [email protected] with the subject line “Autumn Meeting press registration.”
A full programme of the event follows.
Programme
Welcoming remarks (13:00 – 13:30)
Pere Joan Pons, President of the OSCE PA
Selami Altinok, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the OSCE PA
Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada
Sir John Whittingdale, Member of the United Kingdom Delegation to the OSCE PA, and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine
Honourable Dr. Hedy Fry, P.C., M.P., Head of the Canadian Delegation to the OSCE PA
Session I – Foundations for democratic post-conflict elections (13:30 – 14:30)
Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada
Oleh Didenko, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine
Yuliya Kyrychenko, Board Member, Centre of Policy and Legal Reform
Irena Hadžiabdić, Member of the Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Session II – Roadmap for holding democratic and secure elections in Ukraine (14:45 – 16:15)
Sergii Postivyi, Member of the Central Election Commission of Ukraine
Meaghan Fitzgerald, Head of the Election Department, OSCE/ODIHR
Olha Aivazovska, Chair, Citizens Network OPORA
Peter Erben, Principal Advisor, IFES
Dr. Marcin Walecki, Visiting Academic at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies
Dana Munteanu, Secretary of the Central Electoral Commission of Moldova
Session III – Preparing international observation (16:15 – 17:15)
Roberto Montella, Secretary General, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
Ulvi Akhundlu, Deputy Head of the Election Department, OSCE/ODIHR
National Democratic Institute (TBC)
Conclusions and Closing Remarks (17:15 – 17:30)
Pere Joan Pons, President of the OSCE PA
Mykyta Poturaiev, Head of the Delegation of Ukraine to the OSCE PA
