First Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada Oleksandr Korniyenko is introduced by President Pere Joan Pons in Istanbul, 16 Nov. 2025ISTANBUL, 16 November 2025 – Ukraine’s efforts to prepare for elections after the lifting of martial law demonstrates a clear commitment to long-term peace and democracy, participants said at a high-level seminar organized by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and Office for Democratic Institutions in Istanbul today, entitled “Forging Ukraine’s Post-Conflict Future: Assessing Electoral Capacity and Readiness.”

Selami Altinok, Head of the Turkish Delegation to the OSCE PA, pointed out that supporting Ukraine to prepare for elections must be a priority of the international community. The OSCE PA has repeatedly emphasized its support for Ukraine, he said, noting the importance that Türkiye has always attached to a multilateral approach.

At the seminar, participants explored Ukraine’s preparedness to tackle the complex challenges of organizing post-conflict elections – including municipal, parliamentary and presidential. With a long-term goal of developing inclusive and secure electoral processes, the event served as a possible roadmap, raising key considerations for holding future elections.

Featuring the perspectives of parliamentarians, practitioners and experts, including from countries that have experience with post-conflict elections, participants discussed the resilience of Ukraine’s democratic institutions in the face of the ongoing war and looked to identify avenues for supporting Ukraine in addressing its readiness for organizing and conducting post-war elections.

In this regard, the OSCE’s long history of assisting with elections in post-conflict settings was highlighted as a source of expertise but it was also noted that holding democratic and secure elections in Ukraine will require innovative solutions by Ukraine and its international partners. The work of the Central Election Commission was praised by participants, who stressed that it will continue to require international assistance and support.

OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons meets with Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Istanbul, 16 Nov. 2025OSCE PA President Pere Joan Pons (Spain) emphasized that the role of the OSCE and the broader international community is to support Ukraine in planning for free and fair elections whenever conditions allow.

“As we meet in Istanbul to assess Ukraine’s readiness, we must also remember that democracy goes beyond institutions,” President Pons said. “It ensures people’s voices are heard, even in the hardest times. For Ukraine, this means continuing despite Russia’s full-scale invasion.”

Oleksandr Korniyenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, said the focus now is on fine-tuning Ukraine’s legal framework for the challenges of holding post-war elections. The model, he said, must be risk-sensitive, and provide for robust international election observation, including with a joint mission from ODIHR, the OSCE PA and other international partners.

Meaghan Fitzgerald, Head of OSCE/ODIHR’s Election Department, noted that at the request of Ukraine’s OSCE PA Delegation, ODIHR is providing legal assistance on addressing key issues such as enfranchising citizens abroad and is prepared to do more. Whenever Ukraine decides that conditions allow for elections to be held, ODIHR will be ready to observe, she said, pointing out that it is fully committed to supporting a process that is meaningful, inclusive and grounded in international standards.

Some participants from Ukraine, including representatives of the Central Election Commission, noted that much of the infrastructure is damaged or destroyed, millions of voters reside abroad, and massive internal displacement means that the actual addresses of a large number of voters is unknown. Beyond those challenges, questions were raised about how to deal with foreign interference, including disinformation and cyberattacks.

It was also pointed out that the longer martial law exists, the more challenges come into play. It is therefore important that Ukrainian authorities allocate sufficient time to adopt and implement legal changes, for example on the rights of citizens abroad. Any future elections will also have to prioritize protecting against Russian interference.

John Whittingdale addresses the side event “Forging Ukraine’s Post-Conflict Future: Assessing Electoral Capacity and Readiness,” 16 Nov. 2025Sir John Whittingdale, Member of the United Kingdom Delegation to the OSCE PA and Vice Chair of the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Ukraine, noted that he is looking forward to a time of peace when elections can be held. “Preparations have begun but challenges will be considerable,” he said. “One of the reasons we support Ukraine so strongly is because real democracy thrives there. We need to make sure that elections go ahead.”

Dr. Hedy Fry, Head of the Canadian Delegation to the OSCE PA and Special Representative on Gender Issues, stressed that organizing elections during times of peace are complex enough but in a post-conflict scenario is even more challenging. “Planning must begin now, even while the war continues,” she said. “The support of the international community is vital to shape Ukraine’s post-war future.”

The event was organized with support from the OSCE PA national delegations of Ukraine, Türkiye, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

For the full programme, including all keynote speakers, please click here.

Photos of the event are available on the OSCE PA’s Flickr page.