Rep. Rick Larsen, WA-02, issued the following statement today regarding Ukraine’s presidential election.

“I watched yesterday’s election in Ukraine closely. Initial reports from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) observers on the ground indicate high voter turnout and commitment on the part of election officials to hold a free and legitimate election. I am pleased by this news and await the OSCE’s final conclusions.

“This election is important to many people of my district. The U.S. Census recently reported that my district has the seventh highest number of people of Ukrainian heritage of any of the 435 Congressional districts in the country. I know they are watching the election closely as well as I met with leaders of the state's Ukrainian community a few weeks back.

“The unrest in the eastern portion of the country is concerning and I am troubled that polling places were less accessible in those regions.

“The overall transparency of this election is an important step toward stabilizing Ukraine and installing a government backed by its people,” Larsen said.

Washington state’s second Congressional district has the seventh highest number of people of Ukrainian ancestry among all Congressional districts, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Larsen recently met with Ukrainian American leaders in his district recently to ask their advice and guidance.

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