Ukraine’s Central Election Commission refuses to consider Tymoshenko’s vote fraud claims

Ukrainian officials reject Tymoshenko’s complaints

KIEV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s Central Election Commission says it will not consider Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s complaints of presidential election fraud.

The ruling Sunday is a major blow to Tymoshenko’s campaign to challenge the results of the Feb. 7 ballot. A preliminary count showed opposition leader Viktor Yanukovych defeated her by 3.5 percentage points.

The Commission also ruled that it will announce the final vote Sunday, three days ahead of schedule.

Tymoshenko said in a televised appeal to the public Saturday that the vote was rigged and vowed to challenge the results in court.