KIEV, Nov. 4 - Tensions were rising in Kharkiv after both incumbent and opposition candidate declared victory in a mayoral election that international observers said did not meet democratic standards for fairness.

After four days of counting amid delays caused by bizarre computer failures, the city election commission said finally that acting Mayor Henadiy Kernes had defeated opposition candidate Arsen Avakov by less than 1 percentage point.

But Avakov, who was projected to win by at least two independent exit polls, refused to concede the defeat and said his victory had been stolen.

“The election was falsified,” Avakov said at a press conference in Kharkiv. “We won with a 4 to 5 percentage point advantage.”

Volodymyr Filenko, an opposition lawmakers and Avakov’s ally, called on the city election commission not to declare the winner until the dispute is settled by the court to prevent further aggravation.

Kernes received 30.09% support, while Avakov was backed by 29.46% of the vote, the city election commission reported after counting 100% of ballots.

Meanwhile, the exit poll conducted by an international survey company GfK Ukraine on Sunday, had predicted that Avakov had defeated Kernes by 34.7% vs. 30.9%.

“We will fight for these votes,” Avakov said. “We are not going to give those votes to anybody. We will not accept calls to sit down and to strike a deal. This is a principle issue.”