STRASBOURG, Dec. 13 – The European Parliament has expressed regret at the fact that, according to international observers' evaluations, the 2012 parliamentary elections in Ukraine failed to meet major international standards "and constitute a step backwards compared with the national elections in 2010."

"[The EP] expresses regret at the fact that, according to the OSCE, PACE, NATO Parliamentary Assembly and European Parliament observers, the election campaign, electoral process and post-electoral process failed to meet major international standards and constitute a step backwards compared with the national elections in 2010," reads the text of the resolution adopted by the EP in Strasbourg on Thursday.