Tiny Kox said this in an interview with European Pravda.
"It's not our job to tell you how to do it, but of course, Ukraine has to organise free and fair elections. This is your obligation under the Council of Europe charter. And of course, you will do it. So it's up to you to meet this challenge," the PACE President said.
Kox emphasized that it will be difficult to organize elections under martial law, but there are examples of other countries, such as Turkey, which managed to hold elections after a devastating earthquake.
"Winning the war, surviving the invasion is an incredible challenge. But to restore, strengthen, rebuild the country, while respecting the rules of democracy, the rule of law and human rights - this challenge will remain with you for many years to come. But you must overcome this challenge. Because if you do not, you yourself will ask yourself what we were defending in this war that Russia has unleashed against Ukraine," said the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
He explained that there will be no claims against Ukraine if the elections are not perfect.
"But if you do not hold elections, everyone will have questions for you. Democracy is, of course, not only elections. But democracy is impossible without elections," Kox added.