CCTV9英语新闻：乌克兰人向前看,有争议的总统选举（在线收听）

Well, lots of developments happening there in Ukraine. A quickly changing story. And we can’t forget of course the upcoming presidential vote on May 25th -- now just one month away. A controversial ballot, early elections called by the interim government, dismissed by others as illegal. 

It’s been two months since bloody clashes in central Kiev left dozens dead. Ukraine’s president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted from office, some say in a coup, others say he fled.

The capital is now quiet, but the country’s eastern regions have flared-up in violence.

With elections for the powerful post of president now just one month away, pro-Russian groups there have threatened to boycott the vote. But Ukraine’s official election body says: it’s not deterred.

"We can see an extraordinary situation - the presence of armed men, the use of weapons and so on. But in spite of this, I do NOT believe the elections could be canceled, even if there’s a war or state of emergency in part of the Ukrainian territory." Andrij Mahera with Ukrainian Central Election Commission said. 

On his visit to Kiev this week, the US Vice President Joe Biden called the May 25th vote the most important election in Ukraine’s history. Moscow says the vote is illegitimate.

Hundreds of foreign observers are expected on the ground, including a large delegation European delegation.

"We are helping not only the central election commission, we are helping the administrative court judges to also be trained and prepared for possible cases - if there are - of claims and appeals to the court. With this we already started." Ambassador Madina Jarbussynova, OSCE Project Co-Ordinator To Ukraine, said.

Voters may end-up deciding on more than just the next president. In an effort to appease growing anti-Kiev sentiment in the East, the interim government has hinted at least one that it might allow for a referendum on greater federalism. A vote on the same day. But not everyone is convinced that’s necessarily a good idea.

"We believe that it takes time: first, to finalize the legislative part, and second, to explain to voters the purpose of the referendum, the process itself, and the issues. It’s too short a time." Natalie Lynnyk with Committee Of Voters Of Ukraine said. 

Still, her group predicts at least a 50% turnout in the turbulent East, even without a referendum. And that, Lynnyk says, by international standards, would be a success.