MINSK. May 26 (Interfax) - The unscheduled presidential elections in Ukraine were held in an unprecedentedly tense environment and Minsk respects the choice of the Ukrainian people, the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said.
"Belarus respects the choice of the Ukrainian people and is ready for further constructive cooperation with our neighbor," the Belarusian Foreign Ministry said in a statement obtained by Interfax on Monday.
The election campaign was held in unprecedentedly harsh and tense environment and it is regrettable that "some citizens were not involved in the election process," the document said.
"At the same time, Ukrainian society has shown a high level of civic consciousness and aspiration to start moving toward ensuring national accord, domestic stability and stable economic and political development," the Foreign Ministry said.
It is hoped "that these elections will become a significant step on the path to restoring mutual understanding, stabilizing the situation in the country and building comprehensive vertical power structure in Ukraine," the statement said.