Ukraine's administrative court has put the results of presidential elections on hold while it rules on the validity of a narrow win by Viktor Yanukovych.

The decision follows an appeal by Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was also a candidate for the presidency. The court is set make a ruling by the end of the week, with Yanukovych due to be inaugurated on February 25.

Yanukovych defeated Tymoshenko by a slender 3.5 percent margin, just under 890,000 votes, according to official results published on Sunday.

"The Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine... has put on hold the decision of the central election commission declaring the results of the second round of Ukraine's presidential elections and the election of Viktor Yanukovych as president until the case has been examined," a statement released by the court on Wednesday said.

Result satisfied observers

Tymoshenko made the appeal on Tuesday claiming that supporters of Yanukovych had been guilty of cheating at hundreds of polling stations. She refused to stand down following the vote.

Election observers have said that voting was conducted in accordance with international standards and Yanukovych and his supporters have denied the allegations. Western governments have already congratulated Yanukovych on his victory.

The court, which could have dismissed the allegations, said that it would not suspend the inauguration as requested by Tymoshenko.


rc/dpa/AFP/Reuters
Editor: Andreas Illmer