Ukrainian TV comedian Volodymyr Zelensky took lead in the first round of presidential elections, leaving his two key rivals behind, according to initial results released by the country’s Central Election Commission on Monday.

Ukraine’s electoral body said that Zelensky got 30.4% of votes while his two key competitors, the incumbent president Petro Poroshenko and Ex-Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko, gained 16.4% and 13.1% of votes subsequently.

Zelensky will face a second-round runoff on April 21, against the current president and former prime minister.

“I would like to say ‘thank you’ to all the Ukrainians who did not vote just for fun,” Zelensky said on Sunday.

39 candidates competed in the first round of presidential elections in Ukraine. Ukrainians went to the polling stations on Sunday (31 March) after five years.

Arezo News Website – Humayun Salimi