past simple followed by the present perfect

[bhaisahab]

I'm not getting it! Could I get an answer?

You might, if you were more polite.

[ostap77]

I'm just guessing you've been avoiding the answer?

[bhaisahab]

I'm just guessing you've been avoiding the answer?

Guess away, my friend, guess away.

[ostap77]

Can you please give a clear answer? Is it so difficult to give an aswer to the question in post #?

[bhaisahab]

Can you please give a clear answer?

I'm sorry but, in view of your attitude, I don't feel inclined to give you any more answers. I'm sure someone will oblige.

[ostap77]

There've been people inclined not to be most comfortable about giving an aswer?

[Raymott]

The fact that there wasn't a level playing field occurred during the elections, not after them. It's in the past.
In the Washington Post example, the allegations occurred after the elections and are possibly still ongoing.
So, the examples are different.

[ostap77]

I guess "while" in the above sentence wouldn't refer to something happening prior the elections. It would sooner refer to simultanious action as in "While electionday......, there's been....."

[ostap77]

" Not to mention that former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuri Lutsenko, two prominent opposition political leaders, have been imprisoned following trials that were widely criticized as politically motivated. While election day was largely peaceful, there have been allegations of fraud in the voting process and tabulation."

I guess "while" would be refering to simultaneous action in the past? It doesn't say that allegations were after election day.

[bhaisahab]

" Not to mention that former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuri Lutsenko, two prominent opposition political leaders, have been imprisoned following trials that were widely criticized as politically motivated. While election day was largely peaceful, there have been allegations of fraud in the voting process and tabulation."

I guess "while" would be referring to simultaneous action in the past? It doesn't say that allegations were after election day.

while conjunction (ALTHOUGH) - definition in British English Dictionary & Thesaurus - Cambridge Dictionary Online