OPORA continues to receive trustworthy information about the preparation of politically motivated provocations against the organization and its representatives, involved in independent observation of regular presidential election. The organization qualifies actions of individuals, who are involved in preparation of the provocation, as an attempt of pressure. Therefore, OPORA makes a public statement about these facts and events, to prevent any dangers for life and health, and any future attem...

The Central Election Commission decided not to register 5 individuals. Three self-nominated candidates were rejected due to the non-conformity of submitted documents and the absence of supporting documentation for the payment of a full amount of monetary pledge. Petro Symonenko was denied registration because his party is subject to decommunisation law. Oleksandr Soloviov was denied registration because of questionable statements in election program. The CEC took such decision on 2 February m...

On 11 February 2019, some mass media have disseminated incorrect information referencing to materials of OPORA's observation campaign in Zakarpattia oblast concerning “voter bribery” in Uzhgorod in a form of a free concert of the Studio “Kvartal 95. Thus, mass media have wrongly interpreted a comment from regional representative of OPORA concerning peculiarities of candidate's campaigning in legal framework.

On 31 December 2018, presidential election campaign has official started in Ukraine. Registration of candidates and campaigning are main stages of the race in January 2019. Observers of Civil Network OPORA continued to analyze situation with campaign in regions, activities of the Central Election Commission, and maintained communication with law-enforcement bodies, aimed to prevent and record violations of electoral legislation.

44 candidates are running for Presidential elections in Ukraine due on March, 31, 2019. Central Election Commission was considering the registration of Ukrainian Presidential candidates from January 4 till February 8.

In January, 2019, 28 persons launched proactive campaigning activities. Most of them have not been registered as Presidential candidates when campaigning. The absolute leaders in the scale and intensity of campaigning in January, 2019, are still Petro Poroshenko and Yuliya Tymoshenko. The same active approach but covering less areas was typical for the campaigns of Oleh Liashko and Andriy Sadovyi.

On January, 26, at about 11 p.m., a public ombudsman for voting rights of the OPORA Civil Network in Kirovograd Yevhen Hurnytskyi was attacked in the hallway of a multi-apartment building. He refers this incident to his professional activities.

In December 2018, OPORA continued monitoring pre-electoral situation in Ukrainian regions and analyzing early campaigning efforts of potential candidates and related political parties and organizations. Election observation of the Civil Network OPORA is a network activity, aimed at impartial assessment of the preparation and conduct of an election process. Observation goal is to identify key problems in the election process, create an evidence base and prevent violations through civic oversig...