Valeriy Romanov, famous human rights activist and founder of the nongovernmental organization Fair Kryvbas Movement in Kryvyi Rih, informed representatives of OPORA about the warnings his opponents directed against him. They threatened him that he will not get to the voting list of Ukraine – Forward party. The activist was told that the Party of Regions has its own person, who has influence on the list formation of Korolevska.
Valeriy Romanov says that such pressure began after he has filed the claims and forwarded them to the Prosecutor of Dnepropetrovsk region Natalya Marchuk. Romanov accused Yuriy Ljubonenko and Vyacheslav Zadorozhnyi, which are potential candidates for the deputies from the Party of Regions in 2012 Parliamentary elections, of illegal actions. They both are Oblast Council Deputies from the Party of Regions and are nominated as candidates in the voting districts #32 and #33.
The claims were based on the fact that candidates took advantage of President’s Social Initiatives program. This program is aimed at providing TV tuners for people entitled to a benefit. Romanov points out that according to the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine of 21 April 2012, the distribution of electronic devices should be made by Ukrposhta enterprise on the basis of personal applications at the place of residence. Instead of this, candidates from the Party of Regions started to distribute the TV tuners in the buildings of Rayon Councils. These activities were accompanied by support of municipal mass media.
Valeriy Romanov defines the actions of Lyubonenko and Zadorozhnyi as illegal. He also believes that the criminal proceedings should be taken against the wrongdoers in accordance with the Article 157 (voter bribery) and Article 365 (abuse of power) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Romanov hopes that the Prosecutor will explain how exactly the TV tuners became at the disposal of the deputies.
Natalia Korolevska personally reassured Valeriy Romanov that the members of the Party of Regions have no influence on the voting list of Ukraine – Forward party.
Reference:
Civic monitoring conducted by OPORA - is a type of network activity, aimed at impartial assessment of the preparation and conduct of elections, as well as preventing violations through comprehensive civic action. Professional monitoring at all stages of the election process indirectly influences the quality of the campaign. The public opinion, both foreign and domestic is formed through gathering and spreading of information among the target audience. From a strategic perspective public monitoring of elections focuses upon improving the system and certain procedures. In 2012, during Parliamentary elections in Ukraine OPORA implements a large-scale campaign of long- and short term observation, organizes a statistical vote-count by the results of voting with the proportional component of the electoral system on a basis of representative selection, will provide 100% coverage of polling stations by observers in separate single-mandate majoritarian districts. OPORA observers will work in all 225 electoral districts, and 3,500 activists will join them on the voting day. Organization will use the latest means of spreading information on observation results, including infographics and interactive maps.