Students of Eastern European University in Lutsk Campaign Against Candidate Holieva
On Tuesday, 23 October, into the mailboxes of the houses of Lutsk (ED No.22), leaflets signed by the students of Lesia Ukrainka Eastern European National University were put, in which the latter express their resentment regarding the statements of the candidate for Deputy of the European Party of Ukraine Olena Holieva in her publication.
In the leaflet, the students' appeal is reprinted, which was published in the newspaper Volyn-Nova as a response to Holieva's publication under the heading “Who Are They if Afraid of Woman?”. Back then, the candidate speaking of examples of the bribery of voters by one of her opponents stated that free meals for students in the university canteens humiliated young people.
This referred to the programme of free meals for 170 low income students of the university funded by the Novyi Lutsk (New Lutsk) Charitable Foundation, the founder of which is her opponent — candidate for People's Deputy Ihor Palytsia.
The students were very much offended by such statement of the politician, and in their appeal expressed their resentment in strong words, and defended the interests of Ihor Palytsia who practically funds this programme. “You can only moan in newspapers and on TV how sorry you feel for deprived people. Ms Holieva, how can you condemn those who take care of orphans and the poor? Rather than to support people those who help the poor, to take your lead from them, you blame them as if they pretended to be angels. And who are you? The wolf in sheep's clothing?” the students appeal to the candidate. In the statement, students also call Holieva “the child of Mother Communist Party and Nomenclature” and a “PERFORMER”, and accuse of “manic morbid desire to harm anyone.”
The appeal is signed by three student activists of the Student's Union of the Roman and German Philology Department, Institute of Philology, and Law Department. It is also indicated that this appeal was signed by 69 persons in total, however, the signatures aren't presented. Interestingly, the Student Council of the university is indicated as a commissioner of printing this leaflet, and the publisher is Lesia Ukrayinka Volhynian National University. Head of the Student Council Yana Tsapuk confirmed to OPORA that those leaflets were really distributed on behalf of the Student Council.
By this letter, students defended the interests of the candidate for Deputy in Lutsk district Ihor Palytsia. Let us remind that he is also Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the University. Over the past year, he had allocated a considerable sum for the development of Lesia Ukrainka EENU, implemented the scholarship programme for students, and promised flats for lecturers. Rector Ihor Kotsan and Head of the Student Council Yana Tsapuk of Lesia Ukrainka EENU are the agents of candidate Palytsia.
Meanwhile, students of the University informed OPORA of pressure on them from the University management for right voting. The candidate's meetings with students are organised with the participation of lecturers, and Palytsia's campaign materials, beyond the fact that it is against the law, are placed in the building of the education institution.
Press Service of the Civil Network OPORA in Volhynian Oblast
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.
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