Local police officers of Uzhhorod Raion, in the villages, (single-member electoral district No.68) force members of precinct election commissions to stay on the premises of stations at night to guard video cameras installed there.
In particular, during the meeting of Uzhhorod DEC on 19 October, one of the members received a call from Yurii Barnych — local inspector of several villages of the raion. He started demanding that some of the members of the DEC, or even PEC, stayed at the stations of his villages for the night to guard the cameras. Also, the local inspector spoke with the representative of the DEC rather rudely and disparagingly.
When OPORA asked if police officers were entitled to force PEC members to guards cameras at night, Head of the DMIA of Ukraine in Zakarpattia Oblast Vikrot Rusyn noted,
“Preservation of property (at the stations — Author) is primarily the prerogative of local authorities. We required both local authorities and PEC members — if there is an opportunity to stay their with a security guard, in turns... That is, we asked to provide us the lists who will be on duty, no one demanded anything.”
When we asked to clarify if the police can force PEC members to guard cameras, Viktor Rusyn replied,
“If you don't want to hear me, I will explain to you once again. Executor who is at a station... Police can't provide security to everyone. Because there are 790 stations. 3,008 persons are certified. From the 15th, cameras are gradually being installed. Everywhere, local authorities are liable for safety. However, local police inspectors have been tasked to, if there is no one at a polling station, if it isn't provided with security, to contact precinct commissions so that commission members, some of them, would also participate in guarding.”
The Chief Police Officer of Zakarpattia added,
“I see nothing in it. You see some catch in it, don't you?”
To the answer that guarding video cameras at the stations is not the responsibility of members of precinct commissions, Chief of Zakarpattia Police replied,
“Generally speaking, it is the responsibility of any citizen to ensure transparent, normal election in our country. Including yours.”
However, Uzhhorod DEC states that neither Head nor Secretary or members of precinct election commissions shall guard video cameras. This is the function of the local authorities and the police.
The DEC refers to Article 51 of the Law of Ukraine On Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine, Order of the CMU of 21 December 2001 No.1713, Order of the CEC of 19 September 2012 No.892 On the Procedure of Conducting Video Observation at Polling Stations.
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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In 2012, during Parliamentary elections in Ukraine OPORA is carrying out a large-scale campaign of long- and short term observation, organizing 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.