In Dnipropetrovsk Observers Repeatedly Prevented Attempts of Taking Seal Away

Heads of precinct election commissions, after vote counting, when transporting election documents to district election commissions tried to take seals out of the premises of the stations.

At station No.121474, which is in the district No.24, there was a delay in the provision of copies of protocols to observers of parties and NGOs.  Secretary of the Commission R.O. Rytnikova, immediately after vote counting, as it is prescribed by the Law On Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine, issued protocols only to international observer of the OSCE, and all the other observers were promised to be given them later, after the district election commission would accept the documents. International observers having received the documents were about to leave the station. However, having noticed that the OPORA observer was standing in the doorway and not letting Head of the commission T.A. Pokotylo leave, who was trying to take a seal with her, they decided to stay until the end of the electoral process at that station. Only after the OSCE took interest in the situation, Secretary of the commission took the seal and didn't give it to the Head who was leaving for DEC No.24 with the protocols.

Similar situation occurred at the station No.121350 of the district No.25 where an observer heard the conversation between Secretary and Head of the Commission — L.O. Leshko and N.M. Yakytska — about the intention to take the seal with them to the district commission. To ensure compliance of the election with the law at this station, the observer loudly, in the presence of authorised representatives and observers of parties and candidates said that the seal should have remained at the station, and taking it outside was punished by prosecution. After such warning, the seal remained at the station.

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 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.