On 6 November, persons unknown set on fire the car of Andrii Zavyalov — journalist and founder of the newspaper Nash Vybir (Our Choice).
The owner of the car connects this incident solely with the electoral process. Andrii Zavyalov told public observers of OPORA, „I was threatened throughout the election campaign. Courts tried to shut down the newspaper. However, when the authorities failed in it, I was warned that I would regret it, and that my activities could end badly for me. What happened to my property is revenge. It can't be anything less. My car was in good technical condition, and fire due to technical faults wasn't possible. This is unlikely to have been hooliganism. This is simply the revenge of the gang in the style of the 90s. I'm sure that this incident is connected solely with my publishing activities.“
According to the owner of the car, on 6 November at 8.30pm, he parked his car next to the entrance and went up to the flat. „A few minutes later, the alarm started, and I saw that my car was on fire. I started fighting it and called the police,“ said Andrii Zavyalov.
According to Tetiana Pohukai, Press Secretary of Luhansk Oblast DMIA of Ukraine in Luhansk Oblast, on 6 November around 9pm, the Emergency Control Centre of the LC DMIA of Ukraine in Luhank Oblast received a message that next to the house at Radianska St of Luhansk, a car — Toyota Prado — was on fire. At the scene, a plastic bottle with remnants of an explosive mixture was found. Leninske RD of the DMIA of Ukraine in Luhansk Oblast initiated a criminal case under Section 2, Article 194 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
OPORA has already reported that the judgement of Leninskyi Raion Court of Luhansk of 3 October 2012 prohibited to publish the newspaper Nash Vybir before the end of the electoral process on the basis of repeated violation of Article 67 of the Law of Ukraine On Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine. However, Donetsk Court of Appeal recalled this judgement of the local court, and the newspaper is being published.
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.