Representatives of so-called "Donetsk People's Republic" are blocking precinct commissions on the election day. Such information was reported by observers of a joint monitoring campaign of the Donetsk Office of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine and Civic Network OPORA.
In Dokuchaevsk (district #61), a group of armed people have seized precinct election commissions #140792, #140803, #140800.
According to commission members, gunmen burst into the polling stations and demanded to close them. Terrorists have sealed all safes where electoral documentation of polling stations were kept. The voting won't be held at these polling stations.
It should be mentioned, that PECs #140803 and 140800 were fully prepared to conduct the voting on the election day.
In district #46, during the preparatory meeting, precinct election commission #140061 in settlement of Kalinino (Artemivsk raion) was seized by representatives of the DPR. Gunmen burst into the commission with weapons. Observer of the Donetsk Office of Committee of Voters of Ukraine and Civil Network OPORA was threatened.
Election commission decided to close the polling station. Our observer and members of precinct election commission are out of danger.
About civic observation during the elections:
Civic monitoring conducted by OPORA and AUNGO Committee of Voters of Ukraine in Donetsk - is a type of network activity, aimed at impartial assessment of the preparation and conduct of elections, as well as preventing electoral violations through comprehensive civic action.
Since March, OPORA conducts a wide observation campaign during snap Presidential election, interim Parliamentary elections (district #83), and special local elections. The organization cooperates with 175 long-term observers, who are watching the course of election campaign in all Ukrainian regions. On the Election Day on May 25, 3,000 activists will join them to conduct the parallel vote tabulation, based on statistical sample. In Donetsk oblast, civic observation during Presidential Election is secured by the Donetsk Office of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine.
Contacts for the press:
Oleksandr Ivanov
Press-secretary of the AUNGO Committee of Voters of Ukraine
(050) 569-23-05; (062) 337-63-16