Elections in village of Novi Petrivtsi (Vyshgorod raion in Kyiv oblast) have started with an incident. Commission members have left the seal in a room and went to another room – to seal ballot boxes. When OPORA's advanced a remark, they only laughed.

In particular, the Head of Precinct Election Commission #320380 Yevhen Merezhko had answered to the remark about neglectful treatment of the seal with the following words: "Why are you here?"

Neglectful treatment of the seal could result in its loss, and the very Commission Head would have been responsible for this loss, not observers.

Civil Network OPORA emphasizes: according to the paragraph 14 of the "Procedure of the production, transference, keeping, and use of seals of PECs for the Presidential elections in Ukraine and of the stamp "Removed"", approved by the Resolution of the CEC #116 of 3/28/2014, "Heads of Election Commissions, or lawfully authorized persons in case of their absence, shall secure that seals of election commissions and stamps are safe. If the stamps or seals are used in unauthorized way, the abovementioned persons shall be liable."

The article 189-2 of the Code of Administrative Offences of Ukraine says: "Violation of the procedure of registration and keeping of seals and stamps, which resulted in their loss, shall be punished by a fine in amount of from one to three untaxed minimum salaries."

Despite the biting comments, the Head of PEC took into consideration the remark advanced by OPORA's observer, and keeps the seal out of free access for unauthorized persons.

For comment, please contact:
Ruslana Velychko,
Electoral Programs Coordinator of the Civil Network OPORA
in Kyiv oblast
063 187 41 06
 
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 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.