On 25 May 2014, Mayoral elections were held in Chernivtsi. Candidate from local organization of AUU Batkivshchyna Oleksii Kaspruk has won with 53.97% of votes. On June 6, Civil Network OPORA sent an inquiry to the Chernivtsi City Territorial Election Commission requesting to provide copies of financial reports on the use of electoral funds by candidates. On June 13, OPORA received an access to financial reports of candidates for Chernivtsi city mayor.
From 14 registered candidates, the following failed to submit the reports: Oleksii Kolomiiets, Vitalii Tkachuk, Volodymyr Popivchuk, Denys Karcha. The latter even didn't open a bank account.
Candidates spent almost all the funds on campaigning in the media and printed materials. The highest expenses on media advertising were reported by Oleksii Kaspruk, Vitalii Mykhailishyn, Ruslan Tsapliuk and Viacheslav Kyshliaruk. Ruslan Tsapliuk had invested the largest sum in his electoral fund (more than 100,000 UAH)
Electoral fund of Illia Horbatiuk contained 4,300 UAH and was used on printed campaign materials - placards, leaflets, booklets etc.. Volodymyr Dorosh invested 28,300 UAH in his electoral fund, 28,280 of which were used on the production of campaign materials (printed materials – 17,810, TV advertising – 10,470 UAH). Viacheslav Kyshliaruk submitted a bank statement to the CTEC. According to it, the candidate has officially invested 78,871 UAH in the election campaign, and used them on campaigning in the media (political advertising, mostly in printed mass media), as well as printing and placement of printed campaign materials.
Electoral fund of Vitalii Melnychuk (24,999 UAH) contained funding from local organization of AUU Svoboda (15,000 UAH) and donations of physical persons (9,999 UAH). He spent 21,727 UAH on printed materials, 1000 UAH on videos, and 2,188 UAH on TV ads.
Electoral fund of another candidate for Mayor of Chernivtsi Petro Oleksiuk contained 15,230 UAH. His personal funds in the sum of 14,500 UAH made the biggest part of the fund, complemented by donations from individuals – 730 UAH. The funds were spent on campaign materials – 9,275 UAH (printed – 8,950 UAH, souvenirs – 325 UAH, media advertising – 3,660 UAH, other expenses – 2,187 UAH). By the way, Petro Oleksiuk was the only candidate who reported on the use of campaign fund not only to the CTEC, but also to the public during the press-conference.
Myroslav Saievskyi has personally invested 56,327 UAH in the election fund, 40,400 of which were used in campaigning materials (4,400 UAH on printed materials; 36,000 UAH on the stationary, paper etc. for campaigning materials; 4,895 UAH on other services, particularly printing and rent of advertising boards). Besides that, 4,032 UAH were spent on postal services, and 7,000 – other expenses.
The only female candidate Nataliia Struchkova invested 4,849 UAH in the election fund, 2,308 of which were paid for TV air time, and 2,529 were spent on campaigning materials.
Ruslan Tsapliuk has invested the largest sum of all candidates – 107,928 UAH. The largest amount of these funds was spent on printed materials (placards, leaflets, booklets etc.) – 40,005 UAH; audio materials – 1,500 UAH. The remaining funds were spent on the media advertising (TV airing – 5,106 UAH; radio – 23,337), and advertising boards – 24,480 UAH. The other expenses – 13,500 UAH.
As we've already mentioned, leaders of the race Oleksii Kaspruk and Vitalii Mykhailishyn had spent the largest amounts on their campaigns.
According to the submitted financial report, the electoral fund of than-candidate and today's Mayor of Chernivtsi Oleksii Kaspruk contained 188,496 UAH. The whole sum – donations from individuals (10 thousands from 15 persons and smaller donations made from the same bank office). 51,023 UAH were spent on campaign materials (printed – booklets, leaflets, posters - 49,643 UAH; souvenirs, stationery – 1,380 UAH), media ads – 106,388 UAH (TV airing – 68,322, radio – 8,565 UAH, advertising in printed mass media - 29,500 UAH). 5,025 UAH were spent for other campaigning purposes (rent of facilities). Besides that, 26,060 UAH were spent on outdoor advertising, and organization of public events and concerts etc..
It's difficult to tell the precise size of Vitalii Mykhailishyn's electoral fund, as long as he submitted bank statements for 19-25 May, with a mark "Report". However, this bank statement contains information about earlier transactions than 16 May, and had 37,151 UAH of balance as of 19 May (the source of funding in unknown). Thus, on 19 May, 12 thousands were transferred four times to the account of Vitalii Mykhailishyn, and 2 thousands once (50 thousands UAH in total). The funds were received simultaneously. On 21 May - the same situation - four times 12 and one 2 thousands were transferred to the account. Almost all these funds were spent on the election campaigning. Thus, according to the bank statement, 73,349 UAH expenses for 19 May (media advertising, printed materials), 9,368 UAH for 20 May (media advertising), 43,212 UAH for 22 May (media advertising, printed materials), 7,200 UAH for 23 May (advertising in mass media). In total, 138,202 UAH were spent for 19-25 May, including more than 80 thousands on advertising only in CTEC Chernivtsi.
We remind that according to the Article 63 (4) of the Law of Ukraine on the Elections of Deputies to the Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Deputies of Local Councils, Village, Town and City Heads:"Managers of the electoral fund shall submit financial reports not later than five days after local elections, in the form established by the Central Election Commission not later than 40 days before the local elections."
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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.