Today, on 21 October, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine conducted a conference call concerning investigation of violations related to the election process during early parliamentary elections scheduled for 26 October 2014, and cooperation with NGOs. The Minister of Internal Affair Arsen Avakov, higher officials of the MIA, and representatives of the Civil Network OPORA participated in the conference. Olha Aivazovska, Electoral and Parliamentary Programs Coordinator at the Civil Network OPORA emphasized that qualitative and real cooperation between law-enforcement bodies and OPORA observers are must for minimization of violations during preparation and conduct of Parliamentary elections on 26 October.
During the conference call, the Chiefs of Main Departments of MIA in oblasts received information that the Law of Ukraine #1703-VII on Making Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine related to strengthening liability for violation of citizen voting rights was entered into operation.
The Minister of Internal Affair Arsen Avakov emphasized that the Chiefs of Main Departments of MIA in oblasts should cooperate with the Civil Network OPORA and duly react on information about electoral violations. The Minister listened reports about investigation of criminal cases related to the election process, kinds and types of violations reported during the election campaign, delivered from every oblast. At the same time, Arsen Avakov emphasized that employees of the MIA should duly fulfill their duties, track information about violations published in the media and promptly react on such information.
According to the Counselor of the Minister of Internal Affair of Ukraine Anton Herashchenko, 178 opened criminal cases are related to electoral violations, including 71 related to voter bribery.
Electoral and Parliamentary Programs Coordinator at Civil Network OPORA Olha Aivazovska stated that the CN OPORA is interested in cooperation with the MIA and prompt reaction of law-enforcement bodies on violations during the election process, as well as proper preparation of MIA employees to cooperation and security of district election commissions and electoral documentation. Olha Aivazovska, emphasized that qualitative and real cooperation between law-enforcement bodies and OPORA observers are the must for minimization of violations during preparation and conduct of Parliamentary elections on 26 October.
As of 2:00 PM on 21 October, 321 electoral violations were reported, including 80 related to voter bribery. Map of violations "2014 Elections", which is updated in real-time, contains all the information about violations (http://map.oporaua.org/).