On 12 March, Civil Network OPORA started to receive information from voters about phone calls from unknown persons, who introduced themselves as OPORA, asked about electoral preferences, and threatened with punishment in case of electoral violations. We have already received such information from citizens of Kyiv, Poltava, Rivne, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv oblasts.
We would like to inform that Civil Network OPORA didn't make, doesn't make and doesn't plan to make any phone calls to citizens. Besides that, activities of the organization are focused on election observation process, and it's compliance with current legislation. We don't organize any public opinion polls concerning electoral preferences. Besides that, representatives of Civil Network OPORA sign the Code of Conduct for Observers, which requires strict adherence to current legislation and, therefore, eliminates the possibility of any threats coming from our representatives.
We consider these actions are aimed at a deliberate manipulation and mislead of citizens. Besides that, this is an attempt to undermine reputation of Civil Network OPORA.
We would like to remind that it's not the first attempt to discredit our organization during the ongoing election campaign. OPORA has already informed in February about the preparation of politically motivated provocations against the organization and its representatives, involved in independent observation of regular presidential election.