In the evening, on August, 28, the National Police blocked a truck with the humanitarian aid intended for citizens from the charitable foundation of the people’s deputy from the “Nash Kray” party, Serhiy Shakhov.
The information comes from OPORA representatives from Luhansk region.
Thus, in the evening, on August, 28, Yuliya Pohorielova, the head of the Serhiy Shakhov Charity, shared a post on her Facebook page and in local groups informing that the police retained the truck with the humanitarian aid carrying it to Luhansk oblast. Pohorielova believes that the ground for arrest was the criminal proceedings on the preparation of voter bribery for the coming local elections, allegedly under investigation.
In addition, the local Telegram-channels share the information that the police are running a large-scale special operation at the storage facilities of Serhiy Shakhov’s charity. They retained several trucks with sugar. The posts also inform that most probably there is “a decision to figure out the Shakhov’s “network” for voter bribery.”
The police confirmed the fact of retaining the sugar. Anton Kovalev, a deputy head of communications department of the Main Board of the National Police in Luhansk oblast, stated in his interview to OPORA that “in the framework of the open criminal proceedings under part 1 of Art. 14, part 4 of Art. 160 of the CC of Ukraine, under procedural supervision of the prosecutor’s office, a series of investigative actions were conducted in the territory of Luhansk oblast, when objects have been apprehended to be sent for examination. The investigative actions are underway.”
For more comments, feel free to contact:
Oleksiy Kormiletskyi, election observation coordinator in Luhansk oblast from the Civil Network OPORA
tel: 0502752808
email: [email protected]
Reference: OPORA's observation is aimed to provide an unbiased assessment of election administration and process, facilitate free and fair election, and prevent violations. Civil Network OPORA has been realizing a wide-scale observation of regular local elections, to be held on October 25. We have deployed 188 observers nationwide, and short-term observers will join them on the Election Day. OPORA also monitors the use of budget resources for indirect campaigning, and civic ombudsmen inspect polling premises in terms of accessibility, as well as protect voting rights of citizens.
(#вибори; #opora; #опора)