On June 1 the Civic Network OPORA presented the second monitoring report’s results where the organization introduced the rating of "gifts” by potential candidates and assessed the threat of such "charity". The organization publicized information about activities of politically active public officials, who declared their intention to take part in elections and held campaign events at the budget expense.
According to Olha Aivazovska, OPORA Election Programs Coordinator, charity that can be characterized as a vote buying, became one of the most popular tools for influencing selected voter groups (pensioners, low income citizen groups, youth, and civic organizations). Election materials spread in mass media without being proper marked as political advertisement had been spotted in oblast and rayon media. "The above referenced campaign methods are unlawful until the official start of elections on July 30. Thus, a potential candidate bears no legal responsibility for campaigning, voter bribery or anonymous financing of the campaign," - noted Ms. Aivazovska. Such unfair behavior contradicts the international standards, determined by the "Code of Good Practice in Electoral Matters." A principle of "equality of opportunity" cannot be secured without transparent campaign financing. At this stage, the sources of financing of campaign events, materials, visual advertising, and souvenirs are closed to the public.
In all regions without exception political forces presented food packets to veterans accompanying their distribution by election campaigning. In accordance with civic observer estimates, Chernivtsi leads the rating of presenting gift sets to voters by potential candidates. A food set provided by the Party of Regions to war veterans for the Victory Day cost approximately 135 UAH. It included noodles, oil, buckwheat, rice, refined sugar, tea, fish cans, condensed milk, vodka, and sweets. The cheapest sets ranging between 28-35 UAH were provided in Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr oblasts. In Korostyshiv rayon of Zhytomyr oblast the food sets were distributed on behalf of Mykola Onischuk, a potential candidate in election district No. 66. On his behalf, pensioners received food sets consisting of 1 liter of oil, 2 kg of flour and a package of peeled barley. This set was estimated to be the cheapest. Buckwheat remains the most popular product utilized for these purposes by practically all candidates. Oil, noodles and sugar are second popular products. It is worth mentioning that alcohol was distributed in some regions.
In ten regions OPORA observers documented examples of public servants’ participation in unofficial election campaigning through a demonstrated favoritism to certain candidates, use of budget resources and state institutions in the interests of certain parties, issue of politically motivated statements with respect to election contestants. Public Officials demonstrate a lack of will to differentiate between public office and party positions. This violates international standard of organization and conduct of democratic elections, in particular, in part of securing impartial attitude of governmental bodies to all parties and candidates. With elections getting closer this tendency may further increase and result in influencing the results of the vote.
Oleksandr Kliuzhev, election expert (Donetsk), noted that an open demonstration of their party affiliations by public officials is a feature of the campaign. "This tendency is well seen in Dnipropetrovsk oblast, where almost all economic initiatives are conducted under the personal oversight of the Head of Oblast State Administration and, the leader of oblast organization of the Party of Regions Oleksandr Vilkul. The latter had announced at the oblast Party of Regions conference about the effective cooperation between state government, local governments and party organizations, working together to implement socially important initiatives in Dnipropetrovsk oblast. A similar stand is taken by the Head of Chernivtsi Oblast State Administration Mykhailo Papiiev and a number of officials in other oblasts" - stated Kliuzhev.
Incidents when potential candidates presented activities of local governments as their own became widespread. In particular, press-service of the People's Party reported on installation of gas pipes in villages, building and fixing of bridges and roads, and foundation of cultural premises in Sarny, Berezne and Kostopil rayons in Rivne oblast as results of joint activities of the local government and MP Mykola Shershun. In Lviv oblast, Yaroslav Dubnevych, an oblast council member and a future parliamentary candidate publicly accounted for Lviv council’s decision to provide 150 thousand UAH for school construction in city Horodok as his own achievement. Other example is the handing out of certificates to honor mothers who have had more than three children (which is an honor in Ukraine) in Volyn oblast by Vice Parliamentary Speaker Adam Martynyuk on the territory of the election district No.23 where Martynyuk plans to run in 2012 elections. This honorary title is given by the President's decree; therefore Martynyuk’s participation in the ceremony was not justified.
The number of cases of law enforcement and regulatory authorities’ engagement in putting pressure on politicians and political opponents has increased during the reporting period. Further escalation of conflicts in political campaign may result in social tensions and cause distrust of voters to the results of upcoming elections.
The Civil Network OPORA - a non-governmental, non-political and financially independent all-Ukrainian network of activists. We united to enhance public participation in the political process by developing and implementing models of citizen participation in the activities of state and local governments.