As reported by Nataliia Starikova, the Deputy Head of the United opposition campaign office in Cherkasy region, to reach transparency and objectivity of the elections they plan to record all the violations during the election campaign 2012 in Cherkasy oblast. This initiative emerged after a number of typical election law violations were recorded.
“The violations took place almost in all constituencies,”- says Nataliia Starikova. “The biggest number of alarming signals comes from Zhashkiv, Talne, Khrystynivtka, Zolotonosha, Kanev cities.”
According to the statements made by Nataliia Starikova, the most characteristic violations for this oblast are the use of administrative resource, vote buying, hidden political advertising, and campaigning before the official election campaign began. These violations first and foremost are connected with the candidates from the governing party, who are supported by the authorities which also use violations to clear the way for “their” candidates. Moreover, the authorities exert pressure on organizations and institutions to prevent them from giving their premises for the meetings of the opposition candidates with the citizens of Cherkasy region. In turn, cells of the Party of Regions are created on the basis of state organizations and institutions. The employees of the budget sector are strongly persuaded to join the Party of Regions.
The Deputy Head of the United opposition campaign office reminded of a recent incident in Monastyryshche region, where the Head of Rayon State Administration Volodymyr Basanets ordered to close the city house of culture, where the opposition deputy Andrii Shikl planed to hold a meeting with local citizens.
In Talne, Zvenyhorodka, Vatutine, Shpola, and Katerynopil the supporters of opposition recorded the following methods to influence the voters: financial assistance for the village development on behalf of the candidates form the governing party – 20 000-30 000 UAH were given to the Heads of villages and Village Councils. Doctors and teachers of these regions are intimidated by the job loss in case they start working at Territorial Election Commission.
“This is why we plan to continue recording of the violations and helping the people to resist the oppression of the authorities.” – pointed Nataliia Starikova. “We also have a hot line, with help of which we can detect all election process violations and provide the people who call us with legal assistance.”
Reference:
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 violations through comprehensive civic action. Professional monitoring at all stages of the election process indirectly influences the quality of the campaign. The public opinion, both foreign and domestic is formed through gathering and spreading of information among the target audience. From a strategic perspective public monitoring of elections focuses upon improving the system and certain procedures. In 2012, during Parliamentary elections in Ukraine OPORA implements a large-scale campaign of long- and short term observation, organizes a statistical vote-count by the results of voting with the proportional component of the electoral system on a basis of representative selection, will provide 100% coverage of polling stations by observers in separate single-mandate majoritarian districts. OPORA observers will work in all 225 electoral districts, and 3,500 activists will join them on the voting day. Organization will use the latest means of spreading information about observation results, including infographics and interactive maps.