On 14 and 15 June, OPORA's activists together with political correspondents, journalists, media managers and experts of the election law discussed the course and results of 2014 election campaign, challenges of the last year and current ones, as well as possible solutions for efficient activities of the public and community.
Every time after tense but efficient campaign of civic electoral observation, OPORA gathers the most active participants from all regions of Ukraine in order to sum up the work accomplished during the campaign and plan future activities. This time, famous experts and opinion leaders visited the final conference and helped OPORA's activists to improve their level of competence, form a diverse opinion on social and political processes, and critically reflect upon visions of Ukraine's future.
On the beginning, 2014 election campaign was summarized by the team of Civil Network OPORA. Parliamentary and Electoral Programs Coordinator of OPORA Olha Aivazovska has greeted all participants with the efficiently conducted Presidential election observation campaign, officially participated by 2,245 registered observers of OPORA (including 500 observers on Kyiv elections and 175 long-term observers all over Ukraine). She emphasized that the organization of observation and conduction of parallel vote tabulation proved that Kyiv and regional teams were coordinated on the high level. Undoubtedly, organization of observation in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, where OPORA's observers faced health and life threats and constant hazard from unlawful armed groups. Olha Aivazovska stated that elections in these oblasts were held in such extraordinary conditions thanks to fearlessness and self-sacrifice of local OPORA's observers and civic activists, ready to protect the choice of their fellow countrymen.
Yurii Khorunzhyi, Head of OPORA's Press Service told about the results of counteraction with media environment during the election campaign: "154 news on the Election Day, 1,093 regional news, 3,600 references to OPORA in Ukrainian and foreign media, 76,000 visitors on the Map of violations, over 100,000 watches of OPORA's awareness videos in YouTube, and over 150,000 visitors on OPORA's site – these are only some indicators of our activities."
Andrii Tokarskyi, Observation Coordinator in Kyiv, emphasized on the "pitfalls" emerging when more than 500 activists are attracted, and stressed that formation of competent and motivated coordination team, as well as recruiting of observers through social networks played were essential for successful observation campaign in the capital.
After that, attendees together with experts and opinion leaders, trusted by hundreds and thousands of Ukrainians who think critically, participated in panel discussions focused on current problems and ways of their solution.
The first discussion panel of the conference concerned the opinion of media companies on elections and formation of public opinion during the campaign period. Oleksii Matsuka, journalist, Chief Editor of the Novosti Donbassa site, emphasized that local elites tried to monopolize regional media companies, and put them under pressure to prevent any negative references in the media and make references to the Party of Regions in news releases (6 or more times). Another expert Roman Skrypin, media manager, journalist, and host of Hromadske TV has emphasized that new media, including Hromadske TV, has increased their influence on formation of public opinion. According to him, the main reason why the Hromadske TV appeared was that journalist community understood the main principle: "don't wait for somebody to allow", but start doing qualitative journalism despite the circumstances and bureaucratic machine which suppresses similar civic projects.
Another panel discussion was joined by political correspondent Serhii Vysotslyi; journalist and host on the Espreso.tv and the Radio Svoboda Vitalii Portnykov; and historian, journalist, publicist, and chief editor of the Istorychna Pravda online publication Vakhtanh Kipiani.
Experts and participants of the conference discussed the goals for new government after the election of legitimate President; relations between Ukraine and Russia; resolution of conflict in eastern Ukraine; and visions of Ukraine's future and possible scenarios of future events. Despite the heavy discussion, experts agreed that internal confrontation in Ukraine will worsen, and the threat of humanitarian crisis in Donbas is quite real. However, after the Euromaidan, Ukraine managed to keep a chance to build a successful and truly independent state. At the same time, the experts emphasized that dangers and threat to territorial integrity will be a part of this path to independence.
Discussions between participants and experts continued also on the next day. The first panel discussion concerned the freedom of speech in Ukraine, it's influence on political processes and information safety. Mustafa Naiem, journalist of the Ukrainska Pravda, host and Chief Editor of the Hromadske TV has emphasized that Russia started informational and ideological war against Ukraine. In particular, through foreign media, analytical centers, and some politicians in order to legitimize annexation of the AR Crimea and distort opinions on real events. The journalist has also stressed that "hot mixture" of personal emotions, often lack of facts, freedom of speech, and editorial policy are real challenges faced by journalists who are trying to remain impartial and detached during airings and reportings. On the other side, media expert, author and host of the TV program "Svoboda Slova" Andrii Kulykov has stated that despite complicated political circumstances and undeclared war, we should take care of our fellow citizens, including those form the East, and search for the dialog and understanding. However, according to the expert, the conduction of parliamentary elections may help with stabilization of Donbas, especially if peaceful representatives of the opposition to the effective Government and the President will be allowed to be nominated.
In the end of the conference, election law experts helped OPORA activists to analyze pluses and minuses of different types of electoral systems and plan how early parliamentary elections could be conducted by a new electoral system. Denys Kovryzhenko, Legal Advisor of the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES-Ukraine) has presented a wide range of types of electoral systems, with consideration of international experience. Yevhen Radchenko, Development Director of the Internews-Ukraine NGO, who conducted a fundamental research of three already registered bills regarding Ukraine's transition to the proportional system with open lists, joined the discussion and emphasized that the adoption of one of draft laws in the Parliament is quite possible soon. Simultaneously, participants of the conference have advanced their remarks regarding every draft law, and emphasized that it's necessary to conduct additional trainings for members of election commissions, and awareness campaigns for the voters, so that the changed electoral system could function if adopted.
We are grateful to the experts for critical views and fruitful discussions. We are also thankful to every participant of the conference, and all OPORA's activists for joining the 2014 Presidential election observation campaign, it's valuable contribution to the development of democratic state.
(Other photos from the conference are here)
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 electoral violations through comprehensive civic action. Since March, OPORA conducts a wide observation campaign during snap Presidential election, interim Parliamentary elections (district #83), and special local elections. The organization cooperates with 175 long-term observers, who are watching the course of election campaign in all Ukrainian regions. On the Election Day on May 25, more than 2000 activists will join them to conduct the parallel vote tabulation, based on statistical sample.