CONTENT SUMMARY. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS. INTRODUCTION 1. Activities of state authorities and local self-government institutions in the context of preparations for the regular election of people's deputies of Ukraine 2. Preparations for nomination of candidates in people's deputies of Ukraine 3. Registering of candidates in deputies 4. Establishment of district election commissions 5. Campaigning 6. Campaigning combined with providing citizens with free of charge material values
SUMMARY. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Electoral process in Ukraine has started in due time, as stipulated by the Law. CEC has also observed the deadlines of the Law for registering of candidates in deputies, conduction of lotting on candidacies to district election commissions and formation of precinct election commissions. As a whole, Central election commission implements its functions in a transparent manner, and electoral process subjects, with few exceptions, do not have claims against CEC work. Overwhelming majority of acts that should have been adopted by CEC to ensure realization of the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine provisions, were actually adopted before election process, so the CEC could concentrate on registering of candidates, party representatives, authorized representatives, observers.
Activities of local authorities on preparations to 2012 parliamentary elections as a whole deserves critical assessment, as soon as not nearly all these institutions have adopted decisions on allocation of places for placement of pre-election campaigning materials. In this regard, election process subjects should consider a possibility to contest inactivity of corresponding institutions of local authorities in court.
Nomination of candidates by parties as a whole was done in non-transparent manner and was combined with numerous inner-party conflicts. Primaries, announced by some parties, actually turned to be a substitution of notions, and nomination of candidates was done under the influence of senior party management. Though some parties have claimed that non-fair candidates will not participate in election race, not all of them fulfilled their promises. At the same time, a lot of party lists included newcomers. This fact, combined with application of simple majority system might contribute to refreshment of future parliament nomenclature at least on 20-30 per cent.
According to CEC data, as a whole 5 755 candidates in deputies were registered. Of them, 2 642 candidates were nominated in nationwide district by party lists. As soon as according to the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine one candidate is enough for the party to become subject of the election process, the corresponding status was granted to 87 parties.
Though there were many refusals to register, with few exceptions CEC had good reasons to refuse to register or to cancel registration. The main reasons to refuse ti register or cancel candidates' registration were drawing up of document with violation of legal provisions, non-submission of the whole set of documents, simultaneous nomination in several districts and refusal of candidate from nomination.
In future the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine should include provisions that would: a) determine how to calculate term of continuos residence on the territory of Ukraine; b) will directly provide possibility to refuse a candidate from registration in case documents were submitted with violation of legal provision.
Though exclusion of certain opposition leaders from election race corresponds with the Constitution and the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine, exclusion of influential politicians from participation in the elections might in future raise concern in the elections' correspondence with international standards.
Drawbacks of the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine and the Order of lotting on inclusion of candidacies to district election commissions became one of the reasons that most vacant positions in district commissions were occupied by representatives of non-influential parties, which have nominated sometimes only one candidate.
Provision of DEC members' professionalism and their impartiality from political influences remains a pressing issue. In future lotting on inclusion of candidacies to DEC should be done not in party perspective, but for every district election commission. A need to redefine the meaning of electoral process subject so that a small number of parties would participate in formation of DECs.
Legislation drawbacks in part of DEC nomenclature formation became one of the reasons for most DEC to be late with the first meetings. Non-readiness of DEC members from small parties to work in commissions, DEC members' residence in remote regions and other reasons might become a main reason
for replacements in DEC composition. As of August 30 th, bigger or minor changes were introduced in 175 of 225 district election commissions.
There were no major changes in electoral process subjects' campaigning activities in comparison with the previous months. Raise in number of cases of pressure on mass media, prevention from campaigning activities, involvement of state officials, students and representatives of religious organisations in campaigning activities, “black PR” give rise to concern. Election campaigns of many parties are limited merely to criticising their political opponents, and do not deal with defining political “agenda” for the coming years. Though number of cases of indirect vote-buying decreased, such cases are still rather widespread and deserves negative assessment.
Problems connected with “reformation” of DECs, formation of DEC of persons with not enough level of competence in the sphere of elections, violation of deadlines for DECs first meetings and greater involvement of administrative resource may be named as potential problems of election campaign in September.
Liberal legislation provision on possibility of temporary change of voting place without change of voting address may lead to mass “political tourism” on the E-Day, when dozens, and maybe even hundreds of thousands of voters will transfer from district to district and vote in support of one or another candidate. It will not influence on voting results in nationwide district (for party lists) and will not be a formal violation of the Law, but will bring additional tension to the work of DECs and will influence voting results in single-mandate districts. It is important for voters' transfers to be done without pressure and influence on their vote.
On 27th of July 2012 CEC Head V. Shapoval announced the beginning of electoral process for the regular elections of people's deputies of Ukraine. Committee of voters of Ukraine have therefore prepared a regular report on results of long-term monitoring on preparations for 2012 parliamentary elections in Ukraine with assessment of 2012 election campaign conditions for the period from the beginning of the election process to the end of August 2012. According to the Law on the Election of People's Deputies of Ukraine in August 2012 CEC had to register candidates in people's deputies of Ukraine and form district election commissions. That is why the report is focused not only on the same issues as in previous CVU reports (activities of authorities in the context of preparations for the beginning of election process, campaigning activities of parties and potential candidates etc) but also on issues connected with formation of district election commission and registering candidates in deputies. The report proves the fact that those problems and drawbacks of election conduction that were registered in the previous months (facts of indirect vote-buying, pressure on certain potential candidates and mass media, active involvement of state officials and local self-government servants in campaigning activities of future election subjects etc) continue to be substantively relevant in August 2012. At the same time, a number of new problems emerged – mass representation of small and non-influential parties in DECs, non-sufficient level of newly-formed DECs members' professional level etc. Committee of voters of Ukraine voices a hope that before conduction of 28 October elections authorities would make arrangements for at least partial solving of these problems, as soon as assessment of future elections both in Ukraine and abroad will depend on the scope and quality of dealing with these problems.
1. Activities of state authorities and local self-government institutions in the context of preparations for the regular election of People's deputies of Ukraine 1.1. Activities of Central Election Commission Most of the CEC decisions made during August 2012 concerned the registration of candidates in the national election district and single mandate constituencies, party representatives in the CEC, the authorized persons of parties and candidates trustees, permitting NGOs to have official observers at elections, registration of observers from foreign states and international organizations. In August the CEC determined the number of parties to include in the ballot list and approved the form of the ballot list in the national election district, submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers a specification and configuration of information and telecommunication “Video monitoring” system development, approved average cost of electoral commissions, and also considered a number of complaints from electoral subjects. Another decision of the CEC formed district election commissions (see below). 1.2. Activities of local state authorities and local self-government institutions in the context of preparations for the election As well as in June-July 2012, in August of executive authorities and local self-government institutions activities to prepare for elections mostly were limited to determining where to place campaign materials. However, relevant decisions were made not in all cities. The second basic activity of local self-government to prepare for elections was information and consultation activity. Basic forms of relevant activities are reviewed in Table 1. Table 1. Forms of local authorities and local self-government institutions activities on preparation for the elections: some examples
Information and consultation activities
Volyn oblast. Department of State Register of Kovel held informational and explanatory work on electoral laws regarding issue of a temporary change of place of voting without change voting address. Rivne oblast. July 31 in some institutions, organizations, urban and rural councils of Koretsky, Rokytne districts was held a Day informing the population on topic: elections 2012 and their impact on the development of parliamentarism in Ukraine (based on appeal of the President of Ukraine to Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine). Khmelnytsky oblast. In newspaper "Podolski visti" (of oblast state administration and oblast coulcil, circulation 19,281 copies) on 14.08.12, the head of Justice Department in Khmelnitsky oblast in a simple understandable form explained the stages of the electoral process to promote legal education of citizens. District if Ministry of Internal Affairs Of Ukraine in Khmelnytsky oblast on August 11, 2012 held a briefing explaining the liability for violation of election laws. Chernivtsi oblast. August 17 newspaper "Vilne zhyttya" (Kitsman district, election district № 202) published an appeal of voters registration department explaining the peculiarities of law regarding the preparation and updating of voter lists. August 24 newspaper "Khotyn news" (Khotyn district, № 204) published material about conduct and administration of the voter lists. August 10 newspaper "Karpaty" (Putilsky district № 202) published a clarification of voters' registration department on the creation of the district polling stations and their classification according to the number of voters.
Defining places to allocate campaign materials
Monitoring of rooms correspond the requirements for work of election commissions
Volyn oblast. In Lutsk 14.08.2012 at the meeting of Lutsk Mayor M.Romanyuk was finally approved the placement of campaign materials. Zhytomyr oblast. In Zhytomyr in crowded places were established stands for placing campaign materials. However, the stands were installed not all designated places which should be 22. Zaporizhzhya oblast. In Zaporozhye according to decision of the executive committee № 230 from 22.06.2012, the the places for campaigning were approved. All instalations are equipped in time according to schedule of the CEC. Executive Committee Melitopol city council informed residents deployment of campaigning locations and location of pickets and tents (decision of 17.07.2012 № 112) in total 56 places. In Berdyansk were identified 13 places in city districts and village Novovasylivka for campaigning. Ternopil oblast. August 15 executive committee of Ternopil City Council approved a decision "On establishment locations for placement of press and other campaign materials for campaign. " Chernivtsi oblast. Newspaper "Nashe Misto" on August 24 (Khotyn, № 204) published decision city executive determining placement Volyn oblast. In theofcenters № 19, 20,committee 21, 22, 23 ofonVolodymyr-Volyn, of Gorokhov, Lutsk, Kovel, Manevichi town state authorities monitored buildings campaign materials and events. work. and rooms for readiness to campaign district commissions
Material and technical support of election commissions
Zaporizhzhya oblast. Zaporizhzhya city authirities and district administrations conducted work on material and technical support of disrtict election commissions. All commisions are equipped with telephone and office equipment, furniture
Organizational events
Ivano-Frankivsk oblast. Horodenkiv district state administration on August 21, 2012 organized a meeting-seminar on cooperation councils with PEC for providing them with necessary equipment for work. Also at seminar the procedure for compiling and updating voter lists was discussed. Snyatyn district administration on 16.08.2012 held a meeting on organization of local councils during preparation and conduct of elections.Rivne oblast. August 21, 2012 at Dubrovytsky district administration was held a meeting-seminar with heads of city and village councils. On the agenda were the following issues: improvement of settlements, preparing of polling stations for the parliamentary elections in Ukraine. 14.08.2012 in building of Radyvyliv district administration was held a meeting with heads of local self-government conducted by the head of Radyvyliv district state administration Oleg Bernatsky. During the meeting they discussed the issue: "On schedule of elections of Peoples' deputies of Ukraine on October 28, 2012."
1.3. Prevention from possible participation in the elections / campaigning activities of potential subjects of the election process. As well as in July 2012, regional offices of the Committee of Voters of Ukrainementioned in August 2012 a number of cases of obstruction of the election campaign electoral subjects. One of the most common forms of obstruction of campaigning was limiting public events on the basis of court decisions, damage of media outdoor with advertising promoting specific parties and candidates, informal prohibition to provide certain parties and candidates with advertising space on outdoor advertising, as well as rooms for campaign activities, including meetings with voters. In particular, in Chernivtsi Oblast city council of Storozhynets (№ 202) appealed to the court on the case of prohibition on August 23-24 opposition parties celebratory actions and meetings with candidates for deputies of the united opposition in the central square of the city. Heads of the city council explained it with fact that at this time at the area will be installed rides.
Some problems with organization of opposition parties’ campaign events were recorded in Khmelnitsky oblast (particularly within the election district № 190). For example, in Shepetivka on the eve on meeting representatives of “Batkivshchyna” appealed to the two municipal agencies to hold meetings in the room, but they were verbally denied and before the meeting the janitors were instructed to rip all placed city leaflets about the meeting and remove invitations from mail boxes. In addition, in the center of Khmelnytskyi billboards of united opposition were damaged and the slogan “We are united for the sake of the homeland” turned on “We are united for treason of homeland.” The offender wasn’t found, although the opposition thought it planned action of ruling political forces.
In Zaporizhzhya oblast UDAR party declared that authorities had influenced on outdoor advertisement operators' decisions to place two advertisement posters on the occasion of Vitaliy Klichko coming visit to Zaporizhzhya. According to candidate in people's deputy in election district № 74 Petro Sabashuk, selfnominated, representative of Zaporizhzhy municipal investment agency, responsible for issues connected with outdoor ads placement, had banned placement of Sabashuk's outdoor ads. Candidate in deputy in election district № 128 (Mykolaiv oblast) S. Isakov odeclared at August 9 press conference that oblast state administration leadership (M.Kruglova) pressed on advertising media owners through Mykolaiv city council deputy O.Omelchuk (responsible for Party of Regions outdoor advertising in Mykolaiv) to make them refuse from contracts on S.Isakov's election materials placement. In Luhansk oblast almost all outdoor adverticements in Severodonetsk city is devoted to candidates from power in single-mandate districts. In Novoaidar village it was registered that candidate in deputy Oleg Lyashko was refused in using rayon house of culture premises for a meeting with voters. Preventing campaigning by refusing candidates from meetings with voters was also registered in Cherkassy oblast. Zhashkiv city council refused to providing premises for candidate in deputy M.Tomenko's meeting with voters. In Donetsk oblast candidate in deputy of Communist party of Ukraine in election district №60 Serhiy Filindash turned to prosecutor of Volnovakha rayon and main department of Security Service of Ukraine in Donetsk oblast with a request to investigate activities of Volnovakha rayon council chairman Ivan Ovchynnikov and his deputy Valeriy Butyrin. CPU representative stated that rayon council chairman pressed on village heads in his working cabinet in order to oblige them to participate in campaigning for Party of Regions. However, officials denied these allegations. Considerable number of campaigning prevention cases were registered in Kherson oblast and Autonomous Republic of Crimea. Representatives of candidates in deputies, self-nominated in election district 186, complained that it is impossible to place not only big-boards with advertising materials, but also announcements on campaigning events on rural territories. In particular, it was stated that clercs of village council in Chervone village of Skadovsky rayon tired off announcements about a meeting with candidate in people's deputies Fedir Negoi. According to head of “Batkivschyna” press-service department Stanislav Troshyn, on August 6th in Velyka Olexandrivka of Kherson oblast (election district № 184) opposition representatives had to start pre-election meeting in dark, as city lights in the village centre were not on (master switch was at rayon state administration premises). The meeting was not cancelled due to the fact that opposition representatives had portable lights with them. In New Kakhovka (election district № 184) representatives of the united opposition were forced to pay several thousand hryvnas to local utility company for "cleanup" of territory. Such payments were made obligatory by previous decision of Nova Kahovka city council. This innovation has somewhat limited freedom of rallies and demonstrations in the city. August 17, 2012 united opposition planned a formal representation of majoritarian candidates in Kherson (election district № 182). It was planned to hold the event near “Yuvileyny” cinema, however, two days d=before a letter came from city executive committee stating that Party of Regions event is planned at the same time on the same place, and opposition may not hold it's event. They were proposed to hold it at Geroiv Stalingradu square, with is much smaller and located in less crowded place.
Lenin rayon administration of Sevastopol attempted to stop campaigning activities of candidates from Russion block in election district № 224 D. Belik - his outdoor advertisements was taped over with President's greetings on Independence Day. By a decision of Sevastopol district administrative court "Ukraine – forward!" was forbidden to put campaign tents in the center of Sevastopol till September 30. On August 16th Leninsky district administration in Sevastopol together with police officers made a request to remove campaign tent of "Batkivschyna." In August 2012 there were also several cases of law enforcement pressure on potential candidates in single-member constituencies. In Ivano-Frankivsk oblast Roman Sushko was to be nominated as a candidate of the united opposition in single-mandate election district № 85, but prior to submission of documents for registration of a candidate in deputy prosecutor resumed criminal case brought against him several years ago. As a result R.Sushko submitted to the CEC incomplete documents for registration and the registration was denied. However, a candidate from the "Nasha Ukraina" Peter Shkutiak (son of deputy of Ukraine from NUNS Zinoviy Shkutyak, election district № 86) was prosecuted in connection with the fact that he broke the window and damaged signs in the office of the Party of Regions. On August 14th in Kerch (election district № 5) at the charity concert, combined with dissemination of «UDAR» campaign materials the police demanded to stop the event and detained one of the propagandists to determine the person, although he had a photocopy of the passport. One more form of interference with the participation of opposition parties in the election process happens to be checking parties' labor contracts with workers and staffs agitators held by tax authorities in some regions. Such incidents were recorded, for example, in the Kharkiv oblast. The inspections had complicated work of many of agitation offices, mainly of opposition parties. 1.4. Politically motivated pressure on business, connected with certain parties or potential candidates on elections As well as in previous months, incidents of politically motivated pressure on business in August were mostly single instances. In particular, in the Rivne oblast (according to information of a newspaper "Equal angle") tax police conducted an inspection of the LLC "Ekorembud" were financial director is Yuri Voznyuk - leader of the Civic Initiative "For Rivne! For Batkivschyna!" and parliamentary candidates in the district № 153 from Batkivschyna. The company was accused of collaboration with unscrupulous taxpayers. In Vinnitsa oblast at the request of MP of Ukraine Oleg Novikov an inspection of R. Demchak's businesses was initiated. Demchak was nominated through self-nomination in single-mandate district № 18. The formal reason for inspections was suspected land fraud and non-payment of taxes. On July 27th investigation team of UMVD of Ukraine in Kherson oblast raided and seized documents at Novokahovsky factory of building materials number 1 and the flats of enterprise managers. Before the raid general director Ivan Vinnyk started pre-election campaign and in early August was registered as selfnominated candidate. According to the information released by "Nova Kakhovka" a few months before the events he wrote a statement identifying him stealing in large amounts, which he suspected were committed by one of the top managers of the company. Statement was considered only right before his nomination. In order to prevent illegal, in his opinion, actions of police, Ivan Vinnik was forced to apply to the General Prosecutor's Office. 1.5. Politically motivated pressure on mass media Number of cases of politically motivated pressure on media in August 2012 compared with the previous months has not changed considerably. In general, these cases were limited to obstructing journalists' work and limiting broadcast of some channels.
In Khmelnytsky oblast, opposition channel TVi faced a number of problems. In Shepetivka city TVi broadcast was provided by local TRC "CHANCE". Once on TVi in program "Znak Oklyku" there were news on Khmelnytsky oblast state administration head V.Yadukha and head of Shepetovska rayon state administration I.Adamets, which indicated their involvement in the illegal privatization of land in village Myhaylyuchka of Shepetovskogo rayon. After that, city organization "Svoboda" printed leaflet with a full transcript of the program. Leaflet was distributed in houses and apartments Shepetivka. As a result from August 9, 2012 broadcast channels on TRC "CHANCE" was discontinued. According to TRC "CHANCE" representatives it was due to the fact that tuner channel had burned down from a lightning strike. As soon as this explanation looked very doubtful, "CHANCE" stopped broadcasting several more channels, and repair of the tuner lasted for 9 days. August 12, 2012 broadcast of the channel has been restored, but on August 20 was again stopped due to the tuner repeated breakdown. Interestingly, TRC "CHANCE" partially belongs to M. Gonchar – trusted person of S.Buryak and head of Shepetivka rayon state administration Adamets, mentioned in the program. In this regard, there is good reason to assume that the termination of the channel broadcast was politically motivated. It is also worth noting that broadcast of TVi become problematic in many other regions of the country Cases of politically motivated pressure on media were also recorded in some other regions. For example, local authorities of Vasilkov (Kyiv oblast) exercised pressure on the owner of a local TV channel "Rubicon" Igor Belokon who provided access to his channel to all political forces. The mayor instructed to provide air only to candidate of the Party of Regions Tatiana Zasukha. Igor Bilokon refused to do so, and on August 9th, 2012 at 12:00 networks in electric communications on a the channel technical floor were tampered by unauthorised persons. As a result of this intervention equipment was taken down and channel stopped broadcasting cable TV. There are good reasons to believe that director KP "Vasilkivcommunicationservice" and head of the legal department executive committee were connected with these actions as they were seen on a technical floor at that time. In Mykolaiv oblast a TV-broadcast «Position» broadcasted with support of «Front Zmin» party at local Tvchannel NIS-TV, was cancelled. In election district № 2 (Autonomous Republic of Crimea) at Party of Regions candidate A.Batalina's meeting with voters unidentified sportive men threatened to break the camera of one of the journalists, while in election district №1 at a meeting of the Party of Regions csndidate V. Dzoz with the electorate member of Simferopol city council B.Frotman prevented journalists CHTRK Channel from video-recording (The channel belongs to the representative of the united opposition) and tried to hit the camera. In Cherkassy region August 20 local journalists who came to the presentation of the election program of the Party of Regions in the election district number 200 (center - Uman) was removed from the hall. 1.6. Campaigning activities of potential subjects of election process and use of administrative resource Involvement of state officials and local self-government representatives in campaining activities of parties and candidates in August was wide spread in all regions of the state. Thus, in Kharkiv oblast mayors and heads of district state administrations participate actively in campaign activities of the Party of Regions and its candidates. For example, the head of Lozova city council Stepanov participated several times in campaign events for the candidate for people's deputy from the Party of Regions A. Hirshfyeld. Several cases of involving officials into participation in the election campaign were mentioned in Mykolaiv oblast. In particular, at election district № 130 authorities actively promote meetings of candidate F. Olshewski with voters in schools of the district and town councils. In Luhansk oblast the head of oblast state administration Vladimir Prystiuk often attended meetings of Regions Party candidates with voters, in particular the events that were held in constituencies №109 and № 113. Support for candidates from the authorities and local self-government institutions is mentioned at city level of Luhansk oblast as well. For example, in Severodonetsk almost all meeting of the mayor and all celebrations are held with participation of the candidate in election district № 106 O.Kunchenko.
In the Lviv oblast the candidate for people's deputy of Ukraine I. Bilak (the head of Sambir district state administration), who is nominated in single-mandate election district № 120, used his official meetings for campaign for the Party of Regions and for themselves. For example, he participated in meeting with employees of clubhouse workers and librarians of the district, during which he criticized activities of his opponents in the district and urged all employees to vote for him and the Party of Regions. In Donetsk oblast on August 21st 2012 head of Mariin rayon state administration Roman Gavrin during the ceremonial presentation of new city school buses publicly praised “achievements and advantages” of the Party of Regions candidate Oleksandr Vasiliev. On August 3rd 2012 number of local newspapers (that are published within the borders of electoral district #184) in Kherson oblast featured article written by the head if Kherson region council Victor Pelyh titled “Responsible and trustworthy”. This article contained agitaton in favor of the Party of Regions candidate Mykola Dmytruk. In Sumy oblast head of local state administration Yu.Chmyr expressed support to the candidate O.Kostenko (electoral district #158). His words were quoted in the agitation newspaper published by Kostenko. In the number of villages of Tatarbunary rayon in Odessa oblast the Party of Regions branded flags were placed on the buildings of village councils, schools, cultural and medical institutions. Heads of local councils were instructed to keep the flags on the administrative buildings. The web-site of National University “Odessa Juridicial Academy” eagerly promotes activities of Sergey Kivalov’s charitable fund (kivalov is the honorary president of the Academy and also running candidate in electoral district #135). University had also provided the premises for conduction of the competition “Sing about you, Odessa of mine” which was organized by this charitable fund and is used actively for the candidate’s promotion. In the number of cases employees of state service were engaged in the agitation activities under the reason of conducting state programs. Realization of these programs was claimed to be the Party of Regions’ success. In Kherson oblast social initiatives of the President are promoted for that matter, including retribution of saving from former USSR Saving Bank, “Affordable housing” program, compensation to support owners of cattle, free television tuners for pensioners, restoration of several train itineraries in the beginning of September. In Donetsk the Party of Regions placed billboards with motto “We open seven prenatal centers (3 of them in 2012)”. This is an abstract from plan of realization of national project “New Life” in Donetsk oblast. Web-sites of local authorities are also quite often used for promotion of the Party of Regions. The following article “Electoral program of the Party of Regions is the way to prosperity: five main aims” that was placed on the site of Krasnoperekopsk city council can be used as an example:
(http://partreg.sumy.ua/newsshow.php?id_news=1296&id_part=1) 2. Preparations for candidates' nomination After the official start of the campaign the well-known local personalities activated their support to political forces. Number of them was included to electoral lists of many parties on state level (the Party of Regions, “Ukraina – Vpered”, “Sobor” etc). Also in several regions well-known regional personalities became trustees of the candidates. For example, in Chernivtsi oblast the rector of Chernivtsi National University Stepan Melnichuk and the director of LLC “Trembita” (well-known manufacturer of men fashion) Stella Stankevich became trustees of candidate Vitaly Michaylyshun (promoted by the Party of Regions in electoral district #201). In the same electoral district head of Chernivtsi public organization “Biznes-Tsentr” Maria Porchuk became a trustee of the candidate from united opposition Mykola Fedoruk.
In Khmelnitsky oblast several well-known local personalities including Serhiy Tymchuk (member of the national parliament in 1990-1994 and head of Kamyanets-Podilsky rayon state administration in 20022005), Dmytro Vasylianov (head doctor of Kamyanets-Podilsky city hospital , member of local city council and former member of oblast council) and Valentyna Gladiy (head doctor of Novoushitsa rayon hospital) expressed their support to candidate V.Melnichenko (electoral district #193). Public positive evaluation is also one of popular forms of participation in electoral process by well-known local personalities. In Lviv oblast the open statement of I.Furdychok (former head of “Lvivlis”, ex-member of national parliament and member of the Party of Regions fraction) in which he wishes A.Lopushansky (deputy head of NJCS “Naftogaz ” ) victory in elections in electoral district #125. In Zaporizhyzhya oblast head of city council of veterans V.Korolenko and National Artist of Ukraine V.Redya stated their support to the Party of Regions candidate S.Kaltsev. The same candidate was also supported by the head of All-Ukrainian association “Spas”O.Prytula , who also spoke on behalf of S.Kaltsev and E.Kartashov on the public activity on August 19th. In Volyn oblast (electoral district #22) support of candidate Igor Palytsa expressed head of Volyn oblast Afghanistan veteran council Grygory Pavlovych, deputy head of gymnasium #21 Svitlana Tkach and L.Kryjanivska. In Lviv oblast billboards promoting candidate T.Batenko (electoral district #123) who is pictured there shaking hands with Levko Lukianenko. After the official beginning of the election campaign activity of local party organizations grew significantly. Local branches of “Batkivschyna”, UDAR and the Party of Regions are still the most active, while the activity of “Ukraina- Vpered” on local level decreased. Local branches of Communist party are very active in Zaporizhzhya oblast, “Svoboda” is also dynamic in Ternopil, Ivano-Frankivsk and Lviv oblasts. In some regions of potential candidates for deputies remained "potential" because they were not nominated as candidates or they refused from participation or were not registered. In particular, in Lviv oblast in district 120 Yuriy Moravetsky was not nominated, as after disclosure by Movement CHESNO "Chesnometr" UDAR excluded him from the list of potential majoritarian candidates due to doubts in his correspondence with the Movement integrity criteria. In Chernivtsi oblast businessman, member of the Chernivtsi oblast council of the Party of Regions Ivan Semeniuk, who since 2011 has been active in charitable work within the district number 203 and said in the media that he will win the election in the district without any problems, was not nominated for MPs - nor from the PR, neither by self-nomination. In the Volyn oblast Vasily Stolyar - owner of FC "Volyn" once posted billboards in the electoral district № 20 with advertising of his own charitable fund, but did not apply for CEC registration. Some losses among candidates were resulted by agreement of lists among the parties of the united opposition. In Khmelnitsky oblast it was predicted that lawyer of Kamenetz-Podolsk rayon council, chairman of the district branch of the "Front Zmin" Victor Hudnyak will be nominated in the district 193. Prior to the election process, he placed in his constituency outdoor advertising, but in the end was not nominated. In Ternopil oblast medical staff were forced to deliver to all rural health clinics and to outpatirnt clinics propaganda leaflets for the head of district council, the wife of the head of Ternopil oblast state administration Nadia Hoptyan, who was nominated as candidate in the election district № 166. For delivery of campaign materials were used vehicles of relevant medical clinics. In Chernivtsi oblast election headquarters of the Party of Regions are headed mostly by heads of executive authorities and local self-government that promotes their active involvement in promotional activities. In particular, the Chernivtsi regional election headquarters of the Party of Regions is headed by the head of Chernivtsi oblast council Myhaylo Haynicheru. Storozhinetsky district election headquarters is headed by
the head of district council Peter Bryzhak. Kelmentsi district election headquarters of the PR is headed by the head of district council Dmitry Vlasov. Putilsky district election headquarters is headed by the head of district council Dmytro Oslavskyy. Novoselytsya district election headquarters is headed by the head of district council Deomyd Shova. In Ternopil oblast MP John Stojko (united opposition) conducted an active propaganda activities in the district 166, but he will not run for the district - he was given district 167, while in the 166 farmer M . Apostol was nominated from the opposition. Within Zaporizhia oblast in districts 74 and number 81 O.Berezhnyy and V.Butsanov correspondingly were workingvery actively, but none of them has ever been nominated for deputy. In Kherson oblast Igor Semenev, Antonovsky village head (the part of the city of Kherson) declared he is not willing to run for parliament. Six months ago he planned to run in district 183 from the party UDAR, conducted an active campaign, but after certain actions of his party member Andrei Putilov, who also decided to run in this constituency, was expelled from the party. In district 11 (Vinnytsia oblast) active propaganda activities were carried out by Sergei Kudlayenko, director of Vinnytsia city council administrative services, member of oblast council (of Party "Front Zmin" united opposition), but eventually in the district was nominated Natalie Soleyko, Physician, Head of Department of Regional Children's Hospital, member of oblast council (Batkivschyna, united opposition). Olexy Kryvopyshyn has been active in district 13. Kryvopyshyn ia a head of the South-Western Railway, member of oblast council (Party of Regions), but eventually in the district was nominated Andrei Kavuneta, head of the ideology department at Party of Regions Vinnitsa regional office. In the Odessa oblast deputy chairman of the Party of Regions in the Odessa city council Yuri Presnov showed high activity in tdistrict 133, but the Party of Regions has nominated oblast council deputy chairman Alexey Goncharenko in this district. Michael Yatskov showed some activity from the Party of Regions in district 140, but ultimately this district candidate Pratiyi regions was not even nominated - the Party of Regions "gave" the district to David Zhvania, and the Michael Yatskov is actively involved in his election campaign. In many single-member constituencies, people with the same names, and even names or patronymic were nominated as candidates for deputies. Application of this technology confuses voters on election day and reduces the chances of winning for the popular candidate by voting for his "double" - "technical" candidate. For example, in Khmelnytsky oblast in district 187 Slobodyan Alexander V.'yacheslavovych is nominated - deputy of Ukraine, director of enterprise "Obolon". In the same district (also "self-nominated") is registered Slobodyan Alexander Nikolayevich - resident of village Sutkivtsi of Yarmolinsky region, who works as a driver in company “Beregynya”. In district 191 there are two candidates with name Viktor Bondar, two with surname Derykot, two with name Vasyl Shpak. This practice is common in several other constituencies. In some single-member constituencies candidates are actively using its support organization "clones" with names some extent duplicate the names of popular parties. For example, in district 189 selfnominated candidate former head of Khmelnytsky oblast state administration, the former first deputy of the State Tax Service Alexander Bukhanevych. Less than two months before the election, he registered the regional organization "Association for the Motherland." In fact, it is - organization "clone", which name can introduce misleading voters to support the candidate of “Batkivschyna” As the candidate of "Svoboda" I.Sabiy is the only opposition candidate, supported by united opposition "Batkivschyna", O.Buhanevych may get in his support some of the votes for I.Sabiy. Number of intra-party conflict in August compared to previous months has increased significantly. This was caused by untransparent agreements between the key parties about candidates’nomination in both national constituency and in single-member constituencies. In particular, the media spread information that candidates pre-approved by Y. Tymoshenko ultimately were notincluded in the approved list of “Batkivschyna” party; and that there were two lists of Party of Regions, one of which was submitted to the CEC, etc. Intra-party conflict of “Batkivschyna” arose in connection with the nomination of candidates from the party in Zaporizzhya oblast. V.I. Ostryanskyy and V.S. Maksymov, who were to be nominated from“Batkivschyna”, will eventually participate in the elections as independent candidates. However, they
criticized the central leadership of the party and were excluded from the ranks of “Batkivschyna”, although both are active members of Zaporizzhya City Council faction of the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc. In Ivano-Frankivsk oblast the main conflict in the opposition camp has emerged in the district № 84 between Dmytro Shlemko and Mykola Zelinskyy. Long-time activist of “Batkivschyna”, M. Zelinskyy tried to become an approved opposition candidate, but instead of him was approved Volodymyr Kupchak. However, Kupchak didn’t lead an active campaign in the district and is much weaker candidate than Zelinskyy. In the Lviv oblast in districts 121 and 123 deputies of the Lviv Regional Council from “Svoboda” Mykhaylo Zadorozhnyy and Ostap Kanaka registered as independent candidates bypassing the agreements inside “Batkivschyna” about the joint candidate, prompting criticism of “Svoboda” leader Oleg Tyahnybok. In Chernivtsi oblast on August 14 for violating party discipline was expelled from the party “UDAR” Volodymyr Tokaryuk who registered as an independent candidate in district № 202. The party nominated as a candidate for this district Klavdiya Nazarenko, a former head of the Department of Education in Vyzhnytska District Administration. In Zhytomyr oblast oblast state administration chairman and head of the Party of Regions branch gave an unofficial order to rayon state administrations in one of the election districts to support a Communist, not nominated by the Party of Regions. In district № 64 with its center in Korosten, according to Zhytomyr branch of the CVU, head of the oblast state administration Sergiy Ryzhuk will support Communist Mykhola Tymoshenko, who now heads the regional customs. The main rival to the CPU candidate of the district is a nominee from the Party of Regions - deputy of Oblast Counsil and advisor to the minister APK Mykola Prysyazhnyuk - Volodymyr Pehov. In general, intra-party conflicts – in both pro-government and opposition camp - in August were widespread in many other regions. 3. Registration of candidates for deputies Registration of candidates was held in the CEC in terms established by the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine”. In general, no significant violations of election law during theregistration of candidates were recorded (except registration of candidate Satsyuk, who hasn’tresided on the territory of Ukraine over the past 5 years). Potential candidates for deputies(S.Chervonopyskyy, S.Kovalchuk, M.Kozyrskyy), who were groundlessly denied in registration,appealed the decision of the CEC in court and were registered by the Commission. According to the CEC, the total number of registered candidates is 5,755, including 2,642 candidates -nominated in the national constituency by party lists. According to the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine” for becoming a subject of electoral process it is enough for theparty to nominate only one candidate, that is why the corresponding status was granted 87 parties. The CEC refused to register a number of potential candidates (as of August 18, 2012 - 443potential candidates for deputies), while the Commission also deregistered 17 candidates in single-seat constituencies and one candidate for deputy included in the electoral list of candidatesin national constituency. Although Y. Lutsenko and Y. Tymoshenko were refused in registration as candidates due to the presence of outstanding convictions, the decision was made generally in accordance with the Law“On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine”. Its legitimacy was confirmed by the Supreme Administrative Court of Ukraine. However, exclusion of the opposition leaders from the electoral process can somewhat reduce the probability of recognition of upcoming parliamentary elections as those that meet democratic standards by the international community. The main grounds for refusal of registration and cancellation of registration were: a) submitted documents didn’t meet the requirements of the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine” (e.g., improperly filled declaration of property and income of the candidate, lack of specific information in autobiography, etc.) b ) candidates for deputies didn’t submit all the documents required by the Law, including a document on election pledges (CEC decision 363, 368, 372 et al.), c) candidates applied for registration in more than one election district (CEC decision 417) d) candidates refused of polling (CEC decision 421, 463, et al.). In three cases, a candidate was refused in registration of due to the presence of unliquidated criminal record. It is worth noting that while making decision to refuse the registration of candidates the CEC interpreted the relevant regulations of the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine” extendedly. The Law doesn’t provide for the possibility of registration rejection by the CEC in case of submitted documents are not filled in compliance with the Law. The unambiguous grounds for registration
refusal can only be failure of submitting all the documents required by the Law). However, the CEC relied on the idea that if a document filling violates demands of the Law it cannot be considered a document required by Law, and therefore considered to have been submitted to the CEC. In this regard, in further improvement of the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine” to the grounds for registration refusal should be included not only the failure of submitting all the documents required by the Law, but also submitting documents filled in a way that violates the requirements. 4. Formation of district election commissions August 26, 2012 the CEC adopted the Resolution № 604 “On the formation of district election commissions on elections of people's deputies of Ukraine October 28, 2012.” The decision to form the district election commissions were adopted in accordance with the regulations of the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine” and the CEC sortition to include nominees to the district election commission on elections of people's deputies of Ukraine at the next elections of people's deputies of Ukraine October 28, 2012. However, analysis of a new district election commissions suggests several shortcomings of the current Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine”, which must be removed after the next parliamentary elections. Firstly, it is hardly expedient securing the right to nominate candidates for oblast election commissions and local election commissions for all parties that nominated at least one candidate for deputy. A list of possible subjects forming DECs should be narrowed down to parties that nominated candidates in the national constituency or to parties that nominated candidates in the relevant single-member districts. In the second case, the parties should be able to be represented not in all district election commissions but only in commissions of those districts where they nominated candidates. It is the securing the status of a subject of the electoral process by political parties that nominated at least one candidate that was one of the reasons that according to the results of the sortiotion on commissions some influential parties (e.g., “UDAR” and "Svoboda") actually lost their representatives in the district election commissions. Instead, a significant representation in the oblast electoral commissions received the Christian-Democratic Party of Ukraine (nominated only 3 candidates in single-seat districts, while according to the sortition results won representation in 219 oblast electoral commissions), “Yedyna Rodyna” party (nominated one candidate in single-mandate district and won representation in 212 oblast electoral commissions), “Yedynyy Centr” (nominated 9 candidates in single-seat districts and won representation in 43 oblast electoral commissions), “The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine” (nominated two candidates and won representation in 220 oblast electoral commissions), “Rus Yedyna” and “Bratstvo” (nominated 3 and 1 candidate respectively, each won representation in 225 oblast electoral commissions), the National Environmental Party (with 1 candidates in a single-mandate district represented in 32 oblast electoral commissions), “Ruska Yednist” (nominated 5 candidates in districts and won representation in 221 oblast electoral commissions), “Youth to power”(with 1 candidate represented in all 225 oblast electoral commissions ). Secondly, in the future the CEC should review the sortition order on nominees to oblast electoral commissions. Such sortition should be conducted not in terms of political parties, but on each oblast electoral commission. This approach for the sortition order will be applied to form local electoral commissions. While as a number of local electoral commissions in some districts is more than 225, this is an additional argument for the revision of existing sortition procedure on the candidates to the district electoral commissions. If the CEC conducted sortition on each oblast electoral commission, then a number of parties – subjects of election process, most likely, would be much better represented in oblast electoral commissions compared with the level of their representation according to the results of the existing sortition procedure. General principles of the sortition procedure on nominees to the commissions should be secured not only in the CEC acts, but also directly in the Law. A special attention should be given to the professionalism issue of newly appointed head, deputy head and members of the oblast electoral commissions. Many of those parties that won representation in district electoral commissions didn’t propose appointment to respective positions of people who have experience in conducting elections. Training of district commissions leaders is not required by the Law.
And this also does not contribute to the improving competence of commissions in matters related to the preparation and conduct of elections. In practical terms, this problem is reflected in the fact that the head of oblast electoral commission of district №89 is a person born in 1989. Also, to many of oblast electoral commission were appointed people residing in other regions. This can significantly complicate their work on their new positions and lead to blocking of commission meetings due to lack of the required quorum. For example, in oblast electoral commission of district №121 (Lviv oblast) three members of oblast electoral commission reside in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Kiev and ignore phone calls. A similar situation holds in the electoral district №123. In electoral district № 194 (Cherkassy oblast) a head of oblast electoral commission was appointed 21-yearold Irina Smesheva from the party “The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”, who did not come to the first meeting of the commission. After the opposition claim to Cherkassy Administrative Court concerning omissions of oblast electoral commission head №194 it was revealed that Irina Semesheva has no relation to the political party “The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”, which quota won her this position. Moreover, she stated that had never written a request to become a member of the oblast electoral commission. The only thing she admitted was writing an application to become an observer from the “The United Left Peasants” party. Oblast electoral commission № 106 (Severodonetsk, Luhansk oblast) wasn’t able to gather the first meeting due to the lack of quorum. The second time the commission managed to gather with a minimum quorum of 10 people. As it turned out, three of the oblast electoral commission members are residents of the Republic of Crimea: deputy head of oblast electoral commission - unemployed Igor Krasylnykov (“Bratstvo” party), a member of the commission – non-working Kateryna Dzykovych (“Block” party) and her colleague entrepreneur Maryna Pronina (“Rus Yedyna” party). Two more members of the oblast electoral commission are inhabitants of Kiev oblast - Yulia Vyahireva (“Yedyna Rodyna” party) and Yevhen Cherednychenko (“The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”). And another one - Oleksiy Postupalskyy (“Ruska Yednist” party) – is a resident of Khmelnitsky oblast. In electoral district № 194 (Cherkassy oblast) a head of oblast electoral commission was appointed 21-yearold Irina Smesheva from the party “The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”, who did not come to the first meeting of the commission. After the opposition claim to Cherkassy Administrative Court concerning omissions of oblast electoral commission head №194 it was revealed that Irina Semesheva has no relation to the political party “The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”, which quota won her this position. Moreover, she stated that had never written a request to become a member of the oblast electoral commission. The only thing she admitted was writing an application to become an observer from the “The United Left Peasants” party. Oblast electoral commission № 106 (Severodonetsk, Luhansk oblast) wasn’t able to gather the first meeting due to the lack of quorum. The second time the commission managed to gather with a minimum quorum of 10 people. As it turned out, three of the oblast electoral commission members are residents of the Republic of Crimea: deputy head of oblast electoral commission - unemployed Igor Krasylnykov (“Bratstvo” party), a member of the commission – non-working Kateryna Dzykovych (“Block” party) and her colleague entrepreneur Maryna Pronina (“Rus Yedyna” party). Two more members of the oblast electoral commission are inhabitants of Kiev oblast - Yulia Vyahireva (“Yedyna Rodyna” party) and Yevhen Cherednychenko (“The Union of Anarchists of Ukraine”). And another one - Oleksiy Postupalskyy (“Ruska Yednist” party) – is a resident of Khmelnitsky oblast. In Kherson oblast in jeopardy was the work of two district electoral commissions. At the meeting of the oblast electoral commission were not present two newly elected heads of the district electoral commissions – the head of Suvorivska district electoral commission №182 75-year-old representative of “Rusky block” Serhiy Grushyn and the head of Tsyurupynsk district electoral commission № 186 20-year-old representative of the “Yedyna Rodyna” Tetyana Yevsovych. Members of district commission had no phone numbers and contact information of newly elected heads at their disposal, so they were forced to selforganization to hold the first meeting in the term prescribed by the Law. Considering all stated above, we can assume that in September 2012 the oblast electoral commissions will
be significantly renewed. However, there is a high risk of “buying” seats in oblast electoral commissions from small parties by potential leaders of the parliamentary race. And this can lead to the politicization of the district commissions work. 5. Campaigning Active campaigning of parties generally has not undergone significant changes compared with July 2012. After the electoral process has begun and until the registration of candidates from parties in the national constituency, parties practiced political advertising without clear identifying features (specifying the names of parties, candidates, etc.). However, this is caused by the peculiarities of the Law “On Elections of People's Deputies of Ukraine”, which provides an opportunity of warning announcement for campaigning in prohibited period. The most active parties – subjects of campaigning remained “Batkivschyna” and the Party of Regions. Less active were “UDAR” (which began active campaigning only in August 2012) and “Ukraine - Forward!” (which campaigning activity decreased compared to the previous months), “Svoboda” and the CPU (the latter began active outdoor advertising in the second half of August, although billboards of the CPU were being placed even before the beginning of the electoral process). In some oblast low-influential parties demonstrated sporadic activity. In particular, the Party of Afghanistan Veterans in Rivne oblast, “Our Ukraine” Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Rivne oblasts, Radical Party of Oleg Lyashko - in Khmelnytsky and Lviv oblasts. While the united opposition, Party of Regions and “UDAR” were actively campaigning in all possible forms (radio, television, outdoor advertising media), the CPU favored active advertising on radio and television (though last week of August the number of billboards and spot-lights with the CPU political advertising has significantly increased). In the first half of August activity of “Ukraine -Forward» has slightly decreased in outdoor advertising. Activisation of campaigning in single mandate districts by candidates who did not previously plan to participate in elections or were not campaigning became one of August features. The list of most common communication channels of parties and candidates and voters should include: a) Television (participation of majoritarian candidates and political forces speakers n popular television projects, such as, in the Lviv region, "Plain text", "Plain text-blitz", "DOMINO" "Honestly. Filter the parliament”, “3D format", etc..), b) printed media of all forms of property c) mass events (for example, in the Zhytomyr oblast (district 66) - Oksana Bilozir concerts in Volodarsk-Volyn, Malyna and Radomyshle, in the Lviv region - Festival "Pidkamin" under the auspices of brothers Dubnevychiv and V. Kozhan, festival “Franko Fest” - with the assistance of W. Wozniak), d) outdoor advertising (billboards, city lights); d) distributing leaflets, e) radio (actively used for campaigning for the Communist Party of Ukraine). From mid-August such form of campaigning as rallies became were common. However, as a rule voters show low interest to such events. For rallies in support of the Party of Regions in many regions public sector employees were actively involved, their participation was made mandatory. In some cases, candidates have used pretty creative methods of campaigning. For example, in the electoral district № 63 (Zhytomyr oblast) on behalf of a candidate for people's deputy Valentina SemeniukSamsonenko educational materials were distributed to voters - about the labeling of nutritional supplements, family planning, abortion, etc. As in previous months, in the Odessa oblast "People's Budget" and "People's checkup." were actively used for campaigning for the Party of Regions and its candidates. However, the Party of regions began to actively using the method of direct work with voters - to the houses of the peasants in the villages Kuchurgan, Yakovlivka and Vynogradar in Rozdilnyanska Belyaevsky districts came agitators who filled in the form of test. From the form of questions, it was clear that they not only campaigned for the Party of Regions, but also received voters' personal data, as well as established their level of activity and passivity.
Compared with the previous month there were increased number of incidences of religious organizations representatives' involvement in propaganda activities of and the use of religious holidays celebrations as occasions for agitation. For example, on August 9 candidate for people's deputy of Ukraine Svyatoslav Piskun, who was nominated for district 63 met with the Archbishop of Zhytomyr and Novograd Volyn Nicodim. The meeting discussed "the role of Polessky region spirituality in social and social development", and Sviatoslav Piskun was blessed by Archbishop Nicodim for election campaign. Сandidate for deputy in district 98 Mostipan Alexandr was rather active in using religious occasions for campaigning. He took part in the celebrations on the occasion of start of Orthodox churches construction in rural and urban districts. On August 19th , 2012 Party of Regions candidate Volodymyr Pilipchuk arranged in churches of Boryspil city, Kyiv oblast, festive treats. In St. Vladimir temple in the neighborhood "Nestorivka" after the consecration ceremony he personally welcomed each parishioner, sorted out "topical issues" of concern to residents, provided answers to believers' questions. Certain political forces are actively engaging budgetary institutions employees and students for campaigning. Candidate Grygoriy Kaletnyk (electoral district #18, Vinnytsya oblast) who is at the same time the rector of Vinnytsya agricultural university engaged students in his electoral campaign. Namely in Nemiriv (on August 19th) and Lipovets (on August 18th) were conducted concerts to honor 30 anniversary of the university. The activities were held under the patronage of Fund “With love to land of the parents” headed also by G.Kaletnyk. Program of the concerts consisted of amateur performances of studens and local collectives. On more significant trait of political campaigns in 2012 is growing usage of the so called “black PR”, including spoilage of outdoor advertisement and other methods of unfair political competition. In Ivano-Frankivsk oblast (electoral district #86) fasle leaflets of candidate V.Kredisov against candidate V.Grabovetsky were distributed. In the same oblast (electoral district # 83) leaflets with picture of an owl and motto “using the chicken blindness owl fool everyone” and “BYuT are thieves” were distributed. Owl in this case is the translation of Ukrainian word “Sych” which happens to be the surname of ne o f the “Svoboda” candidates in this electoral district. In electoral district #89 the false flyers of “CHESNO” against opposition candidate Vasul Gladiy were circulating. In Zaporizhzhya oblast newspaper ”Zaporozhskoe vremya” which is a part of the Party of Regions mediaholding each week contains doubtful information about candidates of UDAR. In Khmelnitsky oblast on August 19-20 2012 in each rayons centers of electoral district #189 were indicated putting up of false flyers without any printing data aimed against “Svoboda” and personally candidate for united opposition in the district Igor Sabiy. During the same dates head of “Svoboda” Oleg Tyagnibok visited the same cities. Much like in May of 2012 in August state holidays, namely Day of the state flag and Independence Day, were one of the main reasons to stimulate the political agitation activities. For example in Zhitomir UDAR celebrated Day of the state flag by motor rally in which two of the party candidates in single-mandate districts ## 62 and 67 Roman Davydenko and Yuriy Dovbysh participated. On August 22nd and 23rd in Kherson oblast were held teleconferences in which participated inhabitants of Berislav, Bilozerka and Nova Kahovka on one side and Arseniy Yatsenyk and Andriy Parubiy. During August 2012 the language issue was still used as the grounds for agitation. Namely program “Revenge for country’s split” was activated, in its framework the campaigning against several candidates was conducted. In August its activities were especially noticeable in Dnipropetrovsk oblast where 5 mobile groups campaigned against single mandate candidates O.Momot (electoral district #27), I.Stupak (electoral district#26) and I.Tsyrkin (electoral district #25).
In August as well the Party of Regions organized in Mykovaiv two meetings in support of Russian languages. As a response to that united opposition also conducted meeting on August 21st which was aimed against plans of Mykolaiv city council to provide Russian language with the status of regional. The number of officially branded promotional materials in mass media grew significantly in August with the start of election campaign. Thus the amounts of hidden political advertising decreased slightly (but it is still quite popular in many regions). For instance in Chernivtsy oblast three local newspapers: “Ridny Kray” (Storozhynets rayon), “Karpaty” (Putivl rayon) and “Vijnitsky obrii” (Vijnitsky rayon) published same article written by candidate M.Bauer under the headline “Why do I again ballot for the elections?”. However only in the first mentioned newspaper it was branded as political advertising. In Rivne oblast candidate in electoral district #154 Danylo Korylkevych published his promotional materials not only in rayon, but as well in oblast printed media. For example publication titled “Policy of good deeds of Danylo Korylkevych” was issued in “Rivnenska Gazeta” (#34, August 23rd 2012). Inanity remains to be one of the main features of the ongoing parliamentary campaign in 2012. The Party of the Regions focuses on the disadvantages of “orange” politicians, whilst “Batkivshyna” mostly concentrates on the disadvantages of “blue” party. The united opposition claims to “stop them” without offering any sensible program. The “messages” of the Communist party and UDAR are more meaningful. 6. Campaigning combined with providing citizens with free of charge material values In comparison with May- July 2012 number of cases of indirect bribery towards voters by candidates and party has slightly decreased. This fact deserves positive estimation. State, religious or professional holidays remained the most popular grounds for indirect bribery which mostly came in form of free and cheaper products for potential voters. In Zhytomyr oblast Sydir Kizin (running for elections in electoral district #67) visited church service in John the Evangelist church in village Novy Lyubar, greeted the local community with the holiday of Apple Spas and made a donation for the building of Sunday school on the premises of this newly built church. Volodymyr Pehov (candidate of the Party of Regions in electoral district #64, Rivne oblast) on Septmenber 10th 2012 days before upcoming Day of Vet Medicine in Olevsk through charitable fund "Revive Polissya" gave local vets approximatetely one hundred packages each containing a bath towel and printed agitation materia Vitaly Zhuravsky (candidate of the Party of Regions in electoral district #66, Zhytomyr oblast) took care of voters leisure by offering them television tuners. Central post office of Malin has received 80 boxes with these devices, each box had a name and an address stamp. Employees of the post office also had to repack the tuners adding an agitational leaflet of Vitaly Zhuravsky to each packaging. Candidate to local council T. Cossack (electoral district #122, Lviv oblast) sponsored the purchase of ambulance vehicles for the Yavoriv medical service. In Khmelnitsky oblast candidate Oleksandr Gerega (electoral district #192) provided central hospitals of Gorodok, Dunaevets, Chemerovets and Yarmolinets districts with bed linen and ambulance vehicle. Candidate Vadym Chorny (self-promoted in electoral district #133, Odessa oblast) organized potato bargain sale for price significantly lower than current market price (1,95 UAH comparing to 3,5 UAH). Pavillions where sale was conducted were branded with candidate's name. Same modus operandi was used in Crimea where during the visit of P.Symonenko the ice-cream was sold be "old Soviet union price" (0,15 UAH). Apart from delivery of free goods indirect bribery can be also conducted via free services. Sydir Kizin (candidate of "Svoboda" in electoral district #67, Zhytomyr oblast) conducted on the spot juridical consultation in Lyubar region, namely in Korostky, Nova Chortoriya, Pryvitiv.
In Lviv oblast candidate Dmytro Dobrodomov (promoted by "Udar" in electoral district #115) founded "People's control" - a network of public consultancies which allegedly work under the brand of TV-channel ZIK. However Dobrodomov is featured on the promotional posters of the network placed around the city. On September 6th the secretary of Chernivtsi city council Vitaly Myhailishyn (promoted be the Party of Regions in electoral district #210) presented children playground with featured motto "Making kids dream come true. Vitaly Myhailishyn". He also promised to open 10 more playgrounds in the city until the middle of September. In Ivano-Frankivsk oblast Mykola Kruts (electoral district #84) helped to build sport grounds with artificial cover in Obertyn. In Khmelnitsky oblast Sergiy Buriak (electoral district #190) opened children playground which cost 63 000UAH in Slavuta as a part of his social program "Aiming for better future together". The candidate also promised to build one more playground in the town. Two more playgrounds he funded in Shepetivka of the same electoral district. In electoral district #57 Vitaty Klitchko's party "UDAR" placed high-power air conditioner in the building of emergence aid center. In the PR publications related to this newsmaker it was stated that doctors had repeatedly contacted local authorities requesting the air conditioning, but "UDAR" was the only one to respond and cooperate. As a matter of fact charitable funds are still an important instrument of indirect bribery. In Lviv oblast charitable fund of T.Batenko operates actively, in Khmelmytsky region the same applies to Sergiy Buriak’s charitable fund “Strengthening of the community”, in Rivne oblast – to V.Pehov’s fund “Revival of Polissya”. Number of charitable funds operates in Donetsk oblast, including “Humanity” (which was created by Tetyana Bahteeva who is now promoted be the Party of Regions in electoral district #42), fund “From the true heart” (headed by Serhiy Klyuev, electoral district #46), charitable fund of Igor Shkira (electoral district#62). In electoral district #47 Party of Regions candidate Oleksii Azarov was especially active. Charitable organization “Oleksii Azarov’s Initiative:Our Region” was registered on 20.07.2012 and already provides citizens with goods and services. For instance on August 4th during the presentation of gas pipeline in Andriivka (Slovyansk rayon) employees of gas services received mobile phones from this organization. Also this non-profitable orgazition started social project “Health of our region” providing visits of doctors to different local communities. This project is promoted as a free opportunity to receive free diagnostic medical services.