11:20 A.M.

Press Release #1

(Gross violations are underlined)

Criminal Interferences into Voting Process

Donetsk oblast

On the night of December 26, unknown persons set fire to the door of apartment of Ihor Stepanchenko, coordinator of independent observation mission of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine in the constituency # 62. After people managed to extinguish a fire, an unknown man gave a call to Mr. Stepanchenko uttering threats against his and his family. In particular, the man said that Viktor Yanukovych would be the President whatever the case.

Illegal expelling of commissioners

Donetsk oblast

At polling stations in Donetsk, mass confusion with commissioners from Viktor Yushchenko occurred. Thus, some people who came to oblast on behalf of Viktor Yushchenko did not find their names in lists of commissioners. For example, Volodymyr Holoveshko, who has been assigned to the polling station # 28 (constituency # 43), was missed in the list of commissioners; the same happened to Mrs. L.Karbovska, who was supposed to be a member of the commission # 2 (constituency # 43).

On the other hand, at many polling station, there are no representatives of V. Yushchenko (e.g. at polling stations # 18, 68, 46, 74 (constituency # 41).

Keeping observers and journalists out of polling stations

Chernihiv oblast

At some polling stations, reporters were not allowed to get in (polling station # 89 (constituency # 208, Chernihiv city), polling station # 140 (constituency # 210, Smolyanka village, Kulykiv rayon, Chernihiv oblast) under pretence of absence of photos on their ID cards.

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Territorial election commissions # 29 and 27 (Dnipropetrovsk city). Members of both commissions have refused to register correspondents of the Tochka Zoru newspaper because of absence of the ... registration log.

Readiness of polling stations to voting

Dnipropetrovsk oblast

Polling station # 45, constituency # 24 (Dnipropetrovsk city). According to long-term observers of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine, during the first hour of voting, commissioners missed several pages from the voter`s list, where about one hundred persons were registered. Commissioners said it was an operational defect. In 90 minutes, missed pages were found at the polling station.

Kherson oblast

Polling station #18, constituency #186 (Kherson city). At 8.00 a.m., the checklist was not put into the small polling box. A relevant statement on infringement was drawn up.

Cherkasy oblast

Constituency 197, polling station #25 (Cherkasy city): because of poor organization of the polling station commissioners, the station was opened with 20-minute delay, which caused obvious displeasure of voters.

Chernivtsi oblast

Polling station # 34, constituency # 206 (Kamyanka village, Hlybotskyi rayon). Observers witnessed an infringement during holding the meeting of the polling station commission before opening the polling station: they failed to announce the number of ballot papers received, the number of voters and the number of absentee certificates issued.

Kharkiv oblast

Polling station #51, constituency #184; constituency #53, polling stations #34, 58. More than 100 persons were inserted into the electoral register in handwritten. The same information was received from other constituencies of the oblast.

Zakarpattya oblast

Constituency # 74, polling station 39 (Novoselytsa village). Only three members of the polling station commission of 16 arrived at the polling station. All of them represent V.Yushchenko.

Infringements related to ballot-papers

Autonomous Republic of Crimea

Constituency #1, Polling station #75. In the evening, unknown persons opened the safe box with ballot papers in absence of commissioners. However, before beginning the vote, ballot papers were not recalculated and the relevant statement has not been drawn up.

Kherson oblast

Polling station #69, constituency #185 (Kherson city). 08.37 a.m. Observers detained a voter who brought a ballot paper out of the polling station; he was very aggressive, argued with observers.

Polling station #2, constituency #186 (Kherson city). 09.15 a.m. Commissioners representing V.Yasnukovych deliberately did not sign ballot papers.

Polling station # 24, constituency #186 (Kherson city). 09.40 a.m. At the special polling station created in the hospital of Komsomolsk rayon, shortage of ballot papers occurred: instead of 200 ballot papers indicated on the envelope, commissioners have revealed only 174.

Cherkasy oblast

Constituency 198, polling station #50 (Cherkasy city): some commissioners did not sigh ballot papers.

Poltava oblast

Constituency #147, polling station #6. At Poltava isolation ward, 1498 voters are registered. The territorial election commission have issued only 1308 ballot papers and promised to give more papers later on. As of 8-00 a.m., additional ballots failed to arrive. As at such stations almost all voters cast their votes, 190 detainees are deprived of the right to vote.

Rivne oblast

Constituency #155, polling station #69 (Rivna town). Representatives of the oblast HQs of Viktor Yushchenko have revealed a mistake in ballot papers given to the polling station commission # 69. 60 ballots out of 2900 bore the number 79, while at the tear-off coupons the polling station # 69 was indicated. Representatives of the oblast HQs believe it was the ordinary misprint, however they were surprised with the fact of such mistake.

Interferences of unauthorized persons into the voting process

Kyiv city

In constituency #222, observers representing V.Yanukovych have the electoral lists with them. They secretly mark off voters, who arrived at polling stations. The relevant information was communicated form polling stations # 25, 24, 86, and 83.

Press Service of the CVU

The Committee of Voters of Ukraine is the all-Ukrainian NGO, which has been monitoring the election campaigns in Ukraine for several years in terms of adherence to Ukrainian laws and international standards of the democratic election by the campaign`s actors. Active members of the CVU worked during voting on October 31 and November 21.

On the polling day, the Tochka Zoru Newspaper (published by the CVU) delegated 10,000 special correspondents to polling stations. In addition, free hot line is operating, where you may inform of infringements revealed and get legal advice free of charge (tel. 8-800-501-46-70).

Dear Journalists!

At 4.15 PM on December 26, the CVU`s leaders will hold the briefing "On the Course of Voting. Earliest Conclusions." in the premise of UNIAN news agency (4 Khreshchatyk St.).

At 10.00 AM of December 27, the CVU will give the press conference "On Assessment of the Voting and Vote Tabulation Procedures by the CVU`s Observers." in the premise of UNIAN news agency (4 Khreshchatyk St.).

Please inquire for additional details from the Press Secretary of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine Oleksandr Chernenko (+38-050-310-99-75).