QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT of Civic Network OPORA for the Period 1 April – 30 June, 2014
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QUARTERLY ACTIVITIES REPORT of Civic Network OPORA For the Period 1 April – 30 June, 2014 01103, Kyiv, Pidvysotskoho St. 10/10, office 3 www.oporaua.org, [email protected] +38 044 286 26 70 Зміст SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Political framework ................................................................................................................................... 3 PROGRAM ACTIVITIES ................................................................................................................................... 5 Objective 1: Fairness and integrity of key Ukrainian elections improved through domestic monitoring … 5 Long-term observation ............................................................................................................................. 6 Public reports covering long-term presidential observation: ................................................................... 6 Short-term observation ............................................................................................................................ 8 Parallel vote tabulation (PVT) ................................................................................................................... 9 ELECTION DAY AND CALL-CENTER .............................................................................................................. 10 Objective 2: Political process legislation developed and implemented in a more inclusive and transparent manner and better conforms to European standards…………………………………………………………….………….. 12 Objective 3: Increased organizational and technical capacity of Civic Network OPORA……………………..… 14 OPORA’s PUBLIC OUTREACH AND INFORMATION STRATEGY .................................................................. 145 Public events ........................................................................................................................................... 15 Information messages ............................................................................................................................. 16 RECOGNIZABILITY OF THE ORGANIZATION IN MASS MEDIA ...................................................................... 19 The course of information campaign ...................................................................................................... 19 Regional division of references ............................................................................................................... 20 Web-resources ........................................................................................................................................ 20 Social media ........................................................................................................................................ 20 The evaluation of organization's sites .................................................................................................... 22 OPORA's site........................................................................................................................................ 22 Results of public outreach and information strategy activities .......................................................... 24 RESULTS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD ..................................................................................................... 255 PLANS FOR THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2014 ............................................................................................... 266 2 01103, Kyiv, Pidvysotskoho St. 10/10, office 3 www.oporaua.org, [email protected] +38 044 286 26 70 SUMMARY Civic Network OPORA, which implements the project under Cooperative Agreement No.: AID-121-A-12-00004 with Modification #2 of 22 December 2013, presents a quarterly report on its activities for the period from 01.04.2014 to 30.06.14. During this period, OPORA has been realizing major project tasks and objectives set forth in the agreement. Within the monitoring campaign, OPORA conducted long-term and short-term observation of the early presidential election in every oblast. In 2014, 190 long-term observers analyzed the course of election campaign from official start to the announcement of winners. 2000 short-term observers joined them on the Election Day. On the basis of gathered data, OPORA prepared 8 interim reports on commission activities, nomination of candidates, campaigning, the use of administrative resource, vote count etc. Besides that, the organization has published results of the sample-based parallel vote tabulation (PVT or quick count), which is representative for the whole country and has a small margin of error compared to other types of research. OPORA has also conducted the parallel vote tabulation during Kyiv Mayoral and City Council elections, which proved the trustworthiness of the announced electoral results. Besides that, the organization was actively lobbying for electoral reforms under the Objective 2, and sponsored some amendments to the Law of Ukraine on the Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of Autonomous Republic of Crimea, to Local Councils, and of Village, Town and City Heads. In the previous reporting period, the organization has also elaborated and successfully lobbied for amendments to the Law of Ukraine on Election of the President of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the law on local elections was less interesting for MPs from the political perspective. Thus, the second reading was held after the election campaign had officially started. Still, this fact didn't affect the course of election campaign. Political framework 2014 Special Election of the President of Ukraine was held in extremely complicated political situation. After events of November 2013 – February 2014 and flight of the President Yanukovych, the continuity of government principle was breached. The Russian Federation used the weakness of state apparatus and annexed the Autonomous Republic of Crimea under pretext of a referendum, which lawfulness was denied by Ukraine, world leaders, and reputable international organizations. Rhetorics of Russian leaders was based on the absence of directly elected President of Ukraine, and used to block any negotiations concerning events in Crimea, and in Eastern Ukraine some time later. Political confrontation in Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts grew into armed conflict provoked by terroristic groups, receiving political support, resources and, some time later, arms from the Russian Federation. Unprecedentedly numerous Russian troops were staying at Ukrainian border and blocked full-scale anti- terroristic operation by a threat of possible intervention. Besides that, all major intergovernmental unions and organizations, including UN and European Union, participated in the discussion on how to resolve conflict relatively peacefully: without intervention of the RF for alleged protection of Russian speaking citizens. This plan included election of the President of Ukraine Thus, the Commander in Chief, Guarantor of the Constitution and key person who takes decisions on geopolitic vector of the state was to be lawfully elected. While in the end of February and in March the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine was acting as a relatively undivided body, which took decisions by the constitutional majority, in the middle of the election campaign, rhetorics of some MPs became openly pro-Russian and in support of terroristic groups in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. On 3 01103, Kyiv, Pidvysotskoho St. 10/10, office 3 www.oporaua.org, [email protected] +38 044 286 26 70 the basis of these facts, the Office of Prosecutor General has launched investigation after on the Communist Party of Ukraine and some MPs. In particular, the ex-candidate for the President Oleh Tsariov, which was later deprived of the mandate and parliamentary immunity, is now wanted. Law-enforcement bodies and the army didn't manage to overcome internal and external terroristic threats, which directly influenced the election process. However, the ATO and a number of decisive appointments made the morale and efficiency of the army grew. In such terms, the conduction of fair elections was not only the question of government staffing, but also of Ukraine's territorial integrity. Elections in Ukraine were held in correspondence with the legislation and democratic standards. Votes were counted fairly, and no violations which could have influenced the final election result were detected. Despite the campaigning was complicated in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts and it's difficult to say that is was unrestrained, we may say that opportunities were quite equal for all participants. OPORA's summary is based on the results of long- and short-term observation, criteria and principles of democratic elections established by documents of the Venice Commission, Copenhagen Conference, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). OPORA's observers adhered to the Declaration of Global Principles for Nonpartisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organizations. Presidential elections were held during temporary occupation of the AR Crimea and illegitimate activities of terroristic groups in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. In result, activities of state's enemies hindered realization of voting rights of citizens. Despite such context has decreased the national turnout, it's total level was quite representative – around 60%. The Parliament has amended the Law on Election of the President of Ukraine