Correspondence with the USS.

The Lugansk oblast branch of the organization „Voters’ committee of Ukraine“ turned to the Severodonetsk town USS directorate with the request about the facts of interrogating the observers at the last election and got a response. We offer this correspondence to our readers.

To head of the Severodonetsk USS directorate of the Lugansk oblast

S. A. Grachev

On 3-4 April 2002 your officers E. V. Pogorelov and V. Yu. Polstianoy took the written testimony from several people, who, being the correspondents of the voters’ committee newspaper „Tochka zoru“, were the observers on the election on 31 March 2002. The questions asked by the officers concerned the campaign of mobilizing volunteers hold by the Lugansk oblast voters’ committee, training the volunteers and recompensing transport and food expenses.

These actions exceed the USS authorities stipulated by Article 24 of the Ukrainian Law „On the security service of Ukraine“ and contradict to part 2 Article 8 and Article 25 of the Ukrainian Law „On citizens’ unions“.

According to part 4 Article 5 of the Law „On the security service of Ukraine“, I ask to give me the written explanations concerning the illegal meddling of the USS into the statute activities of the Lugansk oblast branch of the voters’ committee of Ukraine.

Head of the Lugansk oblast branch of the voters’ committee of Ukraine

Oleksiy Svetikov

 

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No. 36/1056 of 24 May 2002

To head of the Lugansk oblast branch of the voters’ committee of Ukraine

O. O. Svetikov

Answering your request No. 52 of 21 May 2002 about the allegedly illegal meddling of the USS officers into the activities of the Lugansk oblast branch of the voters’ committee of Ukraine I am explaining: according to Article 8 item 1 of the Ukrainian Law „On the ODA“ the USS organs have the right to question peoplein their agreementand to use their free-will help. The students of the technical school (where the election station was situated. – Translator’s note) were questioned in concordance with Article 24 of the Law „On the security service of Ukraine“. At the same time no questions were asked concerning any interests of your organization. You can learn this from the questioned students.

Head of the USS directorate

S. Grachev

P. S. The students of the technical school, who were the observers at the election, were summoned to the deputy principal’s office and had to write the explanations in his presence.