Central Election Commission: Only 30% of election funding provided

According to the Head of the Central Election Commission [CEC], Mykhailo Okhendovsky, the preparation in 2009 for the Presidential elections was only 30.34% financed.  He adds that CEC expenditure amounting to 39 million 363 thousand UAH remains unpaid. This includes prepayment to the “Ukraina” printing outfit for preparing voting papers, this coming to almost 16 million UAH; expenditure on preparing other documentation, the necessary number of voting boxes to replace those that are unusable; payment for media services, etc.

According to CEC information, out of 225 district electoral commissions only 17 have registered commitments fully financed. In many district electoral commissions remuneration for the work of members of the commissions is not financed despite this being one of the protected articles of the State Budget.

“The management of district electoral commission tell the CEC that staff of regional divisions of the State Treasury cite an instruction from their own management to not make payments to electoral commission until “specific instructions” are received. We are thus forced, yet again, to note sabotage of the implementation of the law on the State Budget for 2009, On the Presidential elections and decisions from the CEC which must be carried out by officials of the State Treasury.”

Much abridged from a report at www.liga.net