The Crimean branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine [CVU] warns that the makeup of district electoral commissions [DEC] may become one of the main threats to the holding of transparent and democratic elections.

CVU notes that concern is aroused by the increase in cases of pressure on the media, impediments put in the way of campaigners; the involvement of civil servants, students and representatives of religious organizations in campaigning and in “black PR”.

The latest monitoring report finds the Party of the Regions the frontrunner in terms of electoral infringements with 188 incidents, followed by candidates putting themselves forward in single-mandate electoral districts – 47 infringements the Communists (6) and Batkivshchyna (4)

Volodymyr Struk, whose conviction on 17 July 2012 was condemned by the Luhansk Regional Branch of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine as politically motivated, has had his appeal partially allowed but his hopes to run in the October elections dashed.

The Luhansk Regional Committee of Voters of Ukraine reports that on Tuesday 28 August the first physical confrontation was recorded between two candidates in the No. 106 single-mandate electoral district

During the first three weeks of the election campaign the ruling Party of the Regions was absolute leader in broadcasting coverage throughout Ukraine, with an all-out record reached in the Donetsk oblast where the ruling party had 99.3% of coverage against 0.7% for all other political parties

The Luhansk Regional Committee of Voters of Ukraine notes use of Party of the Regions symbolism on something purchased with public funding, as well as false and defamatory information about the opposition on State-owned TV

Among the trends of the 2012 parliamentary election campaign is the use of “doubles”: candidates bearing the same name as well-known politicians. An analysis of the decisions taken by the CEC found 30 electoral districts where doubles are supposedly standing for election

Petro Shutyak is accused of having broken a metal-plastic window and damaged the sign to the office of the Ivano-Frankivsk regional branch and youth organization of the Party of the Regions following the adoption of the highly contentious language law on 3 July

With elections not far off, the Internet publication and newspaper Glavnoye has again been subjected to a search, together with a business owned by popular opposition politician Arsen Avakov who faces prosecution on abuse of power charges if he returns to Ukraine

Only 19 political parties have gained places on District Electoral Commissions with only 5 of these having put forward candidate lists. All the other parties have confined themselves to putting forward candidates in single-mandate electoral districts.

The lawyer for the website Grechka says that he is baffled as to why an economic court should be hearing this case, and why a suit so full of mistakes was accepted

The Dniprodzerzhynsk City Council has cancelled the permit issued for external advertising to the owner of the poster where an elderly lady says she decided to leave everything to her cat when her grandson voted for the Party of the Regions and others

In the Donetsk region, single-mandate electoral district No. 52 two candidates who had put themselves forward on the same day with the same last name Shkyrya have withdrawn their candidacy, also at the same time..

OPORA election monitors report that Oleksandr Shatalov, Party of the Regions candidate in the No. 90 single-mandate electoral district is pinning his chances on street campaigning and support from the Governor of the Kirovohrad oblast, Serhiy Larin (Party of the Regions).

Spokesperson Peter Stano says that the amendments “do not comply with the future Association Agreement and international principles. Ukrainian analysts believe that the money from public procurement could be used to support the ruling party at the elections

CVU reports that pro-language law rallies have been held with people brought in by coach from other cities and reports that public sector workers were forced to attend.

The Rivne 1 TV Channel’s management have removed a video features about single-mandate electoral district candidates after one candidate put pressure on the channel considering that he hadn’t been presented in a positive enough light.

According to Oleksandr Chernenko, Head of the Committee of Voters of Ukraine “the process of registration of candidates in single-mandate electoral districts has already begun showing all the failings of majority system elections”

The Committee of Voters of Ukraine [CVU] warns that in the Donetsk oblast candidates from the ruling party are boasting of beneficence in fact paid for from the public coffers