City officials prepare turf for Derkach victory

The political scandal that erupted in Pavlohrad centered on Mayor Ivan Metelytsia and former Director of the SBU Leonid Derkach who is running for Verkhovna Rada in the local constituency No. 36, with representatives of the All-Ukrainian Spravedlyvist (Justice) Association of the Left protesting against alleged breaches of the election law first to the local election commission and then to the Central Election Commission of Ukraine.

According to the latter protest, late on February 12 the local Fakt- Info television studios broadcast footage showing Derkach and Mayor Metelytsia, “who is holding an elected office openly canvassing for the For A United Ukraine bloc, which is a flagrant violation of the Article 56, Part 1 of the law of Ukraine On the Election of People’s Deputies,” the appeal says. On the day after the broadcast the appeal was submitted to the election commission and the footage was shown to its members. Still, the appeal continues, the commission did not pass any decision putting off the consideration of the plaintiff. Owing to this, the appellants asked the CEC to urgently step in the dispute and react to the situation.

In his comments on the latest developments and the pre-election scene in Pavlohrad Spravedlyvist city organization Chairman Yevhen Soya told The Day that in his opinion the Pavlohrad authorities are brazenly supporting a single candidate, patronizing Derkach and providing for him free access to the voters and television. Other candidates, including the one Spravedlyvist supports, are faced with various barriers. Although the city has four television studios, to go on the air for other candidates is actually impossible. What is going on in Pavlohrad needs to be dealt with urgently by the CEC and its head, Mr. Riabets,” Yevhen Soya said.

Ironically, it seems that the notorious Leonid Derkach is this time posing as a defender of the law. His election program, published by Pavlohrad newspapers, highlights that “an official who spurns the law and in so doing infringes on the rights of individuals must be brought to justice as a criminal.” It looks likely that candidate Derkach the elder is asking for trouble. Hopefully, he would begin by carefully analyzing whether Pavlohrad officials are abiding by the election law.