ANOTHER INCIDENT IN LUHANSK

The Luhansk bomb incident foiling Yevhen Marchuk's meeting with the electorate in early August did not change his decision to revisit the oblast. And this visit was to be in most unfavorable, difficult conditions for the presidential candidate, for the itinerary included Krasnodon, the cradle of the active coal miners' striking movement, and Krasny Luch [Red Beam], which is a truly Red town, for the local leadership is thoroughly Leftist. In fact, this town topped the visiting list and almost 500 residents attended the meeting.

This time, Mr. Marchuk's visit to Luhansk was marked by an incident again. On arriving to this regional center from Krasnodon, he was told that Hennady Fomenko, chief of Oleksandr Moroz's election staff, had been physically assaulted the previous night and was in the hospital. Mr. Marchuk got in touch with him and expressed his sympathy and support. Interviewed by The Day , Mr. Marchuk had this to say:

«I think that it was another provocation aimed against the Kaniv Four. I have stressed on more than one occasion that there is a peculiar regularity here: various incidents happen, and primarily supporters of Moroz, Marchuk, and Tkachenko suffer. It was here in Luhansk that the bomb provocation took place. At the time they said there was nothing to worry about, just an act of hooliganism. Now Hennady Fomenko gets roughed up. He was working actively with Mr. Moroz and I regard the incident as further proof that what has happened is no coincidence, no hooliganism or a bad joke. It is an event, one of the same series. Now one can understand even better why the current President did not sign the fair elections agreement. Everything seems to be falling into place.»

Mr. Marchuk further said he is confident that Parliament will support a number of measures to be developed shortly by the Kaniv Four to stop the arbitrary rule by organized crime and top officials.