I have to address you with this open letter because of the critical situation in our country in the last weeks of election campaign.

The early elections to the Verkhovna Rada became possible due to achieved political agreements between you, Mr. President, and parliamentary parties. Despite the doubts in legitimacy of your Decrees on dismissing the Verkhovna Rada, the parliamentary parties and members of the Coalition made a decision to take part in early elections in order to prevent a new crisis and destabilization of the country. Specifically, it is the compromise that created conditions for the end of confrontation in our country and provided the way out of the political crisis, solely provoked by the Opposition.

Realizing the urgency of threats related to destabilization of the political and social-economic situation, the Party of Regions took a responsible decision to participate in early parliamentary elections. Thus we wanted to reinstate the peace in the state and to put an end to our opponents’ ambitious aspirations of abusing power.

During the negotiations and at the beginning of the election campaign you, Mr. President, time and again stressed that, as the Head of the country and as the protector of the Constitution, you would guarantee the transparent and democratic elections, as well as abstinence from involvement in the election process, accepting the results of vote from the citizens of Ukraine. The citizens of Ukraine as well as the international community heard all your statements.

I believe it is my responsibility to bring to attention of all Ukrainians and international community that you, Mr. President, are violating our agreements, the law of Ukraine as well as the political ethics.

As the Head of the country, who is holding the reins of the administrative influence on these political processes, you should have abstained from the participation in election campaign of any political party. Nevertheless, you are personally involved in agitation activities and even became the front face of political advertising.

Practically, the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine runs the election campaign of “Our Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense” party. The leadership of the Secretariat of the President of Ukraine, as well as some heads of the Oblast administration, who were appointed by the President, are working as the campaign managers of the local headquarters of Our Ukraine People Self-Defense Bloc.

Now the credibility of the elections is in jeopardy. I express my public protest with regard to concern being communicated to me about orders to interrupt the integrity of the election results. As it came to our knowledge, the leadership of the local headquarters of OU-SD bloc as well as BYuT bloc gave orders to their representatives in PEC not to sign the protocols of the election results of September 30th. Primarily it relates to those PECs where the PoR will gain more votes based on the latest polling. Based on the information the PoR received, the respective orders were already given to the local headquarters of the opposition.

As the Leader of the Party of Regions, I would like to address the President with the demand to undertake all measures which guarantee avoiding such violations. The citizens who gave such orders despite their administrative position or other political status need to be liable to the law and their names should be exposed to the public.

The Party of Regions has been an active participant in these elections and intends to win on September 30. As the Leader of the Party of Regions, I have instructed our party leadership to conduct their campaign activity pursuant to a Code of Conduct that will ensure a free and fair election. I have asked that leadership of OU-NS and BYuT to commit themselves to a similar course of action in their election activity. Whether you join in such a pledge or not, it is incumbent upon you as President and leader of the Orange parties to ensure that there are no attempts to undermine the administration of the elections by your political representatives.

Otherwise the country will be at risk of another political crisis. All the efforts on achieving the reconciliation at the national level and overcoming the split of society will be in vain. You, Mr. President, will be personally accountable for the possible deepening of the crisis.

Viktor Fyodorovich Yanukovich
The Leader of the Party of Regions