On 20 October, the Severodonetsk City Department of MIA received a number of reports from members of the DEC #106 (centered in city of Severodonetsk), and DEC #112 (centered in city of Rubizhne) concerning life threats from unknown people.

Observers of Civil Network OPORA received information that on 18 October, the Severodonetsk City Department of Militia received a report from a member of District Election Commission #112 (author – we don't publish names of DEC members for safety reasons), located in city of Rubizhne. The DEC member reported that unknown persons called at stationary phone of the District Election Commission and threatened to use the force if he will participate in commission meetings. The fact was registered. We conduct further verification. Besides that, a member of the DEC #112 gave a comment to OPORA (author – member of the DEC asked not to publish names of DEC members for safety reasons): "This incident is being investigated by law enforcement bodies. Several members of our DEC were threatened on the same day. However, we are guarded now, and don't receive new threats." - told a member of the DEC #112.

 On the same day, the Severodonetsk City Department of Militia received a report from the Head of District Election Commission #106 Yurii Mariin. Head of the DEC reported that unknown persons called at stationary phone of the District Election Commission and threatened to use the force if he will participate in commission meetings. The fact was registered. We conduct further verification. OPORA received a comment on this incident from the Head of DEC #106 Yurii Mariin: "Militia is investigating this incident now. There was such incident. However, I cannot tell you about details now."

Press-service Head of the Luhansk Oblast Department of MIA Tetiana Pohukai confirmed that members of DECs #106 and 112 were threatened, that the criminal case was opened and the investigation is being conducted by law-enforcement bodies. Tetiana Pohukai has also stated that they will inform the public about the results of investigation as soon as they have them.

Civil Network OPORA would like to remind that criminal liability is provided for threats to take the life another person, in accordance with the Article 129(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: "1. Any threat to take a life, is there were real reasons to think such threat can be realized, shall be punished with detention for up to six months or restriction of liberty for up to two years.

Detailed information:
Oleksii Kormiletskyi, Coordinator of 2014 Parliamentary election observation campaign in Luhansk oblast
Phone: +380502752808
 
Reference:
Civic monitoring conducted by OPORA - is a type of network activity, aimed at impartial assessment of the preparation and conduct of elections, as well as preventing electoral violations through comprehensive civic action.
Starting from September 2014, Civil Network OPORA conducts a large-scale observation of special parliamentary elections in Ukraine. The organization will attract 213 long-term observers in every region of Ukraine to monitor the campaign from its official start to announcement of the final election results. On the Election Day on May 26, more than 2,000 activists will join them to conduct statistically-based parallel vote tabulation.
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/opora(@opora, #вибори14, #elect_ua)