Approximately at 3 p.m. on Saturday in Chernihiv, Hetmana Polubotks St., another political conflict has burst out similar to the incident covered by the OPORA when money, cartridges and lists of campaigners of Serhii Berezenko were found in a car. These premises were registered before as public reception of ex MP of Ukraine Valerii Kulich from the PPB, who is the Head of Chernihiv Oblast State Administration now. According to representatives of Hennadii Korban's headquarters and other witnesses, voters were bribed at this address, and there is a large sum of money now in the premises (approximately 5-6 million UAH according to the testimony of local politician Volodymyr Polishchuk) and, probably, weapons and voter lists. The incident was settled after police and MPs from competing parties searched this and 2 more public receptions of candidate Berezenko, and the Chief of Chernihiv City Militia Department Anton Shevtsov affirmed that there was nothing found.
On the beginning of conflict, supporters of candidate Hennadii Korban and some other MP candidates nominated in district #205 (for example, a self-nominated candidate Nataliia Pylypenko) tried to get into the premises, but representatives of Serhii Berezenko's headquarters and later militia officers didn't allow them to. As a result, there was a fight which has ended up with blocked office.
Representatives of law-enforcement agencies were keeping the premises encircled for a long time, and they, for their part, were encircled by Korban's headquarters representatives, journalists, MP candidates and passers-by.
The conflicting teams were quarreling right on the spot.
We have noticed the following individuals there:
- MP candidates Mykola Zvieriev (Head of Chernihiv Oblast Council), Oleksii Durniev (self-nominated), Nataliia Pylypenko (self-nominated), Hennadii Korban (nominated by the Ukrainian Union of Patriots – UKROP political party); Ihor Andriichenko (nominated by the Democratic Alliance political party); Oleksandr Baraboshko (self-nominated); Vasyl Krutchak (self-nominated);
- MPs of Ukraine Andrii Denysenko (non-faction), Valentyn Didych (PPB faction), Ihor Lutsenko (Batkivshchyna), Vitalii Kuprii (non-faction).
- representatives of law-enforcement: including Chief of Chernihiv City Militia Department Anton Shevtsov;
- headquarters representatives of both candidates: including proxy of candidate Serhii Berezenko Mykola Nosko.
Video coverage:
Video reporting from journalist Oleh Holovatenko, the Vysokyi Val information portal: https://youtu.be/47829ynaE5g
Some time later, incident participants received information that other public receptions of Serhii Berezenko are also using similar scheme. Thus, MP Ihor Lutsenko, who was present at the site, suggested incident participants to go and take a look at one of these receptions where, according to Lutsenko, citizens could receive 400 UAH from Berezenko, located at 9 Odyntsova St., ap. 402.
Similar situation occurred at 40 Stanislavskoho St., in the premises belonging to the Aratta NGO. Having ascertained the circumstances, representatives of candidate Korban said they have no claims to this office. They have found nothing prohibited in the premises, only campaign materials and lists of campaigners. The only thing arousing suspicion was presence of closed safes and rooms, as well as alternative exits.
(Photo: Ihor Andriichenko, MP candidate in district #205)
(Photo: pic.cn.ua)
Visits to these two premises were less conflicting.
The incident was settled after police and MPs from competing parties searched all three public receptions of candidate Serhii Berezenko, and the Chief of Chernihiv City Militia Department Anton Shevtsov affirmed that there was nothing found.
Civil Network OPORA continues watching the situation as a part of citizen monitoring of an MP of Ukraine in district #205, and informing the public about any changes.
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