During the election day, voter bribery schemes were recorded in the city of Kyiv, Odesa, Zaporizhia, Mykolaiv and Kyiv regions, said the head of the National Police of Ukraine Ihor Klymenko.
He noted that the police detained a group of people who were taking people from Luhansk region to vote for a specific candidate in Kyiv.
“As for the so-called ‘carousels’: we established a ‘scheme’ of bribery, where the organizers arranged for a group of 24 residents of Luhansk region to arrive in Kyiv region. These people arrived in Kyiv by the Popasna – Kyiv train and were transported to the village of Hatne in Kyiv region on a centralized basis. We have identified all the participants in the ‘carousel,’ including the organizer. They were detained and informed of the suspicion. The price of a vote is Hr 500,” Klymenko said.
On this fact, criminal proceedings were initiated under Part 4 of Article 160 (bribery of a voter, referendum participant, member of an election commission, or a referendum commission) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
According to Klymenko, a similar scheme of bribery of voters was organized in Buchansky district of Kyiv region.
“In Mykolaiv, we documented this ‘network’ of bribery of voters in Kyiv region itself. The organizers are father and son, residents of Mykolaiv region. They offered and paid up to Hr 2,000 to citizens who came to Buchansky district in Borschahivsky village council during the voting. This ‘delegation’ was gathered in Mykolaiv region. After the briefing, these persons were taken to the capital, and then, by any transport, including a taxi, they were brought to the voting place. The applicants confirmed that they received Hr 2,000 for voting,” said Klymenko.
According to the police, about 80 residents of Mykolaiv took part in the falsifications. “Criminal proceedings are being investigated under Article 160 (bribery of a voter, referendum participant, member of an election commission or a referendum commission) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Investigative actions are ongoing,” the head of the National Police said.
