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7.00 pm, 28 June 2015 // Chisinau

Until 7:00 pm, the Promo-LEX observers recorded a number of worrying cases of electoral process violation. They include: corruption of voters, taking ballot papers out of the polling station, violation of the principle of secret voting, illegal voting, voting on the basis of inappropriate documents and intimidation of Association’s observers.

The presented data were collected from 186 observers, who are monitoring the electoral process throughout the whole country, in 93 mobile teams, as well as from the 320 observers present in all polling stations from Chisinau and Comrat municipalities. A summary thereof is presented below.

Enabling PS Infrastructure on the Election Day

According to the reports of Promo-LEX observers, there were found 18 problematic PSs:

• lack of safe boxes (PS 18, Andrusul de Jos v.,  Cahul d.; PS 55,  Pervomaiscoe v., Hancesti d.; PS 18, Chircaiestii Noi v., PS 19, Baurci v., PS 35, Pervomaisc v., Causeni d.; PS 49, Lugovoe v., Soroca d.; PS 37, Poiana v., Edinet d.; PS 3, Sangerei t. (because of this the ballot papers are stored in inappropriate places, outside the PS);
• inappropriate location of the voting booths, so that the voters’ choices could be seen (PSs 1, 8, 9, Causeni t.; PS 10, Cainari t., Causeni d.; PS 68, Slobozia Varancau v., Soroca d.);
• inaccessibility of PS for people with mobility impairments (PS 10, Rassvet v., Straseni d.; PS 56, Piatra v., Orhei d.);
• defficient operation of the operators’ laptops of the State Register of Voters (SRV) (PS 53, Suvorovca v., Falesti d.);
• presence of only one operator in the polling station (PS 40, Gavanoasa v., Cahul d.);
• problems with Internet connection (PS 284, Bubuieci v., Chisinau mun.);
• deterioration of the ballot box seal (in PS 304, Truseni v., Chisinau mun.).

Procedural Violations by EOPS Members

• In PS 31, Pelinia v., Drochia d., one voter signed by mistake instead of another person in the list of voters. The EOPS members changed the information in the respective section using a correction pen and allowed the voter to vote.
• In PS 120, Chisinau mun., the mobile ballot box was taken in the field only by one EOPS member.

Voting on the Basis of Inappropriate Documents

Promo-LEX observers reported three cases when people voted on the basis of inappropriate documents:

• In PSs 164 and 189, Chisinau mun., one person voted without the loose leaf of the ID card;
• In PS 75, Chisinau mun., one person voted with an expired ID card.

Failure to apply the “Local Elections.28.06.2015. Second round ” Stamp in the loose leaf of the ID card

In PS 189, Chisinau mun., one person voted without having the respective stamp applied in the loose leaf of the ID card.

Illegal Voting

Promo-LEX observers found two cases of illegal cases in two PSs. Thus, in each of PS 47, Mingir, Hancesti d., and in PS 3, Briceni t., an elector who established his residence within the area of those PSs was allowed to vote on the additional lists.

Sales of Alcoholic Beverages

Three cases were alcoholic beverages were sold in the close proximity to polling stations were noticed (PS 26, Coscalia v., Causeni d.; PS 70, Vertiujeni v., Floresti d.). Besides, in Baxani v., Soroca d., a group of drunk people were sleeping near the store, located close to PS 17.

Lists of Voters

In PS 299, Stauceni com., Chisinau mun., a family found 4 strangers, registered as having the residence in their house.

Electioneering on the Voting Day

Promo-LEX observers found five cases of electioneering on the voting day:

• In PS 19, Cairaclia v., Taraclia d., the supporter of an election contestant stood for one hour in front of the PS for purposes of electioneering. EOPS chairmans and policeman intervened to resolve the situation;
• In PS 58, Elizaveta v., Balti mun., the voters queueing up to the voting booths discussed purposefully their electoral choices;
• In the Great National Assembly Square of Chisinau mun., during a manifestation to commemorate the Soviet occupation, the supporter of an election contestant held the flag of the respective party;
• In PSs 147 and 253, Codru t., Chisinau mun., a MP of the RM Parliament visited the PS and talked with voters.

Electoral Advertising in Close Proximity to PS

In PS 310, Chisinau mun.; PS 27, Copaceni v., Sangerei d.; PS 43, Grigorauca v., Sangerei d.; PS 3, Sangerei t.– electoral posters were found close to the PS.

Collecting the Ballot Papers

In PS 2, Oxentea v., Dubasari d., two supporters of an election contestant collected by fraud at least three ID Cards of some elderly people from the settlement. They were told that in such a way they will have the possibility to vote at home.

Taking the Ballot Paper out of the Polling Station

Promo-LEX observers reported 2 cases of ballot papers being taken out of the PS:

• In PS 56, Piatra v., Orhei d., two EOPS members took out the ballot papers for a voter with mobility impairments, and he voted outside with the help of an assistance, who then deposited the papers in the ballot box;
• In PS 2, Comrat t., a voter who was not allowed to vote on the basis of “Form No 9”, which expired in 2014, stole a ballot paper.  After which he shouted the name of an election contestant and ran away from the PS. With the help of the police, the citizen was apprehended, and the ballot paper was recovered.

Violation of the Secret Voting Principle

In PS 12, Comrat t., one voter took a picture of the ballot paper, and another voter showed to everyone his ballot. In both cases the ballot papers were annulled, and others were issued instead.

In PS 46, Napadova v.,  Floresti d., when leaving the voting booth one voter showed to the people present there his ballot, before depositing it in the ballot box.

Organized Transportation of Voters

Promo-LEX observers reported cases of organized transportation of voters in 9 PSs:

• in PS 3, Comrat t., two cars (registration numbers KA 55 NPZ and GE AC 565) transported each four voters 3 times;
• In PS 284 Bubuieci v., Chisinau mun., a Škoda car with the registration number C QW 796 transported voters 3 times;
• in PS 280 (at least twice) and in PS 276 (once), Bacioi v., Chisinau mun. by a car (registration number K PW 244);
• in PS 11, Comrat t., voters were transported by cars: VAZ (registration number GE GH 428) – 4 people twice; VAZ (registration number CO AO 201) – 3 persons 3 times; Mercedes minibus (registration number GE AO 877) – 5 people 4 times;
• 4 citizens, inhabitants of Ghiduleni v., Rezina d. were brought, by a car with Transnistrian registration number P 551 CB, to the Population Recording and Registration Section of Rezina t. in order to register their residence in that settlement and then to vote in Ghiduleni v. Promo-LEX observers reported that the transportation of voters was organized by a candidate for the position of Mayor;
• In PS 13, Frasin v., Donduseni d., a white Ford Tranzit car transported several voters to the PS at the order of an election contestant;in PS 308, Ghidighici v., Chisinau mun., 15 voters were transported by a bus with the registration number H 2361 BH;
• in PS 26, Coscalia v., Causeni d., a Ford Mondeo car (registration number A 726 SO) transported supporters of an election contestant.

Presence of Unauthorized Persons in the PS

• In PS 11, Comrat t., an unknown citizen stood for one hour in front of the PS, manifesting violence many times. The police forced him to leave.
• In PS 151, Chisinau mun., an MP in the RM Parliament, entered several times the PS during the day, being registered as MP among observers.
• In PS 60, Ivanovca v., Floresti d., the sector policeman stayed inside the polling station.
• In PS 16, Beștemac v., Leova d., the voting process is monitored by the observers of two former election candidates.

Procedural Violations by Observers and Representatives with the Right to Consultative Vote

In PS 58, Elizaveta v., Balti mun., the observer and representative of an election contestant (social workers by profession) were talking to elderly voters.

Observer Intimidation

In PS 26, Coscalia v., Causeni d., a Ford Mondeo car (registration number CS AR 423) permanently followed the mobile team of Promo-LEX. According to the locals, the car belongs to an election contestant.

Incidents

In PS 13, Cotova v., Drochia d., the label with information about the PS was torn in the morning of the voting day.

In PS 308 Ghidighici v., Chisinau mun., a local councillor brought 4 health certificates, on the basis of which some people were supposed to vote. When asked by an inhabitant about the reason for health certificates, he attacked him physically. The case is being investigated by the police.

In PS 4, Comrat t., one voter tore the ballot paper and caused a scandal in the PS, when he found in the list of voters other 2 people domiciled on his address. They called the police and the voting process was suspended for 7 minutes. Later, another voter caused a scandal on the same reason.

In PS 10, Bocani v., Falesti d., the observer from an election contestant stayed at the entrance of the polling station for an hour and prohibited the access into the PS to voters who do not live in the village, but have the residence there. The incident was resolved after the intervention of the sector policeman.

Corruption of Voters

In PS 35, Draguseni v., Soldanesti d., the relative of an election contestant gave MDL 100 to a citizen, to pay for his debts at the local pub. Being invited on the site, the sector policeman found this fact, but did not qualify it as an attempt to buy the vote.

In PS 26, Coscalia v., Causeni d., persons who voted were served alcoholic beverages at the grocery store, located at 20 m from the PS.

Situation in Topala v., Cimislia d.

About 30 people are protesting in the vicinity of PS 44 from Topala v., Cimislia d. because strangers are allegedly trying to vote in there, being at the same time outraged by the plenty of policemen present in the settlement. Representatives of law enforcement bodies were present in the field: 5 persons in uniform and 8 persons in plain clothes. Being blocked by protesters, the police is trying to ensure free access to the polling station, by organizing a corridor at the entrance to the PS for those who want to vote.

45 people voted on additional lists until 6.00 pm. All these people are not inhabitants of this village, but registered their residence in late May and early June.

The president of ECC II had talked with the protesters for an hour. Likewise, there were present representatives of three parties that have electoral candidates.

EOPS 44, Topala v., refused to record 5 complaints from some election candidates and referred them to ECC II. The complaints referred to voting on the basis of expired ID cards, voting by persons without the domicile or residence in that settlement, violation of the secret voting principles by EOPS members.

Complaints

6 complaints were filed in PS 11, Comrat t. (5 of them were against one contestant).

An election candidate filed two complaints to the ECC M of Chisinau mun., asking to exclude one member from EOPS 57, arguing that he did not reach the age of majority, as well as a member from EOPS 1/1 from Codru t, arguing relations with affinity with one of the election candidates.

In PS 12, Cimiseni v., Criuleni d., 6 complaints were submitted.  The first 3 complaints, submitted by representatives of two political parties, were against the shooting of the electoral process by a journalist from Euro TV. Other 3 complaints were submitted by an election contestant against the transportation of voters and buying of votes.

Two election candidates submitted complaints to ECC II against the electioneering activities, carried out in the vicinity of PS 5, Basarabeasca t. While one election contestant accuses the other of electioneering, the latter denies the accusations and qualifies the case as misinformation.

Black PR

“Moldova Yesterday” group disseminated on social networks some parts of the video clips produced by Promo-LEX Association as part of the “COME TO VOTE” Campaign. The clips were used in order to promote a candidate for the position of Mayor of Chisinau on the elections day.

Tomorrow, 29 June, 10.00 am, Promo-LEX Association will organize the next press briefing to present information regarding the parallel vote tabulation in Chisinau and Comrat municipalities.

Promo-LEX Observation Mission declares itself to be neutral and equidistant towards the election candidates, it is not an investigation body and does not assume the express obligation to support the observers’ findings by evidence.

The General Local Elections of 14 (28) June 2015 are monitored by Promo-LEX Association under its Monitoring Democratic Processes Program. The Observation Mission is part of the activities carried out by the civil society under the aegis of the Civic Coalition for Free and Fair Elections.

The Observation Mission of the General Local Elections of 14 (28) June 2015 is supported financially U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Council of Europe and benefits of technical assistance provided by the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI).

The opinions presented in the press release belong to authors and do not necessarily reflect the donors’ view.

For additional information please contact: Simion Ciochina, Communication Officer of the Observation Mission for the 2015 General Local Elections, Tel: 0 (22) 49 26 84, GSM: (+373) 69 11 96 94, E-mail: [email protected].