The GPO has instituted criminal proceedings probing the fact of a raider storm at the polygraphic complex “Ukraina” in Kyiv. Here, the polygraphists print the ballot papers for this presidential election. The storm took place yesterday, 25 January at 5:30 a.m., near 300 persons forced their way to the plant. They used “tear-gas, tools of a specific use, lifting bars, bludgeons”, as to MP of the “Party of Regions” Vasyl Hrytsak. There was a clash between them and the security. The office of the  director Valentine Musica, recently dismissed by PM, was taken by force. The MPs from ByUT tried to make pass to his office newly nominated director Volodymyr Khomko, but the MPs of “Party of Regions” obstructed the way to them.

The MPs of both political forces “Party of Regions” of Victor Yanukovich and the “ByUT” of Julia Tymoshenko are accusing each other of the attempt to take under one’s control the process of ballots print some two weeks before next round of election. “The Party of Regions” claimed the ByUT launched this demarche in order to produce 1 and a half millions of extra ballots to be able to rig results of the second round of election.  The “Party of Regions” claimed this raid was run by 1^st vice-PM Turchinov, as to Korrespondent.net. The Julia Tymoshenko’s group, ByUT, called this was a pure provocation.

The incident was caused by the replacement of the director of the polygraphic plant, as to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (Ukrainian-language site). On 22 of January, the government of Julia Tymoshenko nominated new director of the polygraphic plant “Ukraina”. But it was found out this new person had no necessarily status to get access to classified documents what is needed to take this position. The president Yushchenko stated the both political forces, “Party of Regions” and “ByUT “ are responsible for this conflict. “Responsibility for this conflict around the complex plant, its provocative nature and using force is up to the both sides of election race”, Yushchenko said, as to Ukrayinska Pravda. “It’s obvious that replacing the head of the printing company between the first and the second rounds isn’t a step that strengthens society’s trust,” Yushchenko added, as to Bloomberg. “I also don’t share the position of the other side, after five of its lawmakers forced themselves into the director’s office today.” Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council ordered Interior Ministry troops to serve as guards at the state-run company that prints the ballots for the second round of presidential elections next month.

The council asked prosecutors to investigate events after opposition lawmakers attempted to prevent the company’s new chief from starting work today, Raisa Bohatyryova, the council’s secretary, said in a statement on the body’s Web site after a meeting called by outgoing president Yushchenko.

Today, on 26 of January the plant was going to start printing ballots for the second round scheduled for February 7, as deputy president of the Central Election Commission Jeanna Usenko-Chernaya had reported earlier. Ms Usenko-Chernaya denied the storm would disrupt voting papers printing process, as she said it speaking to Ukrayinska Pravda on January 25.  

IMI, according to Ukrayinska Pravda, RFE/RL, Correspondent.net, Bloomberg