Maidan

Letter regarding the giving of 'Hero' awards to Yanukovych "cronies'

Open Letter to His Excellency Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko
Presidential Election Observers and all dedicated Ukrainians
From: Natalie Lenstra, Canadian Election Observer
Three times during Ukraine's Presidential Election 2004
Published by The Action Ukraine Report (AUR), Number 522
Washington, D.C., Wednesday, July 13, 2005

His Excellency Victor Yushchenko
President of Ukraine
Vul Bankova, 11, 01220, Kyiv-220

Observers and all dedicated Ukrainians

Dear President Yushchenko:

BEWARE…. President Yushchenko!

I can only attribute your the recent honorary awards to Yanukovych’s
“cronies” to perhaps a “burn out or overworked state” and I hope that
somehow these awards slipped by you accidentally as you may not aware
of the gravity and danger of these awards to Ukraine!

To give an honorary award to Tkachuka Viacheslava Petrovicha, the head
of the Territorial Election Committee, of the territorial region #113 of the
election of the President of Ukraine.

I had the opportunity of serving Ukraine three times during the elections as
an official observer. Twice I was sent to the eastern, most dangerous
Luhansk Region. The first time there was only a handful of 12 Observers
that dared to go to that area. We were privileged to have some of the best
organizers during that first tour and our leaders did an excellent job in
compiling all our information and presenting it in a press conference in
Kyiv.

Ambassador Robinson as well as other Canadian Ministers were present.
I attribute the changes that took place in Ukraine were partly as a result
of that press conference.

During that first tour, I saw and recorded many infractions but the
description that I personally witnessed involved this very man that you have
just honoured as a “Revolutionary Hero” As well as Tkachuka, the very same
military leaders that I will describe below, were also given “General”
status by you in the military!

I chose the TVK office # 113 in Serevodonesk on the first tour to witness
the count and results. I approached the door to the office and presented my
official documents. Tkachuka Viacheslava Petrovicha, grabbed my passport
and my Observer Card and frantically began waving it in front of the
committee.

“This is what Kanada is doing!” he yelled as he ran around the room showing
everyone my documentation. He began yelling at me that I had no right to be
there. I informed him that the according to laws, Observers had a right to
witness the procedures of the election. A gentleman, Anatoliy Perekupka,
who I learned was the head of the Yushchenko Shtab (headquarters) in
Severedonesk, came to my defense.

I had begun filming this frantic display of protest from Tkachuka
Viacheslava Petrovicha. He told me to remove the camera and to leave.
Anatoliy Perekupka, again tried to tell him what I had stated. I dropped my
camera and continued rolling the film with the camera at my side.

Tkachuka Viacheslava Petrovicha turned from me and began yelling at Mr.
Perekupka. He reminded him that Mr. Perekupka had a wife and daughter
in that town and if he valued their safety, he would mind his own business.

Suddenly Mr. Perekupka’s cell phone rang and he asked me to join him
downstairs. I followed him outside to see about 8 militia arresting young
boys and confiscating a white van that belonged to the Yushchenko Shtabb.
Mr. Perekupka approached the head officer as I filmed the conversation.
He asked him why he was arresting the boys.

The reply was that he “suspected them and that the van may have something
hidden or that the van was stolen.” I could not see a stolen van parked in
the lot of the TVK office with 50 militia present. Mr. Perekupka tried to
reason with him and asked him to take all the men he needed and check out
the van with everyone present as witnesses.

He indicated that he feared for the safety of the boys if they were taken
away and he suggested that if the van was checked inside the military
compound rather than on the street …they might find something…meaning
that they might plant something.

At this point I interjected and asked them why they were arresting the boys
who were just parked quietly and observing the election process. They
same officer in charge first told me it was none of my business. I replied
that it was the business of the world to observe fair elections in Ukraine
and I presented my card and repeated my question.

1. The response was, “Because WE HAVE ORDERS FROM ABOVE!”
2. I ask if the boys had done anything wrong. The response was that the
license plates were not from that town.
3. I asked if they had a warrant to take the van. The response was “NO!”
4. I asked if they had a warrant for the arrest of the boys! The response
was “NO!”

“Do I understand you correctly? (I was filming and talking), You are
arresting these boys and taking the van without a warrant. The response
was “YES!”

They removed the boys and drove off with the van. We felt rather helpless
at this point. There was some discussion with other witnesses for about
twenty minutes. Suddenly Mr. Perekupka got a call that the boys and the
van had been released.

About twenty minutes later, Mr. Perkupka called me and told me that the
boys were arrested again and suggested that perhaps the militia had
thought that I left town. I met him at the military station and the head of
the militia came out glared at me and told us in a gruff voice to wait and
slammed the door shut. He was annoyed at my presence.

Then I noticed a lady crying on the stairs. I asked her if her son was
there and she said to me, “Don’t you realize that we might never see those
young boys again!” She rolled up her sleeves and showed me bruises on her
arms. One arm was very sore as she felt her muscles had been pulled. She
warned me to be careful and described how she got into the van after the
boys were released.

She just wanted to ask the boys what had happened. (She was an Observer
for, I believe, the Socialist Party). She was a petite lady about 40 and
she was dragged out of the van by a number of large, strong armed militia.

I suggested accompanying her to the local hospital where the doctor seemed
rather annoyed at our request for an examination, However, when I showed my
Observer card, he agreed to examine her. He found more bruising to other
parts of her body and wrote a report. Her arm was placed in a sling and I
believe she was given pain medication.

During this hospital procedure I suggested to a young military officer in
the hospital to tell his chief that it might be a good idea to have the boys
released. I guaranteed him that I would not let this matter rest and the
Canadian Ambassador would be informed of this entire incident. About
2:00 AM the boys were finally permanently released.

During the third tour at the same #113 TVK, the same Tkatchka Viacheslava
Petrovicha, allowed all (about 20) the observers in and allowed filming so I
believe he may have been reminded about the election laws. It was comforting
not to be the only Observer this time. This man deserves no metals for what
he did during the first election.

The same Militia leader responsible for assaulting an election Observer has
been given honorary position. These people pose the greatest threat to
Ukraine because they are wolves in sheep’s clothing!

President Yushchenko, you need to be informed of these incidences involving
Viacheslava Tkachuka and the head of the militia. I enclose a letter
forwarded from Mr. Anatoliy Perekupka [see footnote]. All the underlined
names are Yanukovych cronies getting Hero awards! Please check out the
other names and check with Mr. Perekupka as to the infractions committed
by the other so called heroes.

I am more than willing to come to Ukraine at my cost and testify against
Tkachenka and your new general in Serevodonesk. As a Ukrainian
Canadian I ask you to seriously reconsider the names below, underlined in
bold [see footnote], before Ukraine is destroyed from within your own
“house”! Tkatchka and others should be arrested and prosecuted for their
actions, not rewarded!

Respectfully,
Natalka Lenstra, Canada
And fellow Ukrainians