The topic of “Face to face” series of talk show of online Aravot is discussed between Sergey Chamanyan, an expert implementing an observation mission in these elections, and political scientist Aghasi Yenokyan.
Aram Abrahamyan – You both are observers for Ukrainian presidential elections. Where were you assigned? And which organization were you representing?
Sergey Chamanyan – I was representing the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission. First, I was in Kiev, then I moved to the East and eastern zones. Specifically, I was in Zaporozhe and a little further, to Donetsk.
Aghasi Yenokyan – I was in the staff of the European Network of Election Observers, we were in the Dnepropetrovsk region, particularly in the cities of Dnepropetrovsk and Krivoy Rog.
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A. A. – In one of our previous programs, one of our colleagues said that there are 4 Ukraines: Western Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk region, Kiev, and Eastern Lugansk, Donetsk. Do you agree with it? What’s the difference between them?
S. Ch. – By quantity, we can even make it more, I perhaps get into the field of my colleague, but I must say that Kolomoyskyi dominates in Dnepropetrovsk who is an oligarch, who reigns in the region and is its “guardian angel.” He was the initiator of the establishment of the famous “Donbass” battalion, which consists of self-defense forces, and is trying to counteract the pro-Russian activists.
A. A. – Dnepropetrovsk is understandable. And is Kiev separate according to you?
S. Ch. – Kiev is separate, Maidan is separate.
A. A. – East is clear. What about the south?
S. Ch. – The south is in a standby mode. This is my opinion because in the same Zaporozhe, which is considered to be the heart of Ukraine, there are quite interesting fermentations, because they were the link between Donbas and Crimea.
A. A. – How many Ukraines are there?
A. Ye. – It’s a tough question, I think that this distinction has the right to exist, so as the Russian distinction that there is a south-east and the rest. The Kremlin approach also has the right to exist that Ukraine is united. In addition to Kolomoyskyi, Dnepropetrovsk had traditionally played an important role in the history of Ukraine, as well as the Soviet Union. Recall that Brezhnev was from Dnepropetrovsk, as well as Yulia Timoshenko. Yarosh is the representative of famous “Right sector”; he is from there. Generally, in the Soviet Union, Dnepropetrovsk was separated by the fact that its ties with Moscow have been direct, unmediated by Kiev, and in that sense, the political ambitions are very high there.
A. A. – How did the elections proceed in the regions “entrusted” to you?
S. Ch. – If I speak specifically about Zaporozhe region, the elections proceeded at an unexpected high level, with high participation of people in the elections. The elections provided more than 65 percent of participation specifically in Zaporozhe region, when it was about 60 percent in the whole Ukraine. People were enthusiastic.
A. A. – How do you explain it?
S. Ch. – I explain it due to the fact that Crimea, Donetsk and Lugansk were not participating. Election, in my opinion, is a chance for people who have not participated in “Maidan”, to do their part of job for them and Ukraine.
A. Ye. – It was the same with us. A very high participation. Most importantly, there were no apparent violations, there were no radical sentiments, such things that would have led to disputes and fights, so it is a pretty good and normal process.
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
“Face to Face” talk show series are released by the Open Society Foundations- Armenia. The views and analyzes found in this broadcast express the opinions of the participants, and are not approved by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, or its Board. This broadcast is made available thanks to comprehensive financial support by the Open Society Foundations-Armenia, under the mass media support program, grant No 18624.
