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Appelli per l'Ucraina

Dear Friends,
Once again we have the opportunity to witness history in Ukraine. The elections yesterday were marred with incredible fraud, including the use of multiple voting, misused absentee ballots, intimidation of students and employees at large factories, shut off of electricity, disappearing inks, destruction of ballots, etc. The list goes on and on. International observers were thrown out of most of Donetsk oblast, as were the observers from the opposition parties -- both actions illegal. "Voter turnout" was over 100% in certain territories of eastern Ukraine. The final tally of the number of voters in Donetsk oblast was changed after four hours, to make up for the extra votes that were going to be stuffed in the ballot boxes.

Military and militia that refused to obey illegal orders, against the Ukrainian Constitution and against the people of Ukraine were fired, beat up and even killed in one case. As we write this, many related websites have been shut down or turned off, including the Yanukovych website and the Central Electoral Commission website. Only one TV channel continues to report on the elections, Channel 5, but in less than 30% of the country.

In response, Yuschenko and his supporters have announced a national strike that began this morning.

The Ukrainian people are standing up for their rights. The Ukrainian people are insisting that this fraud be discontinued and that an extraordinary session of the Parliament be held to deisgnate the fraud where it has been documented and proven. All this and no response from the authorities, other than they know they "have won and it's only a matter of time until that fact is announced."

Today, it is important that you do your part to ensure that President Bush, your Congresspeople and Senators are fully aware of the situation in Ukraine. While the U.S. tries to build democracy in Afghanistan and Iraq at the cost of billions of dollars, the Ukrainian people are doing their damndest to build democracy. They should not be alone. The United States, the EU, Canada and the rest of the democratic world need to support the true democracy that is being built today in Ukraine.

CALL THE WHITE HOUSE (PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE). CALL YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE (PARLIAMENTARIANS). TELL THEM THAT THE UNITED STATES, CANADA AND THE EU CANNOT AND SHOULD NOT RECOGNIZE THE FRAUD AND ILLEGALITY THAT HAVE SURROUNDED THESE ELECTIONS.

Make your voices heard. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians throughout the country are standing in below freezing weather demanding their rights, demanding that freedom be respected and that rule of law be followed in Ukraine.

Your support costs nothing. Make a few calls. Pass this to your friends and colleagues. This is the support that Ukraine needs. The Ukrainian people need you.

Statement by U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Richard Lugar, November 22, 2004, Kiev, Ukraine:

As I approached that responsibility, I noted that the campaign had already been marked by widespread political intimidation and failure to give equal coverage to candidates in the media. Physical intimidation of voters and illegal use of governmental administrative and legal authorities had been evident and pervasive.

I have come not as an advocate of either candidate in the November 21 election, but to stress free and fair election procedures that would strengthen worldwide respect for the legitimacy of the winning candidate.

OSCE/ODIHR and other observers mention an extensive list of serious procedural violations including: * Illegal expulsions of opposition members of election commissions;

* Inaccurate voter lists;

* Evidence of students, government employees and private sector workers being forced by their deans and supervisors to vote for one candidate over another;

* Busloads of people voting more than once with absentee ballots;
* Representatives of the media being beaten and their equipment stolen or destroyed; and

* Suspiciously large use of mobile voting.

Even in the face of these attempts to end any hope of a free and fair election, I was inspired by the willingness and courage of so many citizens of Ukraine to demonstrate their passion for free expression and the building of a truly democratic Ukraine. As corrupt authorities tried to disrupt, frighten and intimidate citizens, brave people pushed back by continuing to do their best to keep the election on track and to prevent chaos.

President Leonid Kuchma in his Saturday night address to the people said:

"There will be no revolutions. We shall have elections. Elections worthy of a 21st century European country."

Play a central role in ensuring that Ukraine's election is democratic and free of fraud and manipulation. A tarnished election, however, will lead us to review our relations with Ukraine."

In thoughtful and careful representation of President Bush's words, I visited with President Kuchma, Prime Minister Yanukovich and Speaker Lytvyn with explicit requests for them to terminate any further campaign violations. Despite the already recorded long list of egregious assaults on democracy in Ukraine, I said both publicly and privately that I had come to celebrate the building of strong democratic institutions in Ukraine.

It is now apparent that a concerted and forceful program of election day fraud and abuse was enacted with either the leadership or cooperation of governmental authorities.

I believe that President Kuchma has the responsibility and the opportunity for producing even at this point an outcome which is fair and responsible.

He will enhance his legacy by prompt and decisive action which maximizes worldwide confidence in the presidency of Ukraine and the extraordinary potential future which lies ahead of this country.


Mark Helmke

Senior Professional Staff
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee
Chairman Richard G. Lugar
Phone: 202-224-5918
Fax: 202-228-0403

Following the initiative of Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Students of ukraine are striking today Rightfully Demanding democracy, freedom and government decency

We urgently ask for support and financial help please, send your checks payable to:

KYIV MOHYLA FOUNDATION OF AMERICA

and mail to

KYIV MOHYLA FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
P.O. BOX 46OO9
CHICAGO, IL - 60646

Wwrite "students aid " on checks

You can also make a wire transfer to our account as follows:

Wire from your Bank through:

Mid-States Corporation Federal Credit Union
ABA or routing No. 27198763 5
for further credit to:
Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union in Chicago, IL
ABA or Routing Number 27108081 7
for credit to Account No. 100640 000
of Kyiv Mohylas Foundation of America

For further information call 773 685 1828