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Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko - Source: Reuters
For sale: my vote in Ukraine's election. From 300 to 500
hryvnias ($US37-$US63). Can gather others who want to sell.
Several offers have appeared on the internet from disenchanted
citizens in the ex-Soviet republic who say they are ready to sell
their votes in the January 17 election for president.
"I don't believe in our democracy and so I am selling my vote in
the elections. Maybe there will be 10 other votes for sale. The
only discussion on price will be upwards," said one internet
advertisement from Lviv in western Ukraine.
The State Security Service had no comment to make on the offers,
but a central election commission official said buying votes was
illegal and subject to criminal prosecution.
It did not appear, however, to be an offence to offer votes for
sale.
Another offer from the capital Kiev read: "I am completely
indifferent to who wins. There are three votes for sale - two in
Kiev, one in Bila Tserkva. 500 hryvnia apiece."
Some have accompanying e-mail addresses.
Other appear with a contact telephone number.
Disillusioned voters
Vadim, a 25-year-old Kiev construction worker, said he had already
received offers in response to his internet posting.
"The politics of Ukraine don't interest me at all. I am not
interested in who will be president. I am not a patriot," he
said.
Vadim said he could gather a total of about 10 votes for sale from
among his family and friends and the going rate for each was 500
hryvnias.
"I have had offers already and I am deciding," he said.
He would not say whether the offers had come from political
parties, their agents or individuals.
Sunday's election for president, the fifth since independence from
the Soviet Union in 1991, takes place amid deep economic gloom in
Ukraine where the global recession has hit jobs, family budgets and
pockets.
"This is a reflection of disappointment and the increasingly
cynical attitude of voters towards politics and politicians," said
political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko.
"There is no trust among Ukrainians in the overwhelming majority of
candidates."
Sunday's vote is not expected to produce an outright winner.
Opinion polls suggest that pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko,
who came to power after mass street protests against election fraud
in 2004, will not go forward.
A second round run-off is expected between the two front-runners,
Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Prime Minister Viktor
Yanukovich, on February 7.
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