Twenty-two candidates are running to become members of the Verkhovna Rada in the October 26 elections, using the votes of residents of the Darnytskyi district (district #212). Of these, 11 are self-nominated and the same number are representatives of political parties. Among the candidates are a former head of the local district state administration, a Kyiv City Council member (and also a protégé of the Gereg family), a true fighter against the "communal mafia," three Bondarenkos, and, of course, Darth Vader.
KV learned of this from an official statement from the Central Election Commission of Ukraine.
LIST OF CANDIDATES FOR PEOPLE'S DEPUTIES IN THE 212ND DISTRICT
Single-mandate electoral district No. 212 is located in Kyiv's Darnytskyi district. It includes 87 polling stations, where approximately 169 voters can cast their ballots.
Twenty-two parliamentary candidates have registered in the district, 11 of whom are self-nominated. Also vying for parliament in the Darnytskyi district are candidates from Lyashko's Radical Party, Strong Ukraine, the Liberal Party, Green Planet, Zastup, Common Action, 5.10, Opposition Bloc, People's Front, Power of the People, and the Meritocratic Party. It's worth noting that neither the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, Batkivshchyna, nor Svoboda have nominated representatives.
Representatives of political forces
Unemployed radical
Unemployed Vladislav Bondarenko, a member of Oleh Lyashko's Radical Party, is running for the Verkhovna Rada in Kyiv's single-mandate constituency 212. He previously attempted to become a member of the Kyiv City Council in 2014, running in constituency No. 6 in Darnytsia, but failed to secure enough votes.
Currently, Vladislav Bondarenko is the head of the public reception office of Kyiv City Council deputy from the Radical Party, Oleksandr Vovchenko.
On his Facebook page, Vladislav Bondarenko calls on citizens to be patriots and not sell their votes.
In power, the "radical" promises to work on expelling "traitors," achieving victory in the east of the country, "desaperetization," and providing social assistance to ATO fighters and their families.
Former Party of Regions member from Tihipko
Serhiy Tihipko's Strong Ukraine party is represented in Darnytsia by Oleksandr Zhygun, an assistant to a member of parliament (probably Tihipko himself).
Back in early 2014, he was the head of the Darnytsia District State Administration and the head of the district organization of the Party of Regions; now he heads the Kyivspetsbud-7 enterprise.
During the 2014 snap presidential elections, Oleksandr Zhigun served as a trusted representative of candidate Serhiy Tigipko in electoral district No. 215.
In parliament, the Strong Ukraine candidate promises to lobby for decentralization of power, the development of "economic patriotism" (support for domestic producers, import restrictions), and the implementation of new social protection standards.
Liberal newbie
The Liberal Party of Ukraine nominated Ihor Klymenko in Darnytsia. The candidate was born in the Chernihiv region and lives in Kyiv, where he runs MK-Partner, a company that sells construction materials.
In his election platform, the liberal states that he is running for deputy for the first time and promises to improve the lives of Darnytsia residents: restore the district's factories, reduce utility rates, and monitor the activities of local authorities.
A deputy of the harsh 90s
The Green Planet Party is represented in the 212th electoral district by Olena Krandakova, born in 1951. She has been the executive director of the Association of People's Deputies of Ukraine since 2006. In 1994, Krandakova was already a member of parliament representing the Kirovsky electoral district in Crimea, and in the Verkhovna Rada, she was a member of the group of members of parliament for relations with the European Parliament.
In his election platform, the candidate guarantees voters the health of all children in the Darnitsky district, strict control over the environmental situation in Kyiv, the creation of a fair system of assistance for pensioners and families with children, and the preservation of Kyiv's historical, cultural, and architectural monuments for future generations.
A pensioner from Kozin
In Kyiv's constituency No. 212, pensioner Ihor Loktionov, a candidate from the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Union "Zastup" party, is also running for the Verkhovna Rada. He lives in the village of Kozin in the Obukhiv district of the Kyiv region. Loktionov's campaign platform emphasizes the development of rural areas, agriculture, small and medium-sized businesses, and domestic manufacturing.
An implacable fighter against the "communal mafia"
Also running for the Verkhovna Rada is Tatyana Montyan, leader of the Spilna Diia party, a renowned lawyer and a true fighter against the "communal mafia." In 2014, she ran for Kyiv City Council in District No. 11 in the Darnytskyi District. However, Volodymyr Goncharov, manager of the Epicenter retail chain, won the seat in her district, having been tacitly nominated by Epicenter owner and former Kyiv City Council Secretary Halyna Gerega. Candidates with deep pockets are difficult to defeat.
Read more: Who won seats in the Kyiv City Council under the single-member constituency system in 2014?
In the 2012 parliamentary election race in the Darnytsia single-mandate constituency, Tatyana Montyan received 9% of Kyiv residents' support. The constituency's representative, now Prosecutor General Vitaliy Yarema, was elected to the Verkhovna Rada from that constituency.
Montyan's firm opinion about the memorable events on the Maidan is that the protesters were deceived: in fact, they were fighting for a group of oligarchs who wanted to "overthrow" Yanukovych and install "their own" president. The lack of reforms to the system of power in the post-revolutionary period and the opaque appointments to positions may now convince many of this.
Currently, Tatyana Montyan primarily advocates for: opening up real estate cadastres and registries, introducing "title" registration of property rights in the country, opening up the accounting departments of all public utilities to local communities, and developing local self-government by resolving all important issues through local and general referendums.
Balashova's "Tax" Candidate
Oleh Panchenko, a candidate from Gennady Balashov's "5.10" party, will also compete for the title of People's Deputy of Ukraine from the Darnitsky district of the capital.
The 42-year-old candidate works as the director of the Albedo Company, which designs and installs cable lines, telecommunications networks, and the Internet.
One of the main points of Panchenko's election platform is: "Money is the most important thing for the country and the people." Therefore, the candidate advocates for the introduction of a simplified tax system in Ukraine, "5.10," which, he claims, will make the country and its residents wealthy.
Unemployed oppositionist
The Opposition Bloc, formed from the Development Party, Center, New Policy, State Neutrality, Ukraine Forward, and Labor Ukraine, led by former Deputy Prime Minister Yuriy Boyko, nominated unemployed Tamara Samoylenko in Darnytsia.
In 2014, she participated in the presidential elections as a trusted representative of candidate Valeriy Konovalyuk.
Tamara Samoylenko's Facebook page states that she previously worked at the Darnytsia District State Administration.
Samoylenko's election platform is no different from that of Opposition Bloc candidate Alla Zadorozhnaya in the 211th single-member constituency: stopping the war, a moratorium on utility rate increases, and support for Ukrainian manufacturing. Samoylenko's campaign platform does not include any mention of developing the Darnitsky district.
Former head of the Darnytsia District State Administration
The People's Front Party in the Darnitsky district, as in the Goloseevsky district, nominated the former head of the local district state administration.
Here, it's Vitaliy Stashuk. He was twice elected to the capital's city council (in 1998 and 2002). From 2006 to 2010, he headed the Darnitsa district state administration.
During the 2012 Rada elections, Stashuk worked for the election campaign of the current Prosecutor General of Ukraine, Vitaliy Yarema, and after his victory in the election, Stashuk's brother became Yarema's assistant in parliament.
According to media reports, in these parliamentary elections, Stashuk persuaded the Poroshenko Bloc not to nominate its candidate in the 212th district (it could have been Igor Balenko, the owner of Furshet) and became the main contender for a seat in the Verkhovna Rada.
The candidate's election platform consists of promises to improve the lives of people in Darnytsia: developing local self-government, simplifying the procedure for holding local referendums, improving the district's infrastructure, and completely reconstructing the Bortnychi Wastewater Treatment Plant. Furthermore, Stashuk promised voters that he would register a bill "On Municipal Police" after entering the Verkhovna Rada.
The best deputy of Ivano-Frankivsk
The People's Power Party nominated 36-year-old Lyubomyr Chorniy, a native of Ivano-Frankivsk, in the 212th electoral district.
Since 2007, the candidate has headed the public organization "Center for Public Expertise", which analyzes and develops regulatory acts and target programs.
In 1998, Chorniy became a deputy of the Ivano-Frankivsk City Council, and the following year he was recognized as the best deputy of the city.
Since 2003, he has been an advisor to Ivano-Frankivsk mayor Zinoviy Shkutyak on a voluntary basis.
On his Facebook page, Chorniy stated that the "Power of the People" party was only registered in August of this year and was collecting money "pennies by pennies" to register candidates for the Central Election Commission. This, Chorniy claimed, is evidence that the party is not backed by oligarchs.
The candidate's platform consists of statements on establishing a strong army in Ukraine and restoring the country's territorial integrity. Chorniy also believes that the Verkhovna Rada should do everything possible to develop business in Ukraine, provide citizens with adequate social protection, and build an effective law enforcement system.
Meritocratic lawyer
The meritocratic party at Darnytsia was represented by lawyer Oleksiy Shevchuk, managing partner of the law firm Shevchuk & Partners.
In his campaign for self-election, the candidate promises to develop Ukraine so that its residents are prosperous, as well as to promote the English language in the country on par with Ukrainian and Russian.
Self-nominated candidates
An experienced McDonald's employee
Olga Andrushkevich, a 30-year-old unemployed woman from the Donetsk region, wants to get into parliament from the Darnitsky district.
She graduated from the electrical engineering department of DNTU and has at least 3 years of experience working at McDonald's.
The candidate's Facebook page contains no campaign information, but it does say that Andrushkevich works at Epicenter and lives in Kyiv. The potential parliamentarian is an avid runner.
In the election program, one of the main problems facing Ukraine and Kyiv is identified as chaotic construction, and also states the need for housing and utilities reform and the establishment of Ukraine's energy independence.
Bondarenko is the first
Volodymyr Bondarenko, the namesake of a Kyiv City Council deputy and head of the Kyiv City State Administration, is eager to gain access to the Verkhovna Rada.
"I'm running for parliament to be able to legislate to ensure a decent life for Ukrainian citizens. My goal is to pass laws that will support development, job growth, and social protection," Bondarenko stated in his election platform, promising to reform virtually all sectors of public administration.
Bondarenko the second
Another Bondarenko, Yuriy, also registered as a candidate for parliament in the 212th constituency. According to the Central Election Commission, Yuriy Bondarenko was born and lives in Kyiv and is currently unemployed.
"In my work as a People's Deputy of Ukraine, I pledge to be a worthy representative of the Ukrainian people and to work to improve the lives of citizens," Bondarenko stated.
He also guarantees to resign his parliamentary powers if he fails to fulfill his duties and numerous pre-election promises.
It's worth noting that such a large number of little-known Bondarenko candidates in the 212th electoral district may indicate that competitors of candidate Vladislav Bondarenko from Lyashko's Radical Party are attempting to siphon off some of the "radical's" votes from inattentive voters. Moreover, Lyashko's candidate is not considered the leading contender for the Darnytsia seat.
As KV previously reported, Batkivshchyna candidate for the Verkhovna Rada in constituency No. 211 in the Holosiivskyi district of the capital, Serhiy Terekhin, stated that his competitor, Oleksiy Terekhin, is a clone.
Darth Vladimirovich Vader
Perhaps the most serious competitor for the candidates for deputy in the Darnitsky majoritarian district was an unemployed Kyiv resident with no higher education, Dart Vladimirovich Vader.
As a reminder, Star Wars entered Ukrainian politics in 2014 during the local elections in Kyiv and Odesa. Back then, the fantasy characters ran for mayor in those cities, but, surprisingly, failed to win.
Sixteen different Darth Vaders are participating in the snap elections to the Verkhovna Rada, 13 of whom have chosen Kyiv residents as their electorate.
However, the Vaders' election platforms are completely identical. Their essence is electronic governance and self-government, computerization, and the provision of government services online.
Lustrator
Serhiy Vovk, president of the charity organization "Dar" (which helps orphans and the disabled), also wanted to become a people's representative in Darnitsa and ran for office.
If elected to the Rada, the candidate promised to conduct a complete lustration of the government and impose fair punishment on all terrorists, traitors, and enemies of the Ukrainian nation.
Member of the Kyiv City Council
Volodymyr Goncharov, a protégé of former Kyiv City Council Secretary Halyna Gerega and her husband, MP and former Party of Regions member Oleksandr Gerega, has decided to trade his seat on the Kyiv City Council for a seat in parliament.
It's worth noting that, according to media reports, while running for the Kyiv City Council, Goncharov spared no expense on campaigning and various free events for voters. However, now that he's the deputy general director of Epicenter, it's possible Goncharov will recruit employees of his chain of stores to disrupt the vote count.
There is a belief that this time Goncharov will not have enough money from Gereg to get into the Rada, so he will have to remain on the Kyiv City Council.
Unemployed "European"
Oleh Leshchenko, a member of the European Party of Ukraine, is running for parliament as an independent candidate in the 212th majoritarian constituency.
It should be noted that in this year's Kyiv City Council elections, Leshchenko was 23rd on the European Party's 25-seat electoral list and did not become a deputy.
The candidate's election platform states that he is running for the Rada as an independent candidate and intends to defend the rights of Darnitsa, where he lives.
Assistant to a People's Deputy
Galina Nikolenko, assistant and consultant to a people's deputy and an employee of the Verkhovna Rada Secretariat, also wanted to hold a parliamentary mandate.
Although the candidate is running as an independent candidate, there is a possibility that she has the support of the Batkivshchyna party, which has not officially nominated a candidate in this constituency.
Nikolenko went to congratulate students and faculty at the Kyiv Medical University together with Batkivshchyna MP Serhiy Sobolev.
According to Nikolenko's election platform, the candidate's top priorities are the nation's moral values, the protection of Ukrainian identity, and the formation of a conscious society.
Darnitsky businessman
Oleksiy Ronis, the non-partisan director of the Ronis i Son travel agency and the Svit Trader company, which sells and delivers New Year's sweets, decided to run for parliament because, in his opinion, it is impossible to remain outside of politics.
The candidate was born and raised in Darnitsa, so his primary focus is on implementing the latest technologies at BSA.
It's worth noting that Ronis is calling on Darnytsia residents to vote for him, complimenting them in his election platform on how patriotic and hardworking they are.
"Green" without "greens"
Aleksey Steshenko, a board member of the leasing company UniCredit Leasing, is also trying to become a member of parliament with the help of Darnytsia residents' votes.
He is associated with the Green Party, but the candidate is running for parliament without the support of any political party.
In 2014, he also tried to become a deputy of the Kyiv City Council, running from the 11th district in Darnytsia, but did not win the election.
To build a strong Ukraine, according to Steshenko, it is necessary to protect the state, develop the nation, cleanse the government, and carry out economic reforms.
Decentralizer
Yaroslav Timoshevsky, a resident of the village of Hatne in the Kyiv-Svyatoshinsky district of the Kyiv region, also ran for parliament.
In 2011, according to KV, the candidate worked as the head of the Department of Culture and Tourism of the Skvira District State Administration of the Kyiv Region.
According to the Central Election Commission website, Timoshevsky currently has no job.
Once in parliament, the candidate first promises to address the issue of decentralization of power.
Valeria Samarkina, KyivVlast
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