Today, on the streets of Odessa and in public transport, you can often see posters advertising Ukrainian Naval Party.
The abbreviated version of the name is UM-Partiya (which, for older people, evokes associations with the slogan of the Soviet period: “The Party is the mind, honor, and conscience of our era”).
It is clear that the party, revived this spring, is a tool for its leader, MP Sergei Kivalov, in his fight to obtain a new parliamentary mandate.
Background: The UM Party was registered by the Ministry of Justice on March 27, 2001. It established its organizations primarily in the Odessa region, the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and Sevastopol. Under the slogan of "bringing Ukraine into the ranks of major maritime powers," the party attempted to recruit workers in the maritime industry, retired naval officers, and local politicians. In particular, the acting leader of the party under its real leader, Kivalov, was retired Vice-Admiral Vladimir Beskorovayny, who commanded the Ukrainian Navy for three years (1993-1996). He was also one of the developers of the far-fetched Ukrainian Naval Doctrine, which outlined the country's global objectives in "the world ocean (!), the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov."
The Ukrainian Marine Party independently participated in the parliamentary elections in 2002, receiving as many as… 29,025 votes (0,1%).
Moreover, even in its core Odesa region, the party only won 1,2% of the vote. This was despite a fairly active campaign through printed materials and local television commercials, as well as campaign trips by Natalia, the singer and wife of businessman Oleh Radkovsky (current head of the Batkivshchyna regional branch) who performed charity concerts in the Izmail region.
The appeal of the "marine idea" didn't work. However, the resulting hype did help the party's leader, Serhiy Kivalov, win the Verkhovna Rada elections in the 136th single-member constituency. Some UM Party candidates became deputies of the Odesa City Council.
From 2006 until April 2014, the UM party was completely silent. On April 26, the party congress took place. Former Party of Regions member Kivalov was elected head of his own puppet party foundation.
As in the early 2000s, the Odesa regional organization was once again headed by one of the former Black Sea Shipping Company leaders, Sergei Melashchenko. The head of the Odesa city organization was Svetlana Osaulenko, chair of the Primorsky District Administration and a leading expert on maritime issues.
Although the party speaks of the needs of the entire maritime economic complex of the Odessa region and Ukraine, in reality, the efforts of its activists will clearly be directed at the Primorsky district of Odessa (the 135th majoritarian district, if the numbering does not change), where the president of the National University "Odesa Academy" Serhiy Kivalov again wants to remain a deputy.
The "Kivalov is our MP" brand is being promoted on a massive scale by "our" media. In particular, the results of opinion polls have been announced, indicating that Serhiy Kivalov is the "most popular and authoritative politician" in the Southern Palmyra (?!). Odessans are rightly asking: where were these polls conducted—were they among the faculty and students of the Law Academy?
READ ON THIS TOPIC: СSergey Kivalov. The Godfather of Corruption and Justice
Residents of the Primorsky District are surprised to learn how much Kivalov has done for them and the city. The media mentions free computer courses for pensioners (a handful of elderly people have benefited from them, but it's a drop in the bucket) and legal consultations for the poor. They recall the student Orthodox Church of St. Tatiana (where, incidentally, a mosaic image of the great martyr resembles Kivalov's daughter, and a plaque with the words of the "great people's deputy" is nailed to the walls). But then again, many other members of parliament build and renovate churches without immortalizing themselves in images of saints.
Kivalov's propaganda, of course, places a special emphasis on the Odessa Law Academy. To its credit, the university has a strong academic foundation (including the library), and civilized conditions for study and recreation have been created. However, the National University of Law has been and remains one of the main breeding grounds for corrupt officials for Ukraine's security forces. A rigorous system of bribes and gratuities for faculty flourishes here. Of course, there are some "black sheep" among the students who pass exams and tests without bribes (but these are usually contract soldiers and far from excellent students).
It's simply hard to find such a segregation of students based on wealth and their parents' professional and business status as at OLA. The untouchable caste consists of the "rich kids," who occupy the most privileged departments and look down on their peers (they often even attend classes accompanied by bodyguards, who meet them not only at the exit but also stand guard outside the classrooms!). And Kivalov's daughter, Tanya, set an example for them: as a student and then after she remained in the research and teaching department, she shamelessly threatened everyone with retaliation from her father at the slightest provocation.
Well, the less fortunate, having gone through a similar school of hypocrisy and having spent a substantial sum on acquiring the coveted diploma, do everything possible to recoup the money spent on their studies in the security forces and in the legal field.
So, under the current system, what is more beneficial or harmful to the country and all its citizens from an institution like NU "OYuA"? The question is not rhetorical!
Kivalov's angry reaction to Governor Igor Palytsia is particularly touching., who appealed to the Prosecutor General of Ukraine with an urgent request to hold the people's deputy accountable for separatism - based on an article signed by him, published in early February in the weekly "2000".
An offended Kivalov invited Palitsa through his website... to a meeting on personal matters (which he holds twice a month), promising to provide a free legal consultation. He also threatened to sue.
And here the MP clearly blundered. A court ruling (even the most biased one), had it been upheld, would hardly have favored Kivalov. It's odd that such an experienced lawyer as Kivalov didn't think through what he signed. Well, if he did think through it and wrote the article himself (and not through paid hacks), then be prepared to answer for your words.
Summary: Are our voters really so indifferent that they are ready to vote once again for a man who constantly changes his convictions, the father of university (and other) corruption, who has made the judicial system the most disrespected structure in society?
Ask yourself: how many of Kivalov's nominees were there among the 9 judges in the country in 2013? How many remain, despite the lustrations? Are you satisfied with their work? Are they, led by their patron, devaluing the "revolution of dignity"?
Yuri Makarov, Odessa's megaphone
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