Chisinau, November 22 (Infotag). The experts of the Independent Press Association (API), The Association for Democracy through Participation (ADEPT), the League for Protection of Human Rights (LADOM) consider all candidates for post of the Gagauz Bashkan violate the electoral legislation, though not very seriously. It was said in Infotag at a press conference, devoted to the presentation of a regularly report on the monitoring of the election campaign in Gagauzia. The action was carried out in the frame of the Free and Correct Elections of the Gagauz Bashkan, which was implemented from October 2006 to January 2007 with financial assistance on the part of the Eurasia Fund to Moldova.

ADEPT Chairman Igor Botan said the candidates for the Bashkan post violate the legislation and provoke each other into doing it. “It is clear, if one of the candidates use his administrative resource, the other candidates, when they notice it, use their connections in the mass media or other contacts. Nevertheless, I consider that the election campaign in Gagauzia is mainly of a correct character and good words will be spoken out about these elections on the national and international; national level”, Botan considers.

He underscored the openness of the Central Election Commission of Gagauzia for cooperation with ADEPT. “Together with them we worked out 600 posters under the motto “Vote Correctly!”, with the help of which we inform citizens of the day and the place of the elections and such flyers as “The Young Voter’s Reference Book” in the official, Russian and Gagauz languages, as well as the information bulletin, distributed within the whole territory of Gagauzia”, Botan said.

LADOM Chairman Paul Strutescu said negative trends were revealed in the course of the monitoring of the election campaign process from October 29 to November 15. “The practice of not giving the name of the printing house, where advertising materials were printed, continued. It speaks about the absence of transparency in the expenditures, made by candidates”, Strutescu said.

According to him, several cases of the ungrounded detention of citizens, supporting the competitors of the incumbent Gagauz Bashkan, were reported.

API and Independent Journalism Center representative Nicolae Negri said there is a trend for reducing the support on the part of the Republican Radio and TV for Tabunscic.

“The public and local radio channels took the similar stance. They also avoid presenting materials criticizing Tabunscic’s competitors’, Negri said.

He remarked that during the final monitoring period regional public newspapers became more reserved, they publish more advertising and educational materials.