The head of Viktor Yushchenko's staff in the Volyn region, Volodymyr Bondar, demands an end to the "shameful practice of twisting the arms of honest citizens and law-abiding officers in order to hand over absentee ballots to the heads of enterprises, institutions and organizations of the region." The People's Deputy of Ukraine made this statement during a press conference. In particular, he noted that the staff has reliable information that the leadership of the regional internal affairs directorate, the emergency situations directorate, education, customs bodies, and enterprises of the region are forcing their employees to bring three absentee ballots each. "The authorities are trying to push their candidate through using any methods, including those most unacceptable with regard to the person and citizen of the state," said Volodymyr Bondar. The people's elected representative also said that today's situation with absentee ballots is another technology of the Ukrainian authorities: "the maximum program is to vote using these ballots in the eastern territories of Ukraine, the minimum program is to prevent as many voters as possible from voting for Viktor Yushchenko." But Volodymyr Bondar assured that the authorities' machinations in Volyn will not succeed in the volumes that are planned. The head of the election staff in the region addressed the Volyn voters, in particular those who are today under pressure from their leadership: "there are many of you, do not let your officer's and civic position be disgraced, do not let anyone control you as individuals, do not give up your constitutional right to choose your own government! If you lose your civic position today, you will have no other chance," he said. For two days now, Volodymyr Bondar has been trying to meet with the regional prosecutor, but the latter stubbornly cannot find time to communicate with the people's deputy. On this basis, the head of Yushchenko's Volyn staff claims that "the prosecutor's office of the Volyn region, through its inaction, is covering up a crime, which is the violation of Ukraine's election legislation. If this is not so," says Volodymyr Nalkovych, "let the prosecutor's office respond to the deputy's appeals with concrete cases — all officials who obstruct the exercise of citizens' will must bear responsibility," noted Volodymyr Bondar. Volodymyr Bondar guaranteed that he personally will take up the cases of those who will be dismissed from work for political reasons or for refusing to carry out criminal orders. "I will defend the labor and civic rights of each of you, using all the capabilities of a people's deputy," he assured.