Elections at a special polling station – in the Chernihiv women's colony

In accordance with Article 63 of the Constitution of Ukraine, convicts enjoy all human and citizen rights, with the exception of restrictions defined by law and established by a court verdict; that is, most of the human and citizen rights, freedoms, and duties provided for by Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Ukraine apply to convicts. It follows from this provision that convicts have the right to participate in elections and referendums, which is confirmed by Article 70 of the Constitution of Ukraine.
By the decision of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine of 26 February 1998, No. 1-rp/98, provisions of previous laws, which stipulated that the exercise of electoral rights is suspended for persons who are in places of deprivation of liberty by court verdict, were recognised as non-compliant with the Constitution of Ukraine for the duration of their stay in these places. Consequently, starting from 26 February 1998, convicts have the right to elect deputies of the Verkhovna Rada and the President of Ukraine.
On 17 January 2010, the presidential elections of Ukraine took place.
Convicts held in penal institutions of the Chernihiv region also took part in these elections.
Representatives of non-governmental organisations acted as observers during these elections. At the special polling stations where convicts took part in the voting, no violations of the convicts’ electoral rights were found. The elections at these stations were held in an organised manner.

On the day of the presidential elections of Ukraine, after the voting ended, at the initiative of the charitable organisation ‘Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Centre’ and with the assistance of the Department for Family and Youth Affairs of the Chernihiv City Council, a festive concert was held for women convicts serving their sentences at the Chernihiv Correctional Colony No. 44.
For the first time, the concert was prepared and held with the participation of the ‘Alliance’ Youth Culture Centre, singers Serhiy Makashov and Yevhen Matsak, dancers – brother and sister – Dasha and Ilya Bronsky, and women convicts – participants in amateur art activities of the Chernihiv Correctional Colony No. 44. The audience warmly welcomed the performances of professional and amateur artists, and they especially liked the performance of the dancers – brother and sister – the Bronskys.

Director of the charitable organisation ‘Chernihiv Women’s Human Rights Centre’, V. Badyra