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The CHESNO Movement is a civic movement launched by activists and representatives of 12 NGOs on October 29, 2011.
The presentation of the CHESNO Movement took place during the campaign "Let's Filter the Parliament in 24 Hours" a year before the 2012 parliamentary elections.
The movement engages citizens in the fight against political corruption, encourages them to exercise control over the government, preserves political memory, and helps make informed choices. Garlic was chosen as a symbol of the movement as it represents a disinfectant and an effective weapon to ward off evil in politics.
The presentation of the CHESNO Movement took place during the campaign "Let's Filter the Parliament in 24 Hours" a year before the 2012 parliamentary elections.
The movement engages citizens in the fight against political corruption, encourages them to exercise control over the government, preserves political memory, and helps make informed choices. Garlic was chosen as a symbol of the movement as it represents a disinfectant and an effective weapon to ward off evil in politics.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE IN TEN YEARS?
Piano voting
Piano voting ended and the Constitution defended.
01
Open party lists
Open party lists so that voters, not parties, decide who will make it into councils.
02
State funding of parties
Advocacy for the state funding of parties to make political forces independent of oligarchs.
03
Gold of Parties
A unique resource with data on political finance – Gold of Parties – launched to monitor the financial performance of political forces.
04
Declarations by politicians
Successful advocacy for declarations by politicians so that illicit enrichment can be monitored.
05
PolitHub
The largest database of information on politicians – PolitHub – created to preserve political memory and establish reputation as an institution.
06
The Museum of Campaigning and Election Trash
The Museum of Campaigning and Election Trash opened to change the political culture.
07
Publication of candidate photographs
Publication of candidate photographs on the CEC website so that voters know their candidates and can identify clones.
08
Publication of party programs on the CEC website
Successful advocacy for the submission and publication of party programs on the CEC website during local elections to have electoral promises documented.
09
CHESNO's regional coordinators
CHESNO's regional coordinators have become civil society sector leaders in their cities to forge a new quality of politics in the regions.
10
HISTORY
Two years before the Revolution of Dignity in Ukraine, the issue of government cleansing became quite acute. Therefore, the CHESNO Movement developed criteria for MP candidates. We also staged an awareness raising campaign aimed at equipping voters to make an informed choice.
According to a survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation, 90% of Ukrainians were supportive of the integrity criteria established by the CHESNO Movement.
The criteria and the campaign were supported by the Head of the UGCC Lubomyr Husar, President of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Vyacheslav Briukhovetskyi, sociologist Iryna Bekeshkina, journalists Pavlo Sheremet, Andrii Kulykov, Nataliia Sokolenko, Serhii Andrushko, and other public figures, including Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was eventually murdered, like Pavlo Sheremet.
According to a survey conducted by the Democratic Initiatives Foundation, 90% of Ukrainians were supportive of the integrity criteria established by the CHESNO Movement.
The criteria and the campaign were supported by the Head of the UGCC Lubomyr Husar, President of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Vyacheslav Briukhovetskyi, sociologist Iryna Bekeshkina, journalists Pavlo Sheremet, Andrii Kulykov, Nataliia Sokolenko, Serhii Andrushko, and other public figures, including Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, who was eventually murdered, like Pavlo Sheremet.
After the completion of the information and monitoring campaign aimed at assessing and crosschecking candidates during the 2012 parliamentary elections, the movement's activities were mainly supported by the NGO Center UA (now – the Center of United Actions) and the Media Law Institute (now – CEDEM).
CHESNO's first coordinator was Svitlana Zalishchuk. Then the civic movement was coordinated by Tetiana Peklun, Inna Borzylo, Andrii Kruhlashov, Mykola Vyhovskyi, and Vita Dumanska. The latter took helm of the CHESNO Movement after its institutionalization as an independent NGO in 2020.
CHESNO's first coordinator was Svitlana Zalishchuk. Then the civic movement was coordinated by Tetiana Peklun, Inna Borzylo, Andrii Kruhlashov, Mykola Vyhovskyi, and Vita Dumanska. The latter took helm of the CHESNO Movement after its institutionalization as an independent NGO in 2020.
The photo depicts all the coordinators of the CHESNO Movement since its inception ten years ago. From left to right: Zalishchuk, Peklun, Borzylo, Kruhlashov, Vyhovskyi, Dumanska.
At present, the purpose of the CHESNO Movement is to transform electoral democracy into participatory democracy and maximize citizen engagement not only in voting and making informed choices, but also in exercising control over the actions of elected officials.
CAMPAIGNS
Filter the Rada
On December 9, 2011, the movement initiated the Filter the Rada! campaign.
The members of the movement, together with journalists and activists, evaluated MPs for conformity to the integrity criteria. The latter were formulated by the movement itself: permanent political allegiance according to the will of voters; no public record on corruption; transparency of declared income and property, and their consistency with the candidate's lifestyle; no violations of human rights and freedoms; personal voting in the parliament; presence at parliamentary sessions and work in committees.
The members of the movement, together with journalists and activists, evaluated MPs for conformity to the integrity criteria. The latter were formulated by the movement itself: permanent political allegiance according to the will of voters; no public record on corruption; transparency of declared income and property, and their consistency with the candidate's lifestyle; no violations of human rights and freedoms; personal voting in the parliament; presence at parliamentary sessions and work in committees.
Activists of twelve NGOs joined the campaign, including Svitlana Zalishchuk, Oleh Rybachuk from the NGO Center UA (now – the Center of United Actions), Iryna Bekeshkina from the Democratic Initiatives Foundation.
The movement's analytical team assessed 450 MPs and 2,500 MP candidates. Of them, more than 900 were in violation of at least one criterion. In parallel, representatives of the movement created a tool for measuring politicians' integrity, so-called 'Chesnometer'.
The movement's analytical team assessed 450 MPs and 2,500 MP candidates. Of them, more than 900 were in violation of at least one criterion. In parallel, representatives of the movement created a tool for measuring politicians' integrity, so-called 'Chesnometer'.
In the photo: Presentation of the CHESNO Movement in Lviv, 2012
In the summer, in cooperation with the CHESNO movement, the TV channel ZIK launched a special project entitled CHESNO. Filter the Rada! Within its framework, MP candidates were basically tested live for integrity. Back then, the TV channel did not belong to the pro-Russian oligarch. The movement published the results of the monitoring – only three members of the then Verkhovna Rada met all the integrity criteria.
As a result of the campaign, some candidates were not included in the UDAR Party lists, and the United Opposition Party committed itself to adhering to CHESNO's criteria in Parliament.
As a result of the campaign, some candidates were not included in the UDAR Party lists, and the United Opposition Party committed itself to adhering to CHESNO's criteria in Parliament.
The Filter the Rada! campaign continues to this day during every local or parliamentary election.
In 2019, for the first time in Ukraine's history, all candidates to Parliament in the single-member districts of Kyiv and Kyiv region were evaluated. The results of this assessment by the CHESNO Movement were published by the Ukrayinska Pravda before the elections.
In the 2020 local elections, the CHESNO Movement launched electronic bulletins for all cities of regional significance. These resources contained copious information on mayoral candidates.
In 2019, for the first time in Ukraine's history, all candidates to Parliament in the single-member districts of Kyiv and Kyiv region were evaluated. The results of this assessment by the CHESNO Movement were published by the Ukrayinska Pravda before the elections.
In the 2020 local elections, the CHESNO Movement launched electronic bulletins for all cities of regional significance. These resources contained copious information on mayoral candidates.
Battle Against Piano voting
Since 2012, CHESNO representatives fought to outlaw impersonal voting in Parliament. It bears reminding that Ukraine's Constitution requires personal voting. One of the solutions was to introduce a new voting system with a sensor feature to make it impossible for MPs to vote for their non-show colleagues, which is a flagrant constitutional violation.
See below our 'piano-voter' hunters: Hanna Hrabarska, Oleksandr Salizhenko, Dmytro Yershov, and Dmytro Cheretun.
See below our 'piano-voter' hunters: Hanna Hrabarska, Oleksandr Salizhenko, Dmytro Yershov, and Dmytro Cheretun.
Most piano-voters did not want to be caught on camera, so they hid in remote places or invented devices for button-pushing, while some MPs openly piano-voted and showed obscene gestures at camera.
Piano voting was flourishing for many years as the pro-government coalition often needed to harvest additional votes, and MPs did not attend parliamentary sessions. It took the Verkhovna Rada almost ten years to finally introduce a sensor system in March 2021.
Piano voting was flourishing for many years as the pro-government coalition often needed to harvest additional votes, and MPs did not attend parliamentary sessions. It took the Verkhovna Rada almost ten years to finally introduce a sensor system in March 2021.
In the photo: MP Mykhailo Chechetov, aka The Conductor of group voting by the Party of Regions. The picture also depicts Inna Borzylo distributing leaflets with names of constitutional violators at a rally against piano-voting.
Piano-voting was flourishing for many years as the pro-government coalition often needed to harvest additional votes, and MPs did not attend parliamentary sessions.
It took the Verkhovna Rada almost ten years to finally introduce a sensor system in March 2021.
There are now two criminal cases pending before the court and the prosecutor's office.
After the introduction of the sensor feature, the movement captured acts of piano-voting in parliamentary committees, especially while the country was in lockdown. The movement also documents multiple cases of piano-voting in local councils.
It took the Verkhovna Rada almost ten years to finally introduce a sensor system in March 2021.
There are now two criminal cases pending before the court and the prosecutor's office.
After the introduction of the sensor feature, the movement captured acts of piano-voting in parliamentary committees, especially while the country was in lockdown. The movement also documents multiple cases of piano-voting in local councils.
Election Day Marathons
Since 2019, the movement has been organizing Election Day marathons covering the voting process and detecting electoral irregularities in the format of a continuous text-based broadcast with exclusive information from observers, coupled with comments from election commission members and candidates, as well as official data provided by law enforcement or the CEC.
During the 2019 parliamentary campaign, at the request of the movement, the CEC published for the first time the photos of all majoritarian candidates on its official website. This made it possible to identify clones and candidates such as Darth Vader.
During the 2019 parliamentary campaign, at the request of the movement, the CEC published for the first time the photos of all majoritarian candidates on its official website. This made it possible to identify clones and candidates such as Darth Vader.
Mykhailo Svitlyk and Vitalii Dzhohola, coordinators of the CHESNO Movement in Ivano-Frankivsk region, orchestrated a multi-week media marathon covering the vote count. Like Serhii Nikitenko (coordinator in Kherson region) and Oleh Chernenko (coordinator in Khmelnytskyy region), they have been working in the regions for the good of Ukrainian citizens since CHESNO's inception.
CHESNO monitors how many votes are taken by unfair cloning technologies and identifies links between clones and real candidates.
The movement reveals cases of early campaigning, monitors the campaign process during elections, compares campaign-related costs with reports submitted by candidates, and tracks the use of improper technologies in the formation of election commissions.
During the last year's local elections, the movement received official observer status. Its coverage of the electoral race between candidates Vasyl Virastiuk and Oleksandr Shevchenko in Ivano-Frankivsk region (developments at DEC 87) topped the rankings in social media.
The movement reveals cases of early campaigning, monitors the campaign process during elections, compares campaign-related costs with reports submitted by candidates, and tracks the use of improper technologies in the formation of election commissions.
During the last year's local elections, the movement received official observer status. Its coverage of the electoral race between candidates Vasyl Virastiuk and Oleksandr Shevchenko in Ivano-Frankivsk region (developments at DEC 87) topped the rankings in social media.
It is noteworthy that the first coordinator of the CHESNO Movement in Kherson region was activist Kateryna Handziuk, who was killed. Those who ordered the murder are still at large.
Photo: The coordinator of the CHESNO Movement in Kherson region, Kateryna Handziuk, distributing leaflets in 2012
Photo: Serhii Nikitenko distributing leaflets of the CHESNO Movement in 2012
No! to Elections Under Yanukovych's Law
In a bid to fight political corruption, the Center UA NGO demanded that open party lists be introduced during elections. To step up advocacy efforts for electoral reform, a joint project with the Ukrayinska Pravda, Elections Elections, was launched. The campaign was coordinated by Mykola Vyhovskyi.
As a result, the Electoral Code was adopted last year. But given that Parliament produced the draft law in a hurry, and that the local elections clearly demonstrated there is room for improvement, the CHESNO Movement continues advocating for both the electoral reform and local government reform.
As a result, the Electoral Code was adopted last year. But given that Parliament produced the draft law in a hurry, and that the local elections clearly demonstrated there is room for improvement, the CHESNO Movement continues advocating for both the electoral reform and local government reform.
CHESNO. Filter the Judiciary!
In 2016, the Center for Democracy and Rule of Law, one of the co-founders of the CHESNO Movement, initiated the CHESNO. Filter the Judiciary! campaign.
In the photo: Taras Shepel, Halyna Chyzhyk, Andrii Kruhlashov, and Iryna Mokrytska
It is a campaign of public scrutiny aimed at galvanizing the society into cleansing the judiciary of unscrupulous judges and establishing fair trial in Ukraine.
The campaign was launched following the adoption of justice-related constitutional amendments and the new law on the judiciary and the status of judges.
During the campaign, representatives of the CHESNO Movement devised a methodology comprising five integrity criteria and applied it to evaluate the performance of judges.
The campaign was launched following the adoption of justice-related constitutional amendments and the new law on the judiciary and the status of judges.
During the campaign, representatives of the CHESNO Movement devised a methodology comprising five integrity criteria and applied it to evaluate the performance of judges.
Fair Spring – Responsible Autumn
In 2015, during the local elections, the CHESNO Movement conducted a campaign to monitor the work of local councilors. The movement's analysts studied the attendance of members of regional and city councils in Ukraine's regional centers and identified candidates for dismissal. Representatives of the movement communicated their findings to the political parties that were preparing lists of candidates for the fall elections and demanded that councilors lacking integrity not be re-nominated.
CHESNO also staged an information campaign for voters on the procedure for recalling council members who underperform in their representative functions.
After the local elections, the campaign to monitor the attendance of local councilors and inform citizens about the particularities of the recall procedure continued.
The campaign was orchestrated by Iryna Fedoriv, the coordinator of the CHESNO's regional network.
After the local elections, the campaign to monitor the attendance of local councilors and inform citizens about the particularities of the recall procedure continued.
The campaign was orchestrated by Iryna Fedoriv, the coordinator of the CHESNO's regional network.
Follow the Money
In 2015, the CHESNO Movement in partnership with the Active Community initiative conducted the Follow the Money campaign. It aimed to bring to public notice the funding of political parties and scrutinize the declarations submitted by local council members.
The campaign was coordinated by Vita Dumanska.
The campaign was coordinated by Vita Dumanska.
PROJECTS
In 2021, CHESNO instituted the online Museum of Campaigning and Election Trash boasting about three thousand exhibits. Since April 2021, the following exhibitions have been on display: 1990s: How Statehood Was Forged; Battle for the Mace; Easter Buckwheat; Chronicles of Black PR; How the Crimea Was Campaigned into Switching Sides: Pro-Russian Propaganda, Paid Journalism, and Black PR. Exhibitions are planned and organized by Oksana Halkevych and Andrii Darkovich.
In 2021, CHESNO contributed to the development of a free training course entitled "Environmental Journalistic investigations, Advocacy, and Anti-Corruption Efforts".
2019-2021 saw the launch and evolution of the online CHESNO.Hromady platform for 50 communities. The platform is a treasure trove of information on community issues, the composition of local councils, promises of local councilors, interviews with ATC leaders, review of community budgets, and local councilors' participation in sessions and committees. In June 2021, the School of Communications for community leaders was held within the project.
In 2019, the movement opened the first ever Museum of Electoral Trash in Kyiv in partnership with the National Museum of Ukrainian History and the Elections, Elections project of the Ukrayinska Pravda. This event was covered by the international mass media (Euronews, Associated Press). The project aims to change the political culture and preserve campaign-related items. Last year, when the local elections took place, such museums operated in eight regions of Ukraine. The project was implemented in partnership with the Public Broadcaster. The opening of the exhibition was coordinated by Iryna Vivchar.
In 2019, CHESNO.Kyiv became a flagship project for the regions. The project team comprising Iryna Latysh and Serhii Ohorodnyk attends to such matters as analysis of the Electoral Code's impact on the formation of a new local government, performance of the Kyiv City Council members, development of the capital's new draft master plan, the fight against illegal construction in Kyiv, and community building. The project team also played a key role in advocating for the preservation of the Bilychansky Forest and its demarcation.
In 2018, we designed a free online training course "How to Elect so as not to Regret".
Live Reports
2017-2018 – Live Reports – a nationwide TV project that transformed the outdated format of reporting by officials into interactive live interviews in the regional branches of the Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine. 103 broadcasts were held within the project. The format is still successfully used even though the project itself is over.
PolitHub
2017 was marked by the launch of PolitHub, a database of information on Ukrainian politicians who have run for mayors and local councilors at least once. It contains information on upwards of 100,000 politicians and more than 300 political parties. The database also offers an insight into MPs' activities, including their attendance of parliamentary sessions, participation in committees, piano-voting, and vote buying. The launch of PolitHub was orchestrated by Oleksandra Kuziv (Kryvoruchko). Oksana Halkevych and Andrii Darkovich are currently in charge of populating the database.
In 2016, we created an online database CHESNO.Filter the Judiciary. It contains information on judges' compliance with integrity criteria, as well as analysis of their declarations, family ties, court decisions, and media publications. The database is run by CEDEM NGO.
Filter the Government
Before the Euromaidan in 2013, CHESNO launched the Filter the Government campaign. Journalists investigated members of Azarov's government with focus on corruption and abuse of power. It was basically the first systematic study targeting the performance of government officials under Viktor Yanukovych. The project came to a halt when Azarov's government fled the country.
SPECIAL PROJECTS
Representatives of the CHESNO Movement are well aware of their role in civil society and thus conceive and run a number of projects as volunteers. Such projects include, inter alia, materials dedicated to the 30th anniversary of Ukraine's independence and a series of publications on Ukrainian dissidents.
TOOLS
The CHESNO Movement has elaborated a number of tools that can facilitate the work of journalists, politicians, and academics as well as help voters make informed choices and exercise public control over the government.
Gold of Parties
Gold of Parties – a tool that allows the public to monitor the financial transactions of political parties. Its launch was coordinated by Ihor Feshchenko and Ostap Kuchma.
CHESNO (HONESTLY) about laws – a chatbot that helps monitor legislative work in Parliament.
Amendments of MPs
Amendments of MPs of the ninth convocation – a tool that allows for identifying connections between MPs and their groups.
CHESNO.Bulletin – a resource for mayoral candidates in Ukraine's regional centers in the 2020 elections.
2019 Presidential Candidate Comparison Basket – a tool designed to compare presidential candidates.
"AdBasters"
AdBasters – a mobile application for capturing political advertising. It allowed for comparison between actual costs and those presented in the reports.
CHESNO.Hromady – an online platform populated with data on monitoring results in local councils, delivery on promises by councilors, and problem-solving in communities.
COURT CASES
During CHESNO's ten-year history, politicians have sued the movement three times and lost those cases in court three times.
In 2015, the movement won a lawsuit filed by former Irpin Mayor Volodymyr Karpliuk. He demanded in court to refute an article about the New Faces Party by editor-in-chief Iryna Fedoriv and argued that he was not a protégé of the late ex-MP Petro Melnyk. Legal support was provided by Halyna Chyzhyk.
In 2021, the movement won a lawsuit filed by the Donbas-Bezpeka company over Nadiia Sukha's publication "Who Is Taras Kostanchuk. What Is Known About the New Face from the Billboards?" In the text, the journalists referred to the publications and comments of other people stating that Donbas-Bezpeka was allegedly implicated in illegal activities. The authors of the article pointed out that the company had denied such accusations. Moreover, the publication contains a link to the official stance of the security company. Legal support was provided by Masi Nayyem. In July 2021, the appellate court upheld the decision of the first-instance court.
On April 13, 2021, the appellate court upheld the decision of the first-instance court on the groundlessness of the claim filed by Victoriia Ptashnyk, MP of the eighth convocation. She accused the movement of spreading inaccurate information about her financial statements as an MP candidate in constituency 179 (Kharkiv region) and of encroaching on her honor and dignity.
In 2021, the movement won a lawsuit filed by the Donbas-Bezpeka company over Nadiia Sukha's publication "Who Is Taras Kostanchuk. What Is Known About the New Face from the Billboards?" In the text, the journalists referred to the publications and comments of other people stating that Donbas-Bezpeka was allegedly implicated in illegal activities. The authors of the article pointed out that the company had denied such accusations. Moreover, the publication contains a link to the official stance of the security company. Legal support was provided by Masi Nayyem. In July 2021, the appellate court upheld the decision of the first-instance court.
On April 13, 2021, the appellate court upheld the decision of the first-instance court on the groundlessness of the claim filed by Victoriia Ptashnyk, MP of the eighth convocation. She accused the movement of spreading inaccurate information about her financial statements as an MP candidate in constituency 179 (Kharkiv region) and of encroaching on her honor and dignity.
AWARDS AND VICTORIES
Oksana Stavniychuk
Parliamentary analyst
As the author of the articles "The Devil in Detail: How Legislative Amendments Unite MPs by Interests" and "Interest Groups. With Whom MPs Submit Laws", parliamentary analyst Oksana Stavniychuk won DataUp, the All-Ukrainian competition of journalistic stories based on open data, twice in a row, in 2020 and 2021. The competition was organized by the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine in partnership with the USAID project.
Ivan Lampeka
Infographist
Infographist and designer Ivan Lampeka became one of the winners in the contest "Your Power. Know your Place" held by the Center of United Actions NGO in 2020.
Oleksii Pivtorak
Analyst
In 2019, analyst Oleksii Pivtorak won in the competition of the TAPAS Project/ Transparency and Accountability in Public Administration and Services as the author of the article "Let Elections Come, There Is Plenty of Money Around. European Solidarity Raises 45 Million in 20 Days".
Olena Zhezhera
CHESNO.Kyiv journalist
In 2019, CHESNO.Kyiv journalist Olena Zhezhera received the Vasyl Serhiyenko award for the best investigation – "Development of the Protasiv Yar: Korban's Traces and Zelensky's Silence".
Vita Dumanska
CHESNO's coordinator
In 2016, CHESNO's coordinator Vita Dumanska was granted a special award within the Stop Censorship competition for her work Corruption Has a Name.
Iryna Fedoriv
CHESNO's editor-in-chief
Iryna Fedoriv, CHESNO's editor-in-chief, has repeatedly received awards for a number of publications and investigations about the shadow distribution schemes in the Bilychansky Forest. The EU-funded FLEG program, implemented by the World Bank, selected the winners of the competition "Forest Law Enforcement and Governance". Owing to public advocacy efforts, the forest was granted the highest conservation status of a national park. Finally, by virtue of the presidential decree, in 2021, the forest was demarcated on the cadastral map.
OUR MEDIA PARTNERS
We are grateful for the cooperation to NGOs and media organizations. The Public Broadcaster partnered with CHESNO within our largest information campaign.
CHESNO's analytics can be found in the Ukrayinska Pravda, Livyi Bereh, Liga.net, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Glavkom, Obozrevatel, Gazeta.ua, Novoe Vremya, and Radio Svoboda. The movement's projects and activities have been covered by the majority of national and local media in the regions where we have our representatives.
CHESNO's analytics can be found in the Ukrayinska Pravda, Livyi Bereh, Liga.net, Dzerkalo Tyzhnia, Glavkom, Obozrevatel, Gazeta.ua, Novoe Vremya, and Radio Svoboda. The movement's projects and activities have been covered by the majority of national and local media in the regions where we have our representatives.
OUR REPORTS
Not only does the CHESNO Movement demand accountability of politicians, but it also reports to citizens on its performance. The movement's activities are transparent. To avoid accusations of political bias, CHESNO's activities are financially supported by international organizations and through private donations.
Throughout its ten-year history, the CHESNO Movement has received financial support from the Luminate Foundation, SIDA, PACT, Danida, IFES, NDI, MATRA Fund, International Renaissance Foundation, NED, and ISAR Ednannia.
Throughout its ten-year history, the CHESNO Movement has received financial support from the Luminate Foundation, SIDA, PACT, Danida, IFES, NDI, MATRA Fund, International Renaissance Foundation, NED, and ISAR Ednannia.
The movement's reports for the period up to 2018 are available on the website of the Center of United Actions NGO (formerly Center UA).
The CHESNO Movement team and guests during the celebration