Family among 30 observers from Britain (12/26/04)

Family among 30 observers from Britain

by Tony Leliw

LONDON - A man who was one of the driving forces behind demonstrations in London calling for fair elections is heading for Ukraine this week.

Bohdan Ciapryna, a 56-year-old semi-retired surgeon, is taking his family to the Odesa region to act as independent, impartial election observers in Ukraine's crucial presidential re-run on December 26.

His wife, Iryna, 52, a teacher, and their children, Natalia, 23, Christina, 22, and Myron, 19 - all medical students will be packing their bags.

Only their youngest, Stepan will be unable to go because of his age. "He is extremely disappointed because his 18th birthday is in February," said his sister Natalia.

The family will be part of a group of more than 30 people from Britain flying out this week to serve as election monitors whose duties will include watching the ballot papers being counted and making sure that people don't vote more than once.

Mr. Ciapryna, who is financing the trip himself, said there were no guarantees for their security, although they would be going under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"We might encounter some verbal abuse from people who are strongly supportive of their candidate," he said, adding that his main fear was that the criminal element might be used on its own population - to intimidate them not to vote.

A former member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, but now on the SUM (Ukrainian Youth Association) committee, Mr. Ciapryna, said it was heartening that there was a strong youthful element represented in the party. His daughter Natalia heads the London branch of SUM.

People expected to travel from Britain will include not just diaspora Ukrainians, but Poles, some English and a West Indian.

Mr. Ciapryna, who is originally from Vermont, but came to England as a student 32 years ago, called the elections a defining moment in Ukraine's history, saying that quite a few of his friends from New York and Chicago were also going.

"They are part of my generation - people I grew up with," he noted.

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