European Democracy Hub: What Does the ‘Year of Elections’ Tell Us About Democracy?
Moldova: Elections and Kremlin’s Shadow By Lukasz Kondraciuk, Election Integrity and CivicTech Lead at the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE). Moldova’s October 2024 elections and referendum, characterised by unprecedented Kremlin-sponsored influence attempts, highlighted a climate of profound political and geopolitical divisions in the country representing two drastically competing visions for Moldova’s future. The governing […]
Press statement: The Return of the Western Colluders: Fake Observers at the Georgian Parliamentary Elections 2024
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), in cooperation with researcher Eto Buziashvili, Research Associate of the Atlantic Council’s DFRLab, identified 23 politically biased observers who helped whitewash the fraudulent 2024 Georgian Parliamentary Election. Authoritarian regimes like Russia and Azerbaijan have long relied on such observers to legitimize rigged elections. While heightened scrutiny has curbed […]
From Ballots to Security: FURIC2024 in Brussels
On December 11-12 in Brussels, FURIC 2024 brought together 32 inspiring speakers and over 120 participants to tackle the critical theme ‘From Ballots to Security: Advancing Resilience Through Electoral Reforms.’ With hybrid threats growing and technology reshaping the electoral landscape, the discussions emphasized practical strategies to safeguard democracy worldwide. We discussed these pressing issues with […]
“Elections are a cornerstone of security” – Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s keynote at FURIC2024
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, National Leader of Belarus and Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, delivered the opening keynote at the FURIC2024 conference ‘From Ballots to Security.’ In her address, she underscored the critical link between democratic elections and national as well as international security. Drawing on Belarus’s experience, she highlighted the dire consequences of […]
JOINT CALL TO GEORGIA’S INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS: Defend Democracy in Georgia
Georgia now stands at a precipice between a once-promising democracy and the threat of authoritarianism. The current reality is the product of years of democratic backsliding and the deliberate distancing of the ruling Georgian Dream party (GD) from the European Union integration process. Violations during the 2024 Parliamentary Elections During Georgia’s 2024 parliamentary elections, four […]
Venice Commission: “election observers are human rights defenders”
EPDE welcomes and appreciates the decision by the Venice Commission recognizing election observers as human rights defenders. This follows the declaration of UN Human Rights Rapporteurs’ recognition of election observers as human rights defenders in 2022. Election observers play a crucial role in safeguarding a wide array of fundamental rights, including the core political rights […]
Manipulated or Mobilized? TikTok, Poll Failures, and the Surge of Romania’s Far-Right
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and Expert Forum (EFOR) are pleased to invite you to the second briefing on the parliamentary and presidential elections in Romania, taking place over three consecutive weekends between November 24 and December 8, 2024. Romania’s autumn elections brought a shock: an unknown far-right candidate won the first round […]
Webinar: Breathless run for office? Media and public party finances in Romania’s election marathon
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) and Expert Forum (EFOR) are pleased to invite you to our first briefing in a two-part series on the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections in Romania, taking place over three consecutive weekends between November 24 and December 8, 2024. During this intense electoral period, Romanian voters will head […]
Azerbaijan: Free Anar Mammadli before COP29
Azerbaijan: Free Anar Mammadli before COP29 International human rights organizations, civil society groups, and election observers call on European and national leaders to press Azerbaijan to release political prisoner Anar Mammadli and other activists ahead of COP29. Human Rights Violations Ahead of COP29 With COP29 in Azerbaijan opening soon, we urge global and national leaders […]
Statement on Georgia’s Parliamentary Election on October 26, 2024
Date of Election: October 26, 2024 International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a founding member of the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE), launched a large-scale election observation mission on October 26. With around 1,000 observers inside polling stations, 235 observers stationed outside, and 45 abroad, was further bolstered by 73 observers at […]