Human Rights Situation in Belarus: May 2021
Summary of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” report: in May, the authorities continued to actively prosecute people for political reasons. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, since August 2020, more than 3,000 criminal cases have been opened for violating the procedure of holding mass events and protests; according to the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, during […]
Roundtable summary: ‘Electoral reform – the present state and future steps’
The European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted its second closed expert roundtable to discuss how the electoral reform process has gone so far, what the present state of electoral reform is, and what the future reform steps following the 20 June election might be. The recently adopted package of electoral reforms went through a […]
Roundtable summary: ‘Accessibility of Elections Under Pandemic Conditions’
In the run up to the 20 June early parliamentary election in Armenia, the European Platform for Democratic Elections (EPDE) hosted a closed expert roundtable to discuss the accessibility of elections under the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as general issues of accessibility that existed even prior to the pandemic outbreak, including access for vulnerable […]
Second interim report early parliamentary elections
Promo-LEX Association published its Second Report of of its Observation Mission of the early Parliamentary Elections of 11 July 2021. The report contains electoral findings reported by observers between 12 and 25 May 2021. The main aspects covered by the report: Perpetuated Trends in the Election Campaign As of 26 May 2021, CEC registered eight contenders (six […]
Concept on how the feasibility of holding elections in Donetsk and Luhansk can be determined
On May 11, 2021, the Sixth Administrative Court of Appeals declared illegal and annulled the decision of the Central Election Commission on the non-feasibility of holding the first round of local elections of local deputies to certain village, commune and city councils of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts, as well as the respective village, commune and […]
First interim report early parliamentary elections
As per Presidential Decree of 28 April 2021 on dissolving the Parliament and setting the date of the elections, the early Parliamentary Elections will be held on 11 July 2021 — an important ballot for the decision-making quality and strategic direction in the Republic of Moldova. With the aim of developing democracy in the Republic […]
Final monitoring report of 2020 parliamentary elections
The 2020 Parliamentary Elections in Georgia took place amidst the global pandemic, which posed extraordinary challenges for administering the elections, as well as for the realization of constitutional rights of voters and other key actors. Essentially, the Election Day was managed effectively, in compliance with the legal requirements. Despite the extreme surge of the Covid-19 […]
Shrinking space for citizen election observation ahead of State Duma elections
Opportunities for independent citizen election observation and civil society space in general have been shrinking steadily in Russia over the past decade. In 2020, changes were introduced to laws and regulations bringing further restrictions of rights and freedoms, which had a palpable impact on the space for citizen observation. The absence of provisions for […]
Human Rights Situation in Belarus: April 2021
Image: Members of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s presidential campaign on trial in Homieĺ. April 12, 2021 Summary of the Human Rights Center “Viasna” report: during the month, the authorities continued to actively apply criminal prosecution for political reasons. According to the General Prosecutor’s Office, since August 2020, more than three thousand criminal cases have been initiated for […]
European Institutions ‘Broadly Welcome’ Armenia’s Proposed Electoral Reform
On April 21, 2020, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe and OSCE/ODIHR published their Draft Joint Urgent Opinion on an electoral reform legislative package that is expected to pass ahead of the announced early parliamentary election. It has been a busy Bill C-894 makes wide changes to the Electoral Code, as well […]