“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 […]
Armenia: The statement of the Independent Observer on primaries observation carried out by Civil Contract party
This article was first published by EPDE member Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor. The observation of primaries of the candidates nominated by the Civil Contract Party for the position of Acting Mayor of Gyumri took place from December 8-10, which included door to door visits, monitoring of the results counting as well as the study of the […]
“How can free and fair elections take place in such an environment in Belarus?” OSCE countries issued a statement
Ahead of the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting on December 6, 37 participating states issued a statement on the elections in Belarus. It noted that they remain deeply concerned about the constantly deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, Pozirk reported. The statement once again called for the release of all political prisoners: “We reiterate that the Belarusian authorities must ensure […]
ISFED: In Order to Overcome the Current Legal and Political Crisis in the Country, It Is Important to Hold New Elections in Georgia
The statement was first published on ISFED’s website. Georgia currently confronts a severe political and legal crisis, directly resulting from the undemocratic actions of “Georgian Dream” over recent years, constitutional violations, and policies fundamentally contrary to the country’s national interests. The parliamentary elections of October 26, 2024, were conducted with violations of fundamental principles of […]
“Tourism under the guise of election observation.” The head of the CIS observer mission will be the same one who recognized the election results in 2020
The observer mission from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which will monitor the electoral campaign at the invitation of the Belarusian Foreign Ministry, is headed by Secretary General Sergei Lebedev. In 2020, Sergei Lebedev stated that the presidential elections in Belarus were held in an organized manner and by the law. Viasna human rights activist Pavel […]
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 […]