Georgian CSOs call on Facebook to improve ad transparency
Today, nearly 50 Georgian CSOs and media outlets issued an open letter to Facebook urging the social media giant to promptly launch Political Ad Library and introduce other measures for increased ad transparency and countering disinformation ahead of the 2020 parliamentary elections in Georgia. The letter addressed to Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg and […]
Far-right European politicians to whitewash constitutional vote in Russia
Stefan Keuter, German MP from the far-right AfD speaking to the Russian state-controlled media: “My personal view is that the level of organisation in Russia is higher even than in Germany” Far-right European politicians have once again been invited as politically biased election observers to praise the disputed “all-Russian voting” on the constitutional amendments […]
Belarus Election Alert #2
The end of the signature collection phase for contenders seeking to be nominated as a Presidential candidate was accompanied by a wave of further detentions of candidates last week, this time targeting the perhaps most popular participant of the election, ex-banker Viktar Babaryka, as well as other members and the head of his nomination […]
Pressure against municipality member for independent activities
EMDS calls law enforcement bodies to investigate the pressure against the elected municipality member Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) expresses concern over the pressure in last two months against the Neftchala District, Kholgaragashli village municipality member Vafa Nagi who was elected in 23 December 2019 Municipal Elections and regards it as political pressure […]
Weekly report: end of signature collection phase accompanied by further arrests
Observation of the presidential election is carried out by the Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center “Viasna” in the framework of the campaign “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections”. SUMMARY the presidential election is taking place against the background of a sharp deterioration of the overall human rights situation in the country, in […]
Recommendations on how to hold Local elections in Ukraine in a pandemic
Brief summary in English of conclusions and recommendations from the Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU)’s event on the holding of elections during a pandemic. International experience The spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic has significantly affected the organization and conduct of elections worldwide. More than 50 countries have postponed election until later. In particular, […]
Analysis of draft law on the holding of referenda
People are exercising the power directly and via the public authorities and self-government bodies1. In the opinion of the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, an element of the process of direct exercise of power by the people includes the exercise of Constitutional rights and freedoms by Ukraine’s citizens, such as the right to vote at elections and […]
Belarus Election Alert #1
People line up in Homel to sign a petition supporting the candidacy of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on May 28. Source: rferl.org Will the Presidential election be a challenge for Lukashenka? Candidates’ signature collection and protests against Lukashenka continue amid crackdowns against candidates and activists. The Belarusian Presidential election is gearing up to be an exciting […]
Police use excessive force dispersing protests and government crackdown on independent voices continues
Students gathered in front of the Ministry of Education on 1 June. Photo: Fargana Novruzova. oc-media.org Azerbaijan is currently under extended quarantine regime until the 15th of June. Most of the restrictions are lifted, however, temporarily harsh quarantine regime covering the first weekend of June has been installed and more weekends to follow. From […]
HRDs insist on immediate release of all activists charged under Article 342 of the Criminal Code
Siarhei Tsikhanouski at an election picket in Hrodna. Photo: tut.by Statement by the human rights community of Belarus on the criminal charges against Siarhei Tsikhanouski and six other participants in the May 29 picket in Hrodna Minsk – June 9, 2020 On May 29, during a picket held in Hrodna to collect signatures in […]