EPDE calls for the immediate release of Viasna members as they enter fourth year of political imprisonment
On 14 July 2021, our colleagues Ales Bialiatski, founder and chairman of The Human Rights Center Viasna, esteemed human rights activist, and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Valiantsin Stefanovic, deputy chairperson of Viasna and vice-president of FIDH, and lawyer Uladzimir Labkovich, were detained due to their roles as election monitors. In March 2023, Ales was sentenced […]
Assessment findings on the implementation of CEC and CICDE’s strategic plans
Today, 11 July 2024, Promo-LEX presented its report entitled “Implementation of Strategic Plans of the Central Electoral Commission and the Centre for Continuous Electoral Training” (Annual assessment: 2023 and Summing-up report: 2020 – 2023). The report presents an analysis of the development priorities and activities scheduled by CEC and CICDE for the monitored period. CEC […]
Foreign Influence, Disinformation, AI, and Illegal Actions in Digital: What Threatens the Integrity of Political Finance
Money is an essential resource for politics and voter outreach. However, if not effectively regulated, it can compromise the integrity of political processes and democracies. Effective state regulation of funding of political parties and election campaigns (commonly known as political finance) and their implementation are vital for promoting the integrity, transparency, and accountability of democratic […]
Opinion: Hungary’s democratic Rubik’s Cube | EU.Observer
“[The Sovereignty Law] has enforced a culture of fear within civil society and the media, diverted already limited resources and attention, stifled cooperation and imposed a level of self-censorship.” Elliott Goat and Zsofia Banuta, EU.Observer As Hungary takes over the EU’s rotating presidency, EPDE member Unhack Democracy took a look at how Hungarian civil society […]
Political party funding in Moldova. Retrospective 2023: Growing dependence on state budget appropriations and unreported expenditures
Today, Promo-LEX presented its report on “Political party funding in Moldova. Retrospective 2023”. The document contains civic monitoring findings on the funding of political parties through the lens of their 2023 activities. The event brought together representatives of state institutions, such as the Parliament, CEC, the State Tax Service, the National Anti-corruption Centre, the Constitutional […]
Online Round Table: European perspectives, Russian Law, and a new electoral system: What to know about Georgia’s 2024 elections
Online round table “European perspectives, Russian Law, and a new electoral system: What to know about Georgia’s 2024 elections” The parliamentary elections in Georgia, set for October 26, 2024, occur amid weeks of continued peaceful protests against the law “On transparency of foreign influence” pushed by the ruling Georgian Dream party and efforts to intimidate […]
Analysis of Draft Laws Amending the Electoral Code
Lawyers of the Civil Network OPORA have produced an analysis of the provisions of draft laws amending the Electoral Code of Ukraine to combat sexism in electoral processes and ensure balanced representation of women and men in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and local councils. Introduction On May 27, 2024, the Parliament registered a draft […]
Interview: The Georgian government is moving Georgia to Russia’s zone of influence | The Power of Choice
Olga Aivazovska, chair of the board of the Civil Network OPORA, talked with Nino Evgenidze, the director of the Economic Policy Research Center, and Nino Dolidze, executive director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy. They discussed why the Georgian government abandoned the European perspective in favor of rapprochement with Russia. Why did […]
EPDE at the EU Elections: Observing E-Day in Bulgaria and Romania
From 6 to 10 June 2024, the EPDE organized study trips for election observers to Romania and Bulgaria. The study trips were implemented in close cooperation with local partners Expert Forum (EFOR) in Romania and Institute for Public Environment Development (IPED) in Bulgaria. The trip’s program culminated in observing E-day of the European Parliament Elections […]
EPDE Stands in Solidarity with Political Prisoners in Belarus
May 21 marks Day of Political Prisoners in Belarus. “The main thing is to save your health” – this year’s theme is the right to health and medical care in detention. According to Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Belarus, as a state that has ratified it, recognizes the […]