Belarus: What would be needed to hold new elections?
On 24 September, EPDE co-hosted an online debate with Democracy Reporting International inviting a dozen election experts from Belarus and beyond to discuss conditions for future elections. The discussion was held under the Chatham House Rule. While it currently does not look likely that the protesters’ demands for repeat presidential elections will be heeded, it is too early to […]
Polling stations abroad – a controversial and non-transparent process
On November 1, 2020 Moldova will hold the first round of presidential elections. Like in 2016, the final election results will considerably depend on the voting of two groups of constituents – Moldovan diaspora and Moldovan citizens residing in the Transnistrian region. The undue increase of polling stations especially in the Russian Federation, as proposed […]
Polling stations abroad – a controversial and non-transparent process
Image source: ipn.md On November 1, 2020 Moldova will hold the first round of presidential elections. Like in 2016, the final election results will considerably depend on the voting of two groups of constituents – Moldovan diaspora and Moldovan citizens residing in the Transnistrian region. The undue increase of polling stations especially in the […]
Policy Alert #5 – Armenia’s Stable Majority Constitutional Provisions Under Review
The 2015 Constitution promised that Armenia would move toward a fully proportional parliamentary model. However, a number of other provisions serve to distort the translation of votes to seats in practice. They include provisions for various bonus seats and the exclusion of political parties from campaigning if no government can be formed and a “second […]
300 detained in protests across Belarus
Protester detained in Minsk on September 23, 2020. Photo by Vadzim Zamirouski, TUT.BY According to Viasna’s database, at least three hundred protesters were detained last night across the country, as thousands of people protested the unannounced inauguration of Aliaksandr Lukashenka. Riot police and other security forces, including officers in civilian clothes, arrested demonstrators in […]
Policy Alert #5 – Armenia’s Stable Majority Constitutional Provisions Under Review
Armenian Constitution voted for in 2015. Image source: vestnikkavkaza.net Bonus seats and the specter of a non-competitive “second round” election are viewed as threats to the democratic process by civil society groups and reform-minded MPs. In order to fully remove them from the constitution, guarantees for a “stable majority” need to be replaced with […]
Over 250 criminal cases opened since launch of election
Since the announcement of the presidential election in early May, the authorities have opened over 250 criminal cases targeting presidential candidates, members of their campaign teams, and peaceful protesters. Viasna knows the names of 200 persons affected by these cases. Sixty-eight persons on the list have been called Tsikhanouski case”, and also several protesters detained following […]
How to organize local elections during the pandemic
Committee of Voters of Ukraine (CVU) co-published this report with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung on how to organize elections safely during the pandemic with specific recommendations for the local elections in Ukraine.
Viasna activist Marfa Rabkova is political prisoner
Marfa Rabkova, volunteer coordinator of the Human Rights Center “Viasna”, detained 17 September 2020. Photo: Viasna. On September 17, officers of GUBAZIK (Interior Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption) Guidelines on the Definition of Political Prisoners, adopted at the 3rd Belarusian Human Rights Forum, we, representatives of Belarusian human rights organizations, consider human […]
Deepened political crisis in Azerbaijan during the COVID-19 pandemic
This document analyzes the measures taken by the state with regards to the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in Azerbaijan and the implementation of quarantine rules and describes the new political situation in the country in the light of increasing political persecution during the quarantine period. The Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) referred to national […]