Independent observers banished from polling stations
Image source: newskitchen.eu The Central Election Commission has limited the number of observers who will be allowed to monitor the process of voting at polling stations, citing coronavirus statistics as the cause for the controversial decision. At a meeting held today, CEC chairperson Lidziya Yarmoshyna proposed to reduce the number of observers to five at a […]
Belarus Election Alert #4
Riot police confronting protesters in central Minsk. July 14, 2020 Viktar Babaryka and Valery Tsapkala were not registered to run for the Presidency. Babaryka was denied registration over alleged flaws in his income and property declaration and the participation of a foreign organization in his campaign as many in his nomination group are employees of […]
2020 Parliamentary elections – first interim report of pre-election monitoring
During the reporting period, ISFED identified 19 cases of possible vote buying, including 16 by majoritarian members of the Georgian Parliament and 3 by the Movement for Future, 2 cases of possible use of state resources, 1 case of exerting pressure on ISFED observer, 2 cases of interference in political activities and one case of […]
Changes to Election Code secure voter rights and counteract electoral fraud, but also pose risks to the electoral system
Source: www.ukrinform.net On 16 July the Verkhovna Rada adopted amendments to the Election Code which include several positive changes, such as drastically lowering electoral financial deposits in Local elections and providing that the use of any form of internet voting should be regulated in a separate law and that any piloting of this should only […]
Evaluation of the pre-election environment for the 2020 Parliamentary elections
This report evaluates the political and media landscape in the country ahead of the 2020 Parliamentary elections. Although the adoption of constitutional amendments on the electoral system avoided further tension and protests, political polarization remains as a challenge. The media environment, as well as political environment, is very polarized and continues to face challenges related […]
Dossier: Impact of COVID-19 on election processes in the EaP and Russia
COVID-19 spread rapidly across the world in early 2020, with most governments instituting far-reaching pandemic mitigation measures, including nationwide lockdowns. In the Eastern Partnership countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Ukraine) and Russia, the main focus area of this report, the first domestic confirmed cases of COVID-19 were typically registered in late February or early […]
Dossier: Impact of COVID-19 on election processes in the EaP and Russia
COVID-19 spread rapidly across the world in early 2020, with most governments instituting far-reaching pandemic mitigation measures, including nationwide lockdowns. This dossier compares the lockdown regimes and extraordinary measures taken in response to COVID-19 and how these have impacted election processes in the Eastern Partnership countries and the Russian Federation.
Weekly Report – nomination and signature collection phase
Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections (HRDs) stated in their latest report on the entire nomination and signature collection phase of the election campaign that this was marred by serious violations of the standards of free and democratic elections. The nomination groups of some candidates were subjected to significant pressure from law enforcement agencies and […]
Belarus Election Alert #4
The CEC has declined to register Viktar Babaryka and Valery Tsapkala, making two of Aliaksandr Lukashenka’s key rivals ineligible to run for President. Following this decision, protests broke out across Belarus which were accompanied by a wave of arrests. Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections (HRDs), now the only independent observers of this election, report […]
Weekly report: nomination and signature collection phase
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 nomination and registration of presidential candidates took place in an atmosphere of threats, fear and pressure on voters in connection with their […]