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EPDE Dossier: Impact of COVID-19 on election processes in the EaP and Russia

July 21, 2020

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.

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Belarus Over 250 protesters arrested during protests sparked by denial of rival candidates' registration

July 16, 2020

The decision by the CEC to not register popular rival candidates Viktar Babaryka and Valery Tsapkala sparked protests across Belarus, which police violently dispersed. A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry said 250 protesters were arrested across Belarus, with at least 230 people detained in Minsk and several dozens more in Homieĺ, Pružany, Brest and Babrujsk. Journalists who were covering the protests were also among the detainees.

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EPDE Launch of Politically Biased Election Observers Database

July 07, 2020

EPDE launched its new Database of Politically Biased Election Observers containing over 374 names of notorious “fake election observers” from over 60 countries. With this database, we want to increase transparency over election observation missions and encourage journalists, researchers, and political stakeholders to study and to take action against international and coordinated efforts to systematically destroy trust in free elections. Follow-up of all the feedback received is ongoing.

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Belarus “Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections” demand transparency in voting and vote count

Presidential election in Belarus will apparently take place under full control of the government. On 22.07, the Central Election Commission decided to banish independent election observers from the poling stations. Only state controlled organisations will be able to observe the vote. Since there will be no international election observation mission of the ODIHR OSCE and hardly any representatives of the rival candidates and opposition became members of election commissions, the initiative Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections urges the authorities to provide unrestricted access for independent citizen observers to the voting and counting procedures.

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Belarus Independent observers banished from polling stations

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. According to electoral experts, the decision will effectively deprive independent observers of any opportunity to scrutinize voting procedures and, accordingly, report on vote rigging.

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Belarus Representatives of Belarus’ biggest independent media outlets urge authorities to end persecution of journalists

As many as 213 representatives of Belarus’ biggest independent media outlets have urged the authorities to end the persecution of journalists. In their appeal, the journalists accuse the government of targeting media workers with tough repressive measures and note that 43 correspondents of dozens of media organizations have been arrested while doing their work since the start of the presidential election campaign.

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Ukraine Changes to Election Code secure voter rights and counteract electoral fraud, but also pose risks to the electoral system

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. However, Civil Network OPORA notes several issues with the amendments in their latest analysis.

more ... Changes to Election Code secure voter rights and counteract electoral fraud, but also pose risks to the electoral system

Georgia 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 and political environment is very polarized and continues to face challenges related to media freedom and pluralism. It is likely that these factors will also influence pre-election campaigning.

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