Documents

Armenia

Comprehensive monitoring report on reforms in Armenia

EPDE
Armenia

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Several Armenian civil society organizations, including EPDE members Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor and Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center, released a comprehensive monitoring report on the progress of reforms in Armenia.

 

Hungary

Government-Friendly Election Observers at the 2022 Hungarian Parliamentary Elections

EPDE
Hungary

For the first time in the history of any EU Member State, Orbán’s government invited dozens of friendly politicians, journalists and civil society activists whose aim was to endorse the elections. Those friendly observers – among them members of the European Parliament and of the PACE of the Council of Europe - praised the conduct of the parliamentary elections in Hungary and made clearly political statements in support of Fidesz and Orbán.

 

Belarus

Constitutional referendum – findings and conclusions

EPDE
Belarus

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The constitutional referendum took place against the backdrop of a profound socio-political crisis that began immediately after the 2020 presidential election and the pervasive atmosphere of repression targeting those disloyal to the authorities, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections issued their preliminary report of their expert mission to this referendum, examining the lack of any electoral reforms since the 2020 post-election crisis; the intransparent manner in which the draft amendments were presented and discussed publicly without outside critical involvement; the numerous violations of international standards and national legislation in preparing and conducting the referendum. There was no independent monitoring of all types of voting or the vote count due to the CEC restrictions on the number of observers at polling stations.

 

Belarus

No opposition nominees selected for PEC seats

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The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within their joint campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" released an analytical report on the formation of precinct election commissions for the National Referendum scheduled for February 27, 2022. None of the nominated opposition representatives (42 persons) secured a seat on the commissions.

 

Election Report

Belarus: Discrimination of opposition and NGOs in formation of TECs ahead of constitutional referendum

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The process of forming territorial election commissions (TECs) ahead of the constitutional referendum in Belarus has started. Entities eligible to nominate their representatives to the TECs were given an extremely short period of time, only one working day, which could seriously affect the nomination process. The bulk of nominees to the TECs are representatives of the five largest pro-government organizations. Of the 20 nominees from the opposition parties, none was authorized.

 

Election Report

Belarus: first report on the eve of the National referendum

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The Belarusian Helsinki Committee and the Human Rights Center "Viasna" within their joint campaign "Human Rights Defenders for Free Elections" released the first report on the eve of the National referendum sheduled for February 27, 2022.

 

 

Azerbaijan

Report on Violations of Civil, Political and Social rights in Azerbaijan

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Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Center (EMDS) issued a report on the situation of civil, political and social rights in Azerbaijan based on publicly available and alternative sources of information.

 

Analytical Review

Human Rights Situation in Belarus in 2021

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Viasna released an analytical review on the human rights situation in Belarus in 2021. Human rights observers state that criminal and administrative persecution, arbitrary arrests, dismissals and expulsions have become the main tools of authorities for retaining power and repressing opponents, critics of the regime, and dissidents.

 

Local elections

Social media monitoring final report – 2021 local elections

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ISFED monitored the activity of political parties and candidates on social media during the 2021 local elections, looking at Facebook's library of political advertisements. According to the Facebook standard, all political and election advertisements are subject to declaration. However, false declarations and changed information manipulation tactics are still used. In parallel with the official campaign of Election Subjects on Facebook and other less popular platforms, discrediting messages were still actively spread via mostly anonymous actors.

 

Hungary

Legalized vote tourism threatens next year’s parliamentary election in Hungary

EPDE
Hungary

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An amendment passed by the Hungarian parliament in November introduced a new legal definition of ‘residence’: instead of the place where the citizen lives, it now stands for little more than a contact address in official communication. Though the change may appear minor and administrative, it could have far-reaching consequences for the upcoming parliamentary elections. 

 

Policy Alert

Policy Alert #10 - Two Down, One To Go: Armenia’s 2021 Local Elections

EPDE
Armenia

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In the wake of the early parliamentary election on June 20, 2021, 54% of the electorate will have a second chance to vote during the autumn 2021 local elections. Several communities have already held their city council elections on October 17 and November 14, but the biggest wave will take place on December 5.

 

EPDE Publication

The Rise and Fall of a Polish Agent of the Kremlin Influence: The Case of Janusz Niedźwiecki

EPDE

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Evidence collected by EPDE through the years demonstrates that invitations to participate in politically biased international election observation missions are used by authoritarian regimes or illiberal actors as an entry door to recruit allies in key institutions. Our latest report discusses the case of a Polish political individual, Janusz Niedźwiecki, to provide a detailed account of how participation in 'fake observation' leads to engagement in even more malicious activities. Report available in 1. English and 2. Polish.

 

Early parliamentary elections

Final report

Promo-LEX
Moldova

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In its preliminary report, Promo-LEX reports these elections were generally organized efficiently. The number of incidents on the day of the parliamentary elections decreased insignificantly compared to the presidential election of autumn 2020, (Round I by (-22) and Round II by (-40) incidents). Unconfirmed reported incidents of voter bribery and organized transportation of voters were observed particularly in connection with the electoral process in the Transnistrian region.

 

Policy Alert

Policy Alert #9 - Armenian Local Elections Rescheduled And Expanded Due To Municipal Amalgamations

EPDE
Armenia

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Armenia is holding its most important local (city council) elections in recent years this autumn, as the proportional party list system is expanding at the municipal level. A delayed municipal amalgamation process has pushed back dates but is now complete. The revised local election dates for 2021 are October 17, November 14 and December 5.

 

EPDE Publication

Bogus International Monitors for the Bogus Russian Parliamentary Elections

EPDE

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Source: politexpert.net – Evgeniy Zaytsev.

With the gradual systemic decline of the democratic character of Russian presidential, parliamentary, and other elections, Vladimir Putin’s regime found it increasingly difficult to secure their international legitimacy. In an attempt to give the impression of international legitimation of the parliamentary elections, Russian authorities reportedly brought in 383 “international observers” and “experts” from 80 countries.

 
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