Documents

EPDE Publication

Foreign Observation of the Illegitimate Elections in South Ossetia and Abkhazia in 2019

EPDE

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In Anton Shekhovtsov’s newest study, he analyzes how the presence of “foreign observers” during the “parliamentary elections” in the so-called “Republic of South Ossetia” and of the “presidential elections” in the so-called “Republic of Abkhazia” in 2019 was underpinned not by the actual need to observe the “elections”, but rather by the intent to mimic legitimate international election monitoring in order to create an impression that South Ossetia and Abkhazia were legitimate independent states. 

 

Presidential Elections

Divisive Narratives on Facebook During the 2018 Elections

ISFED
Georgia

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ISFED released its latest social media monitoring report which focuses on Facebook pages that spread specific value-based narratives such as nationalistic, xenophobic, islamophobic, homophobic, illiberal, and openly anti-western messages. Narratives and propaganda methods used by these Facebook pages are identical to those used by Kremlin across Europe.

 

EPDE Publication

Comparative study on conditions for citizen election observation in the EU–EaP and Russia

EPDE

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This comparative analysis by Tatyana Hilscher-Bogussevich of conditions for citizen election observers in the Eastern Neighborhood has found that Russia ranks the worst since there are no legal provisions allowing for civil society to be directly accredited as election observers. There is a similarly restrictive environment in Azerbaijan and Belarus. Other countries of the region rank better and generally facilitate citizen observation, however issues still remain. This study is a first in a series based on the newly launched Catalogue of Recommendations on Electoral Reform.

 

EPDE Publication

Controversial "International Observation" at the 2019 Regional elections in Russia

EPDE

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In Anton Shekhovtsov’s newest study, he analyzes how Russian officials invited "international experts" with known involvement in various pro-Kremlin efforts to observe the regional elections in Moscow and how they were used by officials, pro-regime media and organizations to legitimize the electoral process and neutralize the negative effect of refusing to register independent opposition candidates for the elections to the Moscow City Duma.

 

Catalogue of recommendations on electoral reform

Analysis on conditions for citizen observation

EPDE

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Analysis including recent reports and recommendations by citizen observer organizations, open source information, and the newly developed Catalogue of Recommendations. Overall findings: Conditions for election observation, both in legislation and in practice, and attitudes towards it vary considerably from country to country. An observed rise in politically-motivated domestic observation can be noted, seriously damaging any credible non-partisan election observation.

 

 

EPDE Publication

Russian Interference, and Where to Find It - Anton Shekhovtsov (German version)

EPDE

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In Anton Shekhovtsov’s newest study, he identifies different factors that influence the occurrence of Russian interference in international elections. This article discusses elections in France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Sweden that took place in 2017-2018, and shows how different combinations of these factors produced different outcomes in terms of Russian meddling.

 

Presidential Elections

Free elections with obstacles - the 2019 Ukrainian presidential elections

Stefanie Schiffer
Ukraine

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The 2019 Ukrainian presidential elections once again proved, for the sixth time in a row, that Ukrainian democracy is solid enough to allow a peaceful transfer of power. Outgoing President Petro Poroshenko accepted his defeat and cleared the way for his successor Volodymyr Zelensky. What marked the presidential elections in Ukraine in 2019? What were their weak points and what are the challenges and tasks which the Ukrainian society and its international partners face in order to improve the electoral processes for the upcoming parliamentary elections? (in German)

 

EPDE Publication

Russian Interference, and Where to Find It - Anton Shekhovtsov

EPDE

Open
Document

In Anton Shekhovtsov’s newest study, he identifies different factors that influence the occurrence of Russian interference in international elections. This article discusses elections in France, Norway, Germany, Austria, Italy, Hungary, and Sweden that took place in 2017-2018, and shows how different combinations of these factors produced different outcomes in terms of Russian meddling.

 

EMDS Report

Fact Sheet-2018 On the Human Rights Situation in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

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The Election Monitoring and Democracy Studies Centre (EMDS) prepared a report on the situation of human rights in Azerbaijan covering the year 2018 based on publicly available and alternative sources of information. Their conclusion is that there has not been any progress in the situation of human rights in Azerbaijan in 2018.

 

Republican Legislative Referendum

Promo-LEX Analysis on level of implementation of the recommendations

Promo-LEX
Moldova

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Promo-LEX analyzes the level of implementation of the recommendations made by the European Commission for Democracy Through Law and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights to the Republic of Moldova with Regards to the Draft Laws Amending and Supplementing Some Legislative Acts (electoral system for parliamentary elections). The Assosiation found out that out of 32 recommendations only 12 (37.50%) were fulfilled, 14 (43.75%) – partially fulfilled, while 6 (18.75%) – were not fulfilled at all.

 

Republican Legislative Referendum

Opinion of Promo-LEX Association on the rejection of the Initiative Group registration application for referendum

Promo-LEX
Moldova

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Promo-LEX Association disapproves of the decision of the Central Electoral Commission to reject the registration of the Initiative Group for conducting a republican legislative referendum on repealing Law No 154 of 20 July 2017, which changed the electoral system into the mixed one. The Association is alarmed by the trends that take shape in the society – when certain important national public authorities limit the citizens’ right to initiate a referendum, as well as to freely express their opinions in a democratic exercise.

 

EMDS Assessment Report

Assessment report on implementation status of recommendations on improvement of electoral process in Azerbaijan

EMDS
Azerbaijan

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The report, carried out by EPDE member EMDS, analyzes the situation of the fundamental freedoms of expression, assembly and association which are the prerequisites for establishment of an environment conducive for democratic elections as recommended by the OSCE/ODIHR. EMDS notes with regret that the government has taken steps towards restricting freedom of expression on the internet. In March 2017, the law was amended allowing the government and courts to block websites granting them almost unlimited powers.

 

Analytical Report

Reflection of recommendations by international election observation missions in the RA 2016 electoral code and their implementation during 2017 National Assembly and Yerevan City Council Elections

HCAV
Armenia

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Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor analyzed the recommendations by international election observers and their implementation. According to the report, the current Electoral Code includes several recommendations by OSCE/ODIHR, yet many of these have not been properly adopted. The lack of open discussions during the drafting of the code was unfortunate. The recent elections showed that many recommendations reflected in the Code have not been effectively implemented, and the recommendations not taken into consideration were more than necessary, such as those on taking action against election bribery and ensuring financial transparency of the campaign.

 

Local Elections

The domestic election observation in Turkey: Shrinking space for the independent civil society organizations

EPDE

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The purpose of this report presented by EPDE is to evaluate the role of the civil society organizations in the electoral process in Turkey, in which there has been a dramatic decline in the protection of human rights and freedoms in recent years, particularly the challenges, opportunities and dangers associated with domestic election observation. Within the current political environment in Turkey the report covers the opportunities for the CSOs to function, domestic election observation and participation of independent CSOs in this process.

 

Recommendations

Electoral System Design in Moldova

Promo-LEX
Moldova

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The Norwegian expert Mette Bakken and her Romanian colleague Adrian Sorescu presented the study ‘Electoral System Design in Moldova’ at the international conference on electoral systems in Moldova. Ms Bakken and Mr Sorescu argue that in Moldova, it is not clear what would be the result from passing from one electoral system to another. Therefore, they have developed a number of recommendations for reforming the current system.

 
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