Eurasia This Week – February 6, 2019

Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. We explore Eurasia on Thursdays. Click the map pins.

Moldova Parliamentary - February 24, 2019

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE): “Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova: statement by pre-electoral delegation.” PACE notes a number of concerns, including: the electoral system itself (which is new and controversial); intimidation of candidates; and a general lack of trust of state institutions due to corruption scandals. PACE will be sending a delegation to observe the elections.

The International Republican Institute (IRI), an American NGO, released a new poll, finding: “A combined 44 percent believe the elections scheduled for February 24 will be “completely free and fair” (13 percent) or “somewhat free and fair” (31 percent). This represents a 10-point increase from October 2018, when a combined 34 percent said the elections would be “completely free and fair” (9 percent) or “somewhat free and fair” (25 percent).”

The poll also found that 93 percent of Moldovans think corruption is a problem and 67 percent think many or most Moldovans are afriad to express their political views (only eight percent said no one is afraid). IRI will also be observing the elections.

Ukraine Presidential - March 31, 2019

Balázs Jarábik in Politico: “Ukrainians are deeply ambivalent about the presidential election coming up on March 31. About a fifth of the electorate is undecided. Many have lost what little trust they had in the government. This widespread atmosphere of discontent has created an opening for an unlikely dark horse candidate: the comedian Vladimir Zelenskiy.”

Alexander J. Motyl and Dennis Soltys at the Atlantic Council: “Rating Ukraine’s Presidential Candidates”

Belarus Presidential and Parliamentary - 2020

Amy Mackinnon in Foreign Policy: “Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf”

Kazakhstan Presidential - 2020

Almaz Kumenov in Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Court clears woman charged of incitement to revolt”

RFE/RL: “Kazakhstan’s President Says No Immediate Plans For Early Presidential Election”

Tajikistan Presidential - 2020

RFE/RL: “The lower chamber of Tajikistan’s parliament has approved amendments to the laws on presidential and parliamentary elections — lowering the eligibility age from 35 to 30 for the presidency and legislative posts in parliament’s upper chamber….The idea to lower the age of eligibility for presidential candidates is seen as a change that could position President Emomali Rahmon’s 30-year-old son, Rustam Emomali, for an early succession.” Tajikistan is a police state that suppresses all opposition to the regime.

Upcoming Elections
Moldova Parliamentary – February 24, 2019
Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE): “Parliamentary elections in the Republic of Moldova: statement by pre-electoral delegation.” PACE notes a number of concerns, including: the electoral system itself (which is new and controversial); intimidation of candidates; and a general lack of trust of state institutions due to corruption scandals. PACE will be sending a delegation to observe the elections.

The International Republican Institute (IRI), an American NGO, released a new poll, finding: “A combined 44 percent believe the elections scheduled for February 24 will be “completely free and fair” (13 percent) or “somewhat free and fair” (31 percent). This represents a 10-point increase from October 2018, when a combined 34 percent said the elections would be “completely free and fair” (9 percent) or “somewhat free and fair” (25 percent).”

The poll also found that 93 percent of Moldovans think corruption is a problem and 67 percent think many or most Moldovans are afriad to express their political views (only eight percent said no one is afraid). IRI will also be observing the elections.

Ukraine Presidential – March 31, 2019
Balázs Jarábik in Politico: “Ukrainians are deeply ambivalent about the presidential election coming up on March 31. About a fifth of the electorate is undecided. Many have lost what little trust they had in the government. This widespread atmosphere of discontent has created an opening for an unlikely dark horse candidate: the comedian Vladimir Zelenskiy.”

Alexander J. Motyl and Dennis Soltys at the Atlantic Council: “Rating Ukraine’s Presidential Candidates”

Belarus Presidential and Parliamentary – 2020
Amy Mackinnon in Foreign Policy: “Shhh! Belarus Wants You to Think It’s Turning Over a New Leaf”

Kazakhstan Presidential – 2020
Almaz Kumenov in Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Court clears woman charged of incitement to revolt”

RFE/RL: “Kazakhstan’s President Says No Immediate Plans For Early Presidential Election”

Tajikistan Presidential – 2020
RFE/RL: “The lower chamber of Tajikistan’s parliament has approved amendments to the laws on presidential and parliamentary elections — lowering the eligibility age from 35 to 30 for the presidency and legislative posts in parliament’s upper chamber….The idea to lower the age of eligibility for presidential candidates is seen as a change that could position President Emomali Rahmon’s 30-year-old son, Rustam Emomali, for an early succession.” Tajikistan is a police state that suppresses all opposition to the regime.

Past Elections
Russia Presidential – March 18, 2018

The Year Ahead: Eurasia
On deck: Moldova parliamentary (February 24); Ukraine presidential (March 31); Moldova local (June); Ukraine parliamentary (October); Uzbekistan parliamentary (December 19); Azerbaijan local (2019)

Vladimir Zelenskiy plays a teacher who is elected president of Ukraine in the 2015 film Servant of the People. Now, he wants to be president in real life. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Yaroslav Burdovitsyn

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