January 26, 2023

A weekly review of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Photo credit: Wikimedia/DiscoverWithDima (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Upcoming Eurasia Elections

Kazakhstan Snap Parliamentary Elections: March 19, 2023

In January 2022, a series of violent protests broke out in Kazakhstan, and in the aftermath, something of a political realignment took place with the sidelining of former president Nursultan Nazerbayev, who had previously exercised a great deal of influence behind the scenes. 

The country held a constitutional referendum in June 2022 that President Kassym-Jomart claimed would make Kazakhstan more representative, although in reality, the changes were largely cosmetic. A series of snap elections (for president, senate, and now parliament) similarly probably will not produce real reform. 

Kazakhstan is a major oil producer and has historically been one of Russia’s closest allies, but has snubbed Moscow on several occasions since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Georgi Gotev, Euractiv (January 23, 2023): One year after tragic January events, Kazakhstan says it’s changed

Russia, Gubernatorial and Local Elections in Some Regions (including Moscow mayor): September 10, 2023, followed by presidential election due in September 2024

Andrey Pertsev, Carnegie Endowment (January 25, 2023): How the War in Ukraine Is Boosting Russian Politicians’ Careers

Moscow Times (January 25, 2023): Documentary on Jailed Kremlin Critic Alexei Navalny Nominated for Oscar

RFE/RL (January 24, 2023): Nobel Laureates Muratov, Ressa Urge Red Cross To Intervene On Behalf Of Navalny

Michael McFaul, Washington Post (January 24, 2023): Are we seeing the beginning of the end of Putinism?

Ukraine Parliamentary Elections: By October 29, 2023 and Presidential Election: Spring 2024 (due)

Daniel Boffey, The Guardian (January 26, 2023): ‘No return to the past’: the man leading Ukraine’s fightback against corruption

Reuters (January 24, 2023): Zelenskiy fires slew of top officials, cites need to clean up Ukraine

RFE/RL (January 24, 2023): Germany Gives Green Light To Send Leopard Tanks To Kyiv As Zelenskiy Purges Senior Ukrainian Leadership

Belarus Presidential Election: August 2025 (due)

IPS Journal (January 24, 2023): Belarus and China: Together through thick and thin? While economically speaking, China’s cooperation with Belarus is no longer as close as it was, politically, they continue to deepen their partnership

Regional Analysis

Kirill Nourzhanov, East Asia Forum (January 25, 2023): Central Asia’s authoritarians stare down a year of disorder

Vitaly Charushin, Modern Diplomacy (January 23, 2023): Putin’s USSR 2.0 project to be undermined by his satellites

Eurasia Elections Coming Up in 2023

Kazakhstan Senate Elections: January 14, 2023

Turkmenistan Parliamentary and Local Elections: March 2023 (due)

Kazakhstan Snap Parliamentary Elections: March 19, 2023

Russia, Gubernatorial and Local Elections in Some Regions (including Moscow mayor): September 10, 2023

Armenia, Local Elections in Yerevan: September 2023 (due)

Ukraine Parliamentary Elections: October 29, 2023 (due)

Moldova Local Elections: October 2023 (due)

Belarus Local Elections: Due in 2023 (delays possible)

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