Eurasia This Week – June 13, 2019

June 13, 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.

Ukraine Snap Parliamentary - July 12, 2019 (Presidential elections took place in March)

Yana Mokhonchuk, Kyiv Post: “After President Volodymyr Zelensky dissolved the Ukrainian parliament in May, he ordered a snap election to be held on July 21. The Kyiv Post asked people if they follow the election news, if they plan to vote, and what they expect from the new parliament.”

Natalia Lebed, 112UA: “Ukraine has elected a showman as a president, and it has influenced the style of the rest of the politicians.”

Dominik Istrate, Emerging Europe: “Ukraine’s parties roll out candidates for parliamentary elections”

RFE/RL: “The party of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who served as governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region in 2015-16, has presented its list of top 10 candidates for Ukraine’s July 21 parliamentary elections.”

Anna Arutunyan, International Crisis Group: “Amid expectations that Russia will test Ukraine’s new president with escalatory actions, it appears that its calculus is to wait for Kyiv’s administration to make the first move – while quietly helping the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics entrench themselves economically.”

Russia Local - September 8, 2019

Vladimir Kara-Murza, Washington Post: “This is the ninth time [opposition leader Alexei] Navalny’s party has been denied ballot access…. The lack of genuine competition has been a staple of elections in Putin’s Russia….This September’s gubernatorial election in St. Petersburg is likely to be no exception: Vishnevsky, the strongest opposition candidate, is almost certainly headed for a denial of registration.”

Oliver Carroll, The Independent: “Alexei Navalny among 513 arrested as Russia violently cracks down on anti-corruption protest ‘Yesterday, the government showed us a reasonable face. Today it showed us that nothing has changed,’ says organiser Ilya Azar.”

Georgia Parliamentary - due by October 2020

Giorgi Lomsadze, Eurasianet: ““Angry People” party established in Georgia. An enforcer for former president Mikheil Saakashvili has established a new political party, pitching it to the substantial population of angry Georgians.”

Civil.ge: “Vladimer Kakhadze of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia has obtained victory in Sunday’s MP by-elections in Mtatsminda constituency in Tbilisi, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).”

Kazakhstan Snap Presidential - June 9, 2019

RFE/RL: “Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has been inaugurated as Kazakhstan’s new president amid the ongoing arrest of protesters, who have challenged an election that was marred by what international observers called ‘widespread voting irregularities.’”

Al-Jazeera: “Authorities in Kazakhstan have handed jail terms and other penalties to nearly 1,000 people for taking part in protests over its recent presidential election. The country saw some of the biggest demonstrations of recent years during Sunday’s vote and following the victory of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a hand-picked successor to former long-time ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.”

Reid Standish, Foreign Policy: “Kazakhstan’s Second-Ever President Can’t Tolerate Protest: Nazarbayev’s successor has an impressive foreign profile but a raft of domestic problems.”

Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Authorities mislead public on mass detentions. Police and prosecutors claim both that demos were violent and that they detained nobody”

Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL: “The Biggest Loser In The Kazakh Presidential Election Could Be The Government’s Reputation”

Paolo Sorbello, The Diplomat: “Kazakhstan Turns a Blind Eye to the Opposition Riddle. The government’s reaction to election protests obfuscates the diverse nature of civic activism in Kazakhstan.”

Joanna Lillis, Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Waking up to reform. Kazakhstan is entering a virgin territory of political confrontation. A newly formed collective of youthful activists hopes to lead the way.”

Moldova Parliamentary - February 24, 2019

Dumitru Minzarari, Jamestown Foundation: “Moldovan Political Crisis Brings Great Opportunities but Also Serious Risks…. Over the weekend, Moldova confronted its deepest and most severe political crisis since achieving independence nearly 30 years ago. “

The Economist: “Since an inconclusive election more than three months ago, Moldovan political life has been gridlocked. Now it is moving at breakneck speed.”

Daniel McLaughlin, Irish Times: “Moldova’s president and new government have called for a mass rally this weekend to force out a rival oligarch-backed cabinet, as political turmoil grips a graft-plagued country where Russia and the West compete for influence. The pro-EU Acum alliance and Kremlin-friendly Socialists unexpectedly formed a coalition government last Saturday, but the outgoing cabinet led by the Democratic Party of tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc is refusing to step down and go into opposition.”

Alina Inayeh, German Marshall Fund: “What is extraordinary about this weekend’s events is that the coalition between ACUM and the Socialists, and the consequent government, is supported by the EU, the United States, and Russia….Cooperation in Moldova hands Russia a chip it will eventually use in its interest.”

Associated Press: “The ongoing political crisis and power struggle in Moldova sparked urgent calls for help Wednesday from the European Union to end the tensions.”

Rob Thomas Political Analysis: “Moldova: Confrontation Looms As Constitutional Court Declares New Government Headed By Maia Sandu ‘Illegitimate’”

Washington Post: “Moldova has a chance to cleanse its political system. It needs more Western support.”

Upcoming Elections
Ukraine Snap Parliamentary – July 12, 2019 (Presidential elections took place in March)
Yana Mokhonchuk, Kyiv Post: “After President Volodymyr Zelensky dissolved the Ukrainian parliament in May, he ordered a snap election to be held on July 21. The Kyiv Post asked people if they follow the election news, if they plan to vote, and what they expect from the new parliament.”

Natalia Lebed, 112UA: “Ukraine has elected a showman as a president, and it has influenced the style of the rest of the politicians.”

Dominik Istrate, Emerging Europe: “Ukraine’s parties roll out candidates for parliamentary elections”

RFE/RL: “The party of Mikheil Saakashvili, the former Georgian president who served as governor of Ukraine’s Odesa region in 2015-16, has presented its list of top 10 candidates for Ukraine’s July 21 parliamentary elections.”

Anna Arutunyan, International Crisis Group: “Amid expectations that Russia will test Ukraine’s new president with escalatory actions, it appears that its calculus is to wait for Kyiv’s administration to make the first move – while quietly helping the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics entrench themselves economically.”

Russia Local – September 8, 2019
Vladimir Kara-Murza, Washington Post: “This is the ninth time [opposition leader Alexei] Navalny’s party has been denied ballot access…. The lack of genuine competition has been a staple of elections in Putin’s Russia….This September’s gubernatorial election in St. Petersburg is likely to be no exception: Vishnevsky, the strongest opposition candidate, is almost certainly headed for a denial of registration.”

Oliver Carroll, The Independent: “Alexei Navalny among 513 arrested as Russia violently cracks down on anti-corruption protest ‘Yesterday, the government showed us a reasonable face. Today it showed us that nothing has changed,’ says organiser Ilya Azar.”

Georgia Parliamentary – due by October 2020
Giorgi Lomsadze, Eurasianet: ““Angry People” party established in Georgia. An enforcer for former president Mikheil Saakashvili has established a new political party, pitching it to the substantial population of angry Georgians.”

Civil.ge: “Vladimer Kakhadze of the Georgian Dream-Democratic Georgia has obtained victory in Sunday’s MP by-elections in Mtatsminda constituency in Tbilisi, according to the Central Election Commission (CEC).”

Past Elections
Kazakhstan Snap Presidential – June 9, 2019
RFE/RL: “Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev has been inaugurated as Kazakhstan’s new president amid the ongoing arrest of protesters, who have challenged an election that was marred by what international observers called ‘widespread voting irregularities.’”

Al-Jazeera: “Authorities in Kazakhstan have handed jail terms and other penalties to nearly 1,000 people for taking part in protests over its recent presidential election. The country saw some of the biggest demonstrations of recent years during Sunday’s vote and following the victory of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a hand-picked successor to former long-time ruler Nursultan Nazarbayev.”

Reid Standish, Foreign Policy: “Kazakhstan’s Second-Ever President Can’t Tolerate Protest: Nazarbayev’s successor has an impressive foreign profile but a raft of domestic problems.”

Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Authorities mislead public on mass detentions. Police and prosecutors claim both that demos were violent and that they detained nobody”

Bruce Pannier, RFE/RL: “The Biggest Loser In The Kazakh Presidential Election Could Be The Government’s Reputation”

Paolo Sorbello, The Diplomat: “Kazakhstan Turns a Blind Eye to the Opposition Riddle. The government’s reaction to election protests obfuscates the diverse nature of civic activism in Kazakhstan.”

Joanna Lillis, Eurasianet: “Kazakhstan: Waking up to reform. Kazakhstan is entering a virgin territory of political confrontation. A newly formed collective of youthful activists hopes to lead the way.”

Moldova Parliamentary – February 24, 2019
Dumitru Minzarari, Jamestown Foundation: “Moldovan Political Crisis Brings Great Opportunities but Also Serious Risks…. Over the weekend, Moldova confronted its deepest and most severe political crisis since achieving independence nearly 30 years ago. “

The Economist: “Since an inconclusive election more than three months ago, Moldovan political life has been gridlocked. Now it is moving at breakneck speed.”

Daniel McLaughlin, Irish Times: “Moldova’s president and new government have called for a mass rally this weekend to force out a rival oligarch-backed cabinet, as political turmoil grips a graft-plagued country where Russia and the West compete for influence. The pro-EU Acum alliance and Kremlin-friendly Socialists unexpectedly formed a coalition government last Saturday, but the outgoing cabinet led by the Democratic Party of tycoon Vladimir Plahotniuc is refusing to step down and go into opposition.”

Alina Inayeh, German Marshall Fund: “What is extraordinary about this weekend’s events is that the coalition between ACUM and the Socialists, and the consequent government, is supported by the EU, the United States, and Russia….Cooperation in Moldova hands Russia a chip it will eventually use in its interest.”

Associated Press: “The ongoing political crisis and power struggle in Moldova sparked urgent calls for help Wednesday from the European Union to end the tensions.”

Rob Thomas Political Analysis: “Moldova: Confrontation Looms As Constitutional Court Declares New Government Headed By Maia Sandu ‘Illegitimate’”

Washington Post: “Moldova has a chance to cleanse its political system. It needs more Western support.”

The Year Ahead: Eurasia
On deck: Moldova local (due by June 16 but date not set yet – probably will not happen on time); Ukraine snap parliamentary (July 21); Kazakhstan local (September); Russia local (September 8); Ukraine local (October); Belarus parliamentary (November 17); Uzbekistan parliamentary (December 19); Azerbaijan local (December 27); Tajikistan parliamentary (March)

 

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny being arrested in 2017. He was arrested again this week, along with more than 400 other peaceful protesters.

Photo credit: Wikimedia/Evgeny Feldman

 

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