April 29, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Moldova’s Soroca Fort, which was built in 1499 and played a role in several wars. Moldova holds snap parliamentary elections on July 11. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Photobank MD (CC0)
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (April 29, 2021): Armenian election campaign begins to take shape
Reuters (April 25, 2021): Armenian PM Triggers Early Election a Day after Biden’s Genocide Announcement
Miriam Berger, Washington Post (April 24, 2021): What it means for the U.S. to recognize massacre of Armenians as genocide
Neil Hauer, Foreign Policy (April 24, 2021): Armenia Is Still Grieving
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova is holding snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months. Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election However, no party currently has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties). The resulting political instability was reaching crisis levels. More
Craig Turp-Balazs, Emerging Europe (April 29, 2021): Moldova’s tough president gets the election she wanted
AP (April 28, 2021): Moldova’s president calls early election for July 11
Anastasia Edel, Foreign Policy (April 25, 2021): The Berlin Patient: Russia is no stranger to protests, but Navalny’s are different
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. Consequently, the Kremlin has launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition, including imprisoning Navalny. More
David Brennan, Newsweek (April 29, 2021): Alexei Navalny Team Fixes Sights on Russia Election Showdown With Vladimir Putin
Alexandra Odynova, CBS News (April 29, 2021): Russia’s Alexey Navalny “just a horrible skeleton” in 1st court appearance since prison hunger strike
Catherine Green, Jamestown Foundation (April 29, 2021): Russia Cracks Down on ‘Foreign Threats’
Past Eurasia Elections
Georgia Parliamentary Elections: October 31 and November 21, 2020 and Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 31 and November 21, 2020 in a climate of political tension, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. Tensions have exploded into a full-blown political crisis. Local elections are due in October 2021.. More
Denis Censua, New Eastern Europe (April 29, 2021): The new ‘exits’ and ‘turning points’ in Georgia and Moldova’s political crises
JAM news (April 29, 2021): Georgian civil activists oppose introduction of tougher punishments for hooliganism and police disobedience
Malkhaz Matsaberidze, Messenger Georgia (April 28, 2021): Agreement between opposition bloc and government reached, problems remain
Katie Sartania, Carnegie Europe (April 27, 2021): Struggle and Sacrifice: Narratives of Georgia’s Modern History
Terrell Jermaine Starr, Foreign Policy (April 26, 2021): Georgian Democracy Stumbles Onward After Parliament Deal
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests continue. More
Euronews (April 29, 2021): “The fate of the country was at stake”: Belarus admits to “excessive” force but stands by response
Danniel Boffey, The Guardian (April 29, 2021): Belarus was given boot from Eurovision over ‘no dissent’ songs
RFE/RL (April 27, 2021): Official Says Vote On Belarus Constitutional Amendments May Be In Early 2022
AFP (April 26, 2021): Belarus Opposition Leader Calls For Austria Mediation
Paula Erizanu and Masha Gessen, Calvert Journal (April 26, 2021): “We can’t stop”: The power couple running the Belarus Free Theatre and keeping Minsk’s critical spirit alive
Authoritarianism in Central Asia
Catherine Putz, The Diplomat (April 28 ,2021): Nations in Transit: Central Asia Remains Locked in Consolidated Authoritarianism
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Eurasia This Week: April 29, 2021
Leave a Comment
Last Updated: May 8, 2021 by 21votes
April 29, 2021
Your weekly roundup of news and analysis of elections in Eurasia, usually posted on Thursdays and occasionally updated throughout the week. For a full electoral calendar and interactive map, click here.
Moldova’s Soroca Fort, which was built in 1499 and played a role in several wars. Moldova holds snap parliamentary elections on July 11. Photo credit: Wikimedia/Photobank MD (CC0)
Upcoming Eurasia Elections
Armenia Snap Parliamentary Elections: June 20, 2021
Armenia is holding snap parliamentary elections on June 20 in an effort to defuse a political crisis following a defeat in the recent Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Ani Mejlumyan, Eurasianet (April 29, 2021): Armenian election campaign begins to take shape
Reuters (April 25, 2021): Armenian PM Triggers Early Election a Day after Biden’s Genocide Announcement
Miriam Berger, Washington Post (April 24, 2021): What it means for the U.S. to recognize massacre of Armenians as genocide
Neil Hauer, Foreign Policy (April 24, 2021): Armenia Is Still Grieving
Moldova Snap Parliamentary Elections: July 11, 2021
Moldova is holding snap parliamentary elections on July 11, which pro-Europe center-right president Maia Sandu had been trying to call for months. Sandu trounced pro-Kremlin leftist Igor Dodon, who had been the incumbent, in the November 2020 presidential election However, no party currently has a clear majority in parliament (and Sandu’s allies are outnumbered by pro-Russian parties). The resulting political instability was reaching crisis levels. More
Craig Turp-Balazs, Emerging Europe (April 29, 2021): Moldova’s tough president gets the election she wanted
AP (April 28, 2021): Moldova’s president calls early election for July 11
Anastasia Edel, Foreign Policy (April 25, 2021): The Berlin Patient: Russia is no stranger to protests, but Navalny’s are different
Russia Parliamentary Elections: By September 19, 2021
Russia is due to hold parliamentary elections by September 19, 2021. Russian elections are neither free nor fair. Nonetheless, the opposition has been making some gains in recent regional elections, helped by opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s “Smart Vote,” a campaign of tactical voting, in which they developed a list of candidates the best chance of beating Vladimir Putin’s United Russia. Consequently, the Kremlin has launched a brutal crackdown on the opposition, including imprisoning Navalny. More
David Brennan, Newsweek (April 29, 2021): Alexei Navalny Team Fixes Sights on Russia Election Showdown With Vladimir Putin
Alexandra Odynova, CBS News (April 29, 2021): Russia’s Alexey Navalny “just a horrible skeleton” in 1st court appearance since prison hunger strike
Catherine Green, Jamestown Foundation (April 29, 2021): Russia Cracks Down on ‘Foreign Threats’
Past Eurasia Elections
Georgia Parliamentary Elections: October 31 and November 21, 2020 and Local Elections: October 2021 (due)
Georgia held parliamentary elections on October 31 and November 21, 2020 in a climate of political tension, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and related economic fallout. Tensions have exploded into a full-blown political crisis. Local elections are due in October 2021.. More
Denis Censua, New Eastern Europe (April 29, 2021): The new ‘exits’ and ‘turning points’ in Georgia and Moldova’s political crises
JAM news (April 29, 2021): Georgian civil activists oppose introduction of tougher punishments for hooliganism and police disobedience
Malkhaz Matsaberidze, Messenger Georgia (April 28, 2021): Agreement between opposition bloc and government reached, problems remain
Katie Sartania, Carnegie Europe (April 27, 2021): Struggle and Sacrifice: Narratives of Georgia’s Modern History
Terrell Jermaine Starr, Foreign Policy (April 26, 2021): Georgian Democracy Stumbles Onward After Parliament Deal
Belarus Presidential Election: August 9, 2020
Belarus held a presidential election on August 9, 2020. In a vote widely deemed not free and not fair, incumbent Alexander Lukashenko declared victory. However, the opposition declared that Svetlana Tikhanovskaya had in fact won. Hundreds of thousands of Belarusians have taken to the streets in protest to demand free and fair elections, even in the face of assault and arrest by security forces. Protests continue. More
Euronews (April 29, 2021): “The fate of the country was at stake”: Belarus admits to “excessive” force but stands by response
Danniel Boffey, The Guardian (April 29, 2021): Belarus was given boot from Eurovision over ‘no dissent’ songs
RFE/RL (April 27, 2021): Official Says Vote On Belarus Constitutional Amendments May Be In Early 2022
AFP (April 26, 2021): Belarus Opposition Leader Calls For Austria Mediation
Paula Erizanu and Masha Gessen, Calvert Journal (April 26, 2021): “We can’t stop”: The power couple running the Belarus Free Theatre and keeping Minsk’s critical spirit alive
Authoritarianism in Central Asia
Catherine Putz, The Diplomat (April 28 ,2021): Nations in Transit: Central Asia Remains Locked in Consolidated Authoritarianism
21votes does not necessarily agree with all of the opinions expressed in the linked articles; rather, our goal is to curate a wide range of voices. Furthermore, none of the individuals or organizations referenced have reviewed 21votes’ content. That is to say, their inclusion should not be taken to imply that they endorse us in any way. More on our approach here.
Category: This Week Tags: Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia