Hugo Chávez’ Challenger Has Been Elected

February 15th, 2012   Articles | Latin America | News

Henrique Capriles, a governor, former legislator and founder of the center-right Justice First party, February 12, 2012, won the nomination of a broad coalition of Venezuela’s opposition parties – called the Democratic Unity Panel. Mr. Capriles will face off in October elections against Hugo Chávez, since 13 years the authoritarian leader of Venezuela. “Analysts believe Venezuela’s oft-divided opposition, which for the moment has put its differences aside, has the best chance to oust the president at the polls— if it is able to stay united”, writes the Wall Street Journal.

Following the election Henrique Capriles was slandered by state media stating, among other things that “This is our enemy, the Zionism that Capriles today represents”. “Zionism, along with capitalism, are responsible for “90% of world poverty and imperialist wars.” (more…)

Long Road to Democracy in Egypt

December 20th, 2011   Articles | News | North Africa

In mid-November a delegation from the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation visited Cairo and Alexandria. The purpose of the visit was to research possibilities for future cooperations in the region. Thomas Gür, who was part of the delegation, describes the complex political landscape that reveals itself when the Arab Spring turns into fall and winter.

When we visited Egypt the country faced its first round of elections to the parliament’s lower house – an election which was held in approximately a third of the constituencies on 28 November. The second round of elections took place in mid-December and the third will be held early January. Another three rounds of elections will later be held to the parliament’s upper house in March of 2012.

The complexity of the electoral process is a result of an Egyptian election law which states that there must be a judge present at every polling station to ensure that the process is conducted in a right manner. And since there are three times as many polling stations as there are judges in the country, elections to parliament’s two chambers are held in three rounds each.  After the elections a committee of 100 people will be appointed to write Egypt’s new constitution.

This process is tainted with serious weaknesses – not least as the results of each election are made public which influences the following elections. The complexity of it however reflects that these are the first free elections since before the military coup in 1952. (more…)

Continuous Repression in Belarus

December 20th, 2011   Articles | Belarus

Following the trial against leading Belarusian human rights defender Ales Byalyatski, the Council of the European Union decided on December 16, 2011, to reinforce restrictive measures against the Belarusian regime and those involved in repressions against the democratic opposition and civil society. The Council added two more people – who have been involved in the trial of human rights defender Ales Byalyatski – to the list of those subject to an asset freeze and a ban from entering the EU.

Meanwhile, December 19, Belarusians marked the one year anniversary of the presidential elections of 2010, which ended in rare mass protests and a exceptional wave of repressions; a ruthless crackdown including targeted harassment of the opposition, independent journalists, as well as the rest of the Belarusian civil society.

On the eve of the election December 19, 2010, nearly 50,000 people gathered in the city centre of Minsk, as President Alexandr Lukashenka was declared the winner of a fraud-tainted ballot, in which each of his nine rivals was awarded less than 3 percent of the vote. At least 700 peaceful demonstrators were brutally arrested as authorities cracked down on the protest. Two of the oppositional candidates in the presidential election, are still in prison – Andrei Sannikau and Mikola Statkevitj.

EPP Condemns Russian Elections

December 9th, 2011   Articles | News | Russia

Walburga Habsburg Douglas, Chairman of the EPP and likminded groups in the OSCE PA, presented the resolution.

The European People’s Party (EPP) calls upon the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to declare the State Duma elections in Russia, on 4th December 2011, as non-free and not meeting some OSCE commitments on generally accepted democratic standards. The mass arrests follwing the elections are also critiziced.

In a statement dated December 8, 2011, the EPP calls upon the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to monitor the presidential elections in Russia [ March 4, 2012] carefully.

The EPP points to the fact that the Russian authorities persistently refused  ”to register new political parties under the pretext of various technical formalities”.

The EPP declares that Russian authorities must “stop non-compliance with their obligations in the sphere of human rights and democracy under the framework of the OSCE and CoE, changing the rules and practices of the process of registering political parties, in order to provide for unimpeded access for political forces to the presidential elections of 2012″.

Read the EPP resolution about the Russian elections

EPP Condemns Russian Elections

December 9th, 2011   Articles | Eastern Europe | Russia

The European People’s Party (EPP) calls upon the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to declare the State Duma elections in Russia, on 4th December 2011, as non-free and not meeting some OSCE commitments on generally accepted democratic standards. The mass arrests follwing the elections are also critiziced.

In a statement dated December 8, 2011, the EPP calls upon the European Union, the OSCE and the Council of Europe to monitor the presidential elections in Russia [ March 4, 2012] carefully. The EPP declares that Russian authorities must “stop non-compliance with their obligations in the sphere of human rights and democracy under the framework of the OSCE and CoE, changing the rules and practices of the process of registering political parties, in order to provide for unimpeded access for political forces to the presidential elections of 2012″.

Read the EPP resolution about the Russian elections

Protests and Arrests in Russia

December 7th, 2011   Articles | Russia

For the past few days thousands of people have gathered to demonstrate against the result of the Duma elections in Russia on December 4.  At least 15 000 people gathered in the city centre of Moscow on Monday, December 5; yesterday on Tuesday, December 6, thousands of people gathered not only in Moscow but also in St. Petersburg, as well as in some other large cities; all this makes it the first mass opposition protest in Russia since 1993.

Opposition supporters shouted “Putin is a crook and thief” referring both to the alleged election fraud and to widespread complaints that United Russia party is one of the major reasons for Russia’s widespread corruption. They also shouted “Russia without Putin” in a tense stand-off with hundreds of pro-Kremlin youth Nashi (Ours) and young men with emblems of United Russia’s youth wing (the Young Guards). More than 550 people were detained in the capital on Tuesday evening. About 250 people who tried to hold an unsanctioned rally were arrested in St. Petersburg. Another 25 protesters are said to have been detained at a similar protest in the city of Rostov-na-Donu. (more…)

Statement on the Duma Elections by the People’s Freedom Party

December 5th, 2011   Articles | Russia

On December 4 voting to elect the State Duma of the Russian Federation took place. Facing the collapse of public confidence and support, the ruling group was forced to organize the most dirty and fraudulent elections in the post-Soviet history. Campaign and the voting itself were accompanied by an unprecedented level of violations and abuses by the authorities. Manipulations of the public opinion, pressure on citizens, independent observers and members of election commissions, buying and rigging votes were undertaken at a scale unseen before.

There were no free access to these elections of the political forces. A number of them (including our Party) were on the non-constitutional grounds denied registration, and thus – the opportunity to take part in elections, to formulate its program of resolving the current political crisis and to uphold it before the citizens. (more…)

Death sentences in Belarus

November 30th, 2011   Articles | Belarus

Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou has by the Belarusian Supreme Court been sentenced to death for the bombings in the Minsk subway that killed 15 people on April 11 this year. Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou are not affiliated with the Belarus political opposition and the witch hunt of the opposition that many feared would be a result of the bombing, has not been realized.

The Belarusian human rights organization Viasna (whose leader recently was sentenced to several years imprisonment) condemns the death penalty as such and believes that the investigation into the explosion in Minsk subway, as well as the trial of Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou, was neither professional nor convincing:

“Observers report serious procedural violations during the preliminary investigation and the judicial examination. The defendants’ right to legal protection has been gravely restricted. The defendants’ reports of physical and psychological pressure during the preliminary investigation failed to be properly examined. Numerous motions by the defense lawyers, aimed at clearing up the irregularities and contradictions of the presented evidence, were groundlessly dismissed.”

Viasna explains on its website that during the trial a number of victims have expressed doubt that Dzmitry Kanavalau and Uladzislau Kavaliou have been involved in terrorist attacks.

Ales Bialiatski sentenced to 4,5 years of imprisonment

November 24th, 2011   Articles | Belarus

Today Ales Bialiatski, head of the leading Belarusian human rights organisation Viasna, the most well-known human rights defender in Belarus and Vice- President of International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH), was sentenced to four and a half years of imprisonment in a reinforced prison.

He was also sentenced to confiscation of property and a fine of about $ 83 000 for “concealment of profits on an especially large scale in pursuance of prior agreements” in accordance with the article 243, part 2, of the Criminal Code. The trial, that was held in The Pershamaiski District Court of the City of Minsk, was followed by delegations from international human rights defenders, oppositional politicians and a lot of foreign diplomats.  (more…)

Lukashenko Avoiding a Social Revolt

November 14th, 2011   Articles | Belarus

Everything points to the fact that the Belarusian regime is  struggling not only with a severe economic crisis but also with a conceptual crisis and is no longer able to produce a long-term strategy adequate to the scale of current threats, writes Kamil Kysiñski at the Center for Eastern Studies.

As a result of this, Alexander Lukashenko will be forced in the short term to make concessions to Russia, which will gradually restrict his independence. On the other hand, it will allow him to delay the danger of an uncontrollable social revolt. And, writes Kamil Kysiñski, everything points to a further escalation of repression aimed at the regime’s opponents.

Read the analysis about Belarus

Criminal Cases Re-opened Against Yulia Tymoshenko

November 8th, 2011   Articles | Ukraine

Ukrainian tax authorities have re-opened four more criminal cases against imprisoned Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister and opposition leader, less than a month after she was sentenced to seven years in prison for crimes allegedly committed during her time as prime minister.

The four offences allegedly occurred at the time when Yulia Tymoshenko was head of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) in the late 1990s. All cases deal with alleged tax evasion. UESU was then the main Ukrainian importer of the Russian natural gas. (more…)

Anders Åslund: Putin takes a Populist Turn

October 27th, 2011   Articles | Russia

After a long rest, alternating between publicity stunts and foreign trips representing Gazprom, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has suddenly woken up with the announcement about his renewed presidential ambitions and several substantial policy statements.

Putin’s speech to the United Russia convention on Sept. 24 was downright populist. His discussion at a VTB Capital conference on Oct. 6 offered an uncommonly serious policy line. A Russian television interview on Oct. 17 rested somewhere in between. In discerning solid policy from propaganda, a rather clear policy emerges.

Putin has evolved the most on the World Trade Organization. He pursued Russia’s accession vigorously from 2000 to 2003, but during Dmitry Medvedev’s presidency he has impeded Russia’s entry. Now, he has sorted out this struggle with himself. He answers the question about whether WTO accession is good or bad for Russia. “I will say it’s 50-50, but overall there are probably more pluses than minuses for Russia,” he said at the VTB conference. “We are not abandoning this goal, and we are ready to join the WTO in full, but we will do so only if they don’t set unacceptable terms for Russia.”

Read the full article in Moscow Times

Croatia New EU-member 2013 – and Serbia to Start Talks about Membership

October 17th, 2011   Articles | Croatia | Serbia | The European Union

In a report issued on October 12, the EU Commission stated “that Croatia meets the political criteria and [the Commission] expects Croatia to meet the economic and acquis criteria and to be ready for membership by 1 July 2013.” At the same time the Commission recommended that the Council grant Serbia the status of candidate and give green light for accession negotiations with Montenegro.

In a set of annual reports – issue on October 12, 2011 – the Commission informed on the progress towards EU accession made by the Western Balkans, Turkey, and Iceland over the past year. (more…)

New charges against Yulia Tymoshenko

October 14th, 2011   Articles | Ukraine

Ukrainian authorities recently issued signals about the fate of the imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, as President Viktor Yanukovych hinted that she might be released following a legal reform. However, the Ukrainian Security Service is now filing new corruption charges against her.

Two days after Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison, the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) launched a new criminal case, suspecting the former prime minister and current opposition leader of attempting to embezzle $405 million in government funds. This she should have done in cooperation with a government member while heading the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU), the country’s largest power company, in the mid-1990s. (more…)

Tymoshenko Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison

October 12th, 2011   Articles | Ukraine

Yulia Tymoshenko, former prime minister and current opposition leader in Ukraine, was today sentenced to seven years in prison. In addition to this, she was ordered to pay a fine of $188 million to the Ukraine state and will not be able to run for office in another three years. “[This] seriously harm Ukraine’s European integration and casts serious doubts on the Association Agreement” said Viktoria Siumar, Executive Director, Independent Media Institute in Kyiv.

Viktoria Siumar explains that President Yanukovych has shown that he does not want to hear what the EU leaders are saying. “He behaves like a typical post-Soviet authoritarian leader, the main thing for him – [is to] to remove a political rival.” Yulia Tymoshenko has 15 days to appeal the verdict. (more…)

EU imposes new restrictive measures against Belarus

October 10th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Free Belarus | The European Union

16 new individuals have been added to the list of those who are responsible for repressions and human rights violations in Belarus. The individuals on this list are banned from traveling to the EU. In addition, the assets in the European Union, of the listed persons, will be frozen.

Today the Council of the EU has reviewed sanctions against the Belarusian regime for its crackdown on opposition, repressions against civil society and independent journalists, as well as violations of international electoral standards during the presidential elections 2010.

Nearly 200 people were already subject to an asset freeze and travel ban.

Read the pressrelease

EPP President Denied to Visit Tymoshenko in Jail

September 13th, 2011   Articles | Ukraine

Wilfried Martens, President of the European People’s Party, requested permission from the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv to visit Yulia Tymoshenko in jail during his visit to Ukraine on September 13-16. The request was rejected by Judge Rodion Kireyev of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv. According to the Court, Wilfried Martens did not provide sufficient cause for such a meeting.  Instead, the EPP president met with Yulia Tymoshenko’s daughter Eugenia Tymoshenko and later with President Viktor Yanukovych.

“It was a frank discussion and I explained to him [President Viktor Yanukovych] the EPP position on Ukraine” – Wilfried Martens commented on his Twitter account. (more…)

McCain and Martens urge for the release of Yulia Tymoshenko

August 31st, 2011   Articles | Ukraine

Senator John McCain and the President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens, jointly called on Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office to release on bail Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna Party and former Prime Minister, following her dubious detention on August 5, 2011.

Read the pressrelease

Baltic States give Helping Hand in Diplomacy

August 30th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | The Baltic States

The Nordic and Baltic countries today signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding posting of diplomats in each other’s missions abroad. The agreement will facilitate the Nordic and Baltic countries to maintain a diplomatic presence around the world through flexible and cost effective solutions.

Read ther pressrelease (in Swedish)

Gunilla Carlsson Appointed to UN High-Level Panel on Global Sustainability

August 10th, 2011   Articles | Development Aid

Secretary-general of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, has elected Minister for Development Assistance Gunilla Carlsson to be part of the United Nations’ new high-level panel on global sustainability.

– I am happy to be a part of this panel on such an important issue for all of humanity. It is also an acknowledgement of Sweden’s very goal-oriented work for a sustainable environment – for people in both developed and developing countries, says Minister for Development Assistance Gunilla Carlsson.

Tymoshenko Stays in Arrest

August 8th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | The European Union | Ukraine

Today Monday August 8, 2011, during the hearing of Yulia Tymoshenko’s criminal case, the Court dismissed an appeal from the former prime minister to release her from jail. Last Friday Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s top opposition leader and former prime minister, was arrested during her own trial following the judge’s decreed she was guilty of “systematically” disrupting proceedings. Yulia Tymoshenko was led from the courtroom and transferred to a detention centre under heavy police escort.

According to the judge there is no reason to change the decision regarding arrest because, in the appeal from Yulia Tymoshenko’s defense, there is no objective explanation in accordance with the Ukrainian law.  (more…)

Polish Journalist Sentenced in Belarus

July 5th, 2011   Articles | Belarus

Andrej Pachobut, a well-known journalist of Poland’s largest newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and democratic activist in Belarus, has been passed a three year suspended sentence after being found guilty of defamation of President Lukashenka by the Court in Hrodna.

The state prosecutor asked the court to sentence Andrej Pachobut to three years in prison. Her was charged in accordance with two articles of the Criminal Code of the Belarusian Law: Article 368, part 1, “insulting of president”, and Article 367, part 1 “libel against president”, and faces two to four years in prison. He has been in custody for more than two months prior to the trial.

Swedish Protest to Support Protesters in Belarus

June 23rd, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Foreign Policy

Yesterday in the evening about 9.000 people went to the central squares of their towns all over Belarus to a “silent protest” against the Belarusian government. During the protests in Minsk a Swedish diplomat was subject to violence and Minister for Foreign Affairs Carl Bildt has issued an official protest.

Not wanting to provoke the Police the many protesters gathered and walked in silence in the city centres, only clapping their hands when cars honked their horns in support of the peaceful protesters. The Police and Special forces tried to block the city centre in Minsk, limiting traffic and detaining people on their way to join the protest. (more…)

Rally in Moscow on Sunday!

June 23rd, 2011   Articles | Russia

On June 23, 2011 Mikhail Kasyanov, Vladimir Milov, Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Ryzhkov commented on the refusal of registration of the Russian political party PARNAS. The party will hold a conference on July 2, and discuss its political future. In addition they invited invite all Russians to take part in the rally “Against tyranny! Against corruption! For Free and Fair Elections!” to be held at 1pm on June 25, in Moscow at the Pushkinskaya Square.

STATEMENT

by the Co-Chairmen of the People’s Freedom Party

The refusal of state registration of the People’s Freedom Party is a logical extension of the desire of the ruling group to remain in power by any means. This decision is not a unique case of political oppression. The refusal to register opposition political parties contradicts the Russian Constitution and international commitments of our country, directly limits the active and passive suffrage of millions of Russian citizens who were deprived of the right to delegate their representatives to the government at both the federal and regional levels. (more…)

Putin Stops Registration of New Party

June 22nd, 2011   Articles | Russia

The Russian Ministry of Justice declined an application to register the People’s Freedom Party (PARNAS). The application was backed by four opposition politicians: Mikhail Kasyanov (Russian People’s Democratic Union), Boris Nemtsov (Solidarity), Vladimir Milov (Democratic Choice) and Vladimir Ryzjkov (Republican Party of Russia).

The original intention was to register the party and to run in the Duma election in November, 2011. The party would then have brought forward a joint candidate for Presidential election in the Spring of 2012.

The formal application was submitted a month ago. Mikhail Kasyanov says that he regrets “Putin has made the decision to block us from running in the election”. He is convinced that Putin fears PARNAS since it is a real threat to him and the power structure surrounding him. “The election will not be considered free as Russia continues to violate the constitution and its international commitment.”

New sanctions against Lukashenka

June 20th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | The European Union

The ministers of foreign affairs of the European Union met in Luxemburg discuss further sanctions against the regime of Belarusian president Aliaksandr Lukashenka.

The foreign ministers strongly condemned the politically motivated detentions, trials and sentencing of representatives of the democratic society, the independent media and the political opposition, including several presidential candidates. The Council of the European Union also imposed travel restrictions and assets freeze on several key persons. In addition, the Council decided to impose an embargo on Belarus on arms and materials aimed for internal repression. Finally, it decided to freeze assets of three companies linked to the regime. (more…)

The Belarus Economy is Tumbling Down

June 15th, 2011   Articles | Belarus | Countries and Regions | Eastern Europe | Free Belarus

The Belarus economy is tumbling down. Though, President Lukashenka is denying the crises: Since January 2011, in order to deal with the financial meltdown the government has devaluated the national currency by 56% against the US dollar. As a result of this the prices in the stores are rising, and the Belarusians are suffering.

“Crisis in Belarus?! You know, a crisis is when enterprises are closed down because there is no demand for their goods, when it is impossible to sell products and people are forced into the streets,” said Aliaksandr Lukashenka during a recent press-conference at the National Library in Minsk denying any economic problems in the country.

Belarus has been struggling for some months to pull out of the foreign currency crisis, which is mostly fuelled by President Lukashenka’s populist economic policies. The result is a massive devaluation of the Belarus roubel against the dollar. The country has lost more than a quarter of its foreign currency reserves compared to before the devaluation in May. On June 1, reserves stood at $3.6 billion, down from $5.0 billion on January 1. (more…)

The Turkish election paves the way for compromise

June 13th, 2011   Articles | Countries and Regions | Turkey

The Turkish election on June 12 is considered a success to almost everyone involved, comments Thomas Gür, advisor to the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation.
The election on June 12 could be considered a success for almost everyone concerned. The ruling AK Party strengthened its support among voters from 47 percent of the votes in 2007 to close to 50 percent. While in government, the AK Party has earned a gradually increased support in three parliamentary elections and successfully faced the electorate in two local and regional elections as well as in two referendums.

 This largest opposition party, the left wing/nationalist party CHP received an increased election support and a stronger stand in parliament. The nationalist MHP was able to retain its support. Its 13 percent kept the party in parliament, in spite of fears that the party would end up below the 10 percent threshold. The independent candidates, primarily Kurdish politicians, almost doubled their share of the parliament by taking 36 seats. (more…)

Person-oriented election in Turkey

June 1st, 2011   Articles | Countries and Regions | Turkey

On June 12, Turkey goes to the ballot boxes. “The ongoing campaign is probably the most person-oriented campaign that I’ve ever seen in Turkey” comments Thomas Gür, senior advisor to the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation. While the AK will claim a landslide victory “with 40 to 50 percent of the votes” and form a majority government, the key issue is whether the AKP will manage to achieve at least 330 of the 550 seats in Parliament. “With such a majority, the AK Party would be able to put constitutional changes up for a public vote. Making constitutional changes in Parliament would require 367 of the votes, i.e. two thirds.”

The classic ferry route across the Bosphorus leaves from Eminönü, home of the new Mosque (inaugurated in 1655), to the Üsküdar, a city founded in the 700’Th century and formerly known as Chrysopolis or Scutari. At the ferry slip at Üsküdar, nowadays a municipality within Greater Istanbul, the campaign for the June 12 election is running on full speed.

Campaign workers hand out leaflets to surpassing ferry passengers as they enter and leave the terminal. The air is filled with the sounds of fluttering party pennants and flags hanging from the trees and streetlights, side by side with the mandatory Turkish flags. However, the sound environment is not likely to invite to neither spontaneous small talk nor serious discussion with party representatives. The low key square meeting speakers have been replaced by loudspeaker from at least three parties at the time – all of them shouting out pompous music mixed with recorded speeches of the party leaders. The loudspeakers thrones at the top of huge trucks with open sides – combinations of mobile election stands and propaganda machines equipped with some serious audio visual technology. (more…)

Finally – Ratko Mladic Arrested

May 26th, 2011   Articles | Foreign Policy | Serbia | The Balkans | The European Union

Today’s arrest of the Bosnian Serb wartime military leader Ratko Mladic is welcomed by numerous leaders in the international community. Ratko Mladic was indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) on 25 July 1995 and was a fugitive from justice for almost 16 years. “Ratko Mladic has been the most wanted ICTY fugitive and his arrest is proof of the readiness of state to fulfill all international obligations as well as those of domestic law ” said Suzana Grubješiæ, Vice President of G17 PLUS – a sisterparty of the JHS. She added that all those accused of the worst war crimes must be brought to justice.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Ažubalis, welcomed the arrest of Bosnian Serb wartime military leader Ratko Mladic as a very important step for justice and regional reconciliation. So did Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament saying:

“I welcome the arrest of Ratko Mladic and congratulate the Serbian authorities. The arrest is good news for Serbia, for the stability of the region and gives new impetus to Serbia’s EU accession process. His arrest is convincing proof of Serbia’s efforts and cooperation with the ICTY.” (more…)