OPORA Calls Not to Recognize the Results of “Elections of the President of Russia” and the Powers of the Self-Proclaimed Head of State

Elections and full-scale war are incompatible. Holding elections during a full-scale war is extremely dangerous. It can lead to the loss of legitimacy for both the electoral process and elected bodies, potentially undermining the state as a whole. During a full-scale war, a state cannot guarantee an environment where electoral process participants can freely and fully express their views and will, where military and voters abroad can meaningfully participate, and where a competitive and vibrant political environment exists, especially against the backdrop of narrowing rights and freedoms under martial law.

In our opinion, the requirements of the proportionality test (“three-part test”) and judicial control are mutually causal. For example, with a casual approach, the imposition of restrictions for the exercise of human rights requires an assessment of its legality by a court, with the possible application of the sanction.

The pro-government Georgian parliamentary group “Power of the People” has developed and registered in the Georgian parliament two draft laws under a shared provisional name “On Foreign Agents”. The initiatives stipulate that all non-governmental organizations and media funded from abroad must register with the State Registry Service as foreign agents. The Georgian Dream party supported the initiative. Nearly 400 Georgian NGOs and the parliamentary opposition sharply criticized both versions ...

Ukrainian civil society organizations call on Western decision-makers to unite and provide Ukraine with modern Western tanks during the next Rammstein meeting on January 20. Ukraine is constantly suffering from massive Russian attacks on civilian facilities and energy infrastructure. There is a clear pattern of Russian treatment of residents in the occupied towns, which are visible after the liberation: torture prisons, numerous war crimes, kids abducted and deported to Russia and others. Rus...

On May, 3, 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Prohibition of Political Parties", where in sub-paragraph 1 of para 2 of the Final Provisions, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine was set to submit for consideration by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine a draft Law of Ukraine on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on the Consequences of a Court Decision to Ban a Political Party for the Status of Loc...

The International Center for Ukrainian Victory (ICUV) and member CSOs call on Western  decision-makers  to prevent  a massive  humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine from  happening.

On September 19, 2022, the Russian occupation troops and administration intensified their activities to initiate illegal referendums due on September 23–27, 2022, in the occupied territories. In the Kremlin's view, a fake referendum would create “legal grounds” for Russia to annex these territories. The acceleration of the related processes is directly linked to the successful counter-offensive effort of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Kharkiv region and in the South. It is also related to th...

In three weeks, the European Council will consider granting Ukraine EU candidate status. Many in the EU underestimate the importance of this step. Those promoting its postponement are well heard; however, this will harm both Ukraine and the EU itself. We explain why it will slow down the post-war reforms in Ukraine; undermine democracy in other countries, including Western Balkans; increase the EU budget's burden, and push for new instability in Europe.

The President of Ukraine may proclaim an all-Ukrainian referendum on a security agreement solely on the people's initiative and only if at least 3 million signatures are collected to support it, in two-thirds of Ukraine's Oblasts. The current initiative of the government complies with the provisions of the law on the possibility of bringing a question of national importance to a referendum initiated by the Ukrainian people. Neither the Head of State, nor the Verkhovna Rada have the legal capa...