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Kyrgyzstan Protests
Thousands of protesters are taking to the streets of Kyrgyzstan's capital to call for the resignation of President Kurmanbek Bakiev. The president said in a televised address that he would not step down.
News & Updates
Feature
Cells Obstructing City Center: Protest in Tiblisi Against Saakashvili
Ched Flego, IFES chief of party in Armenia and acting chief of party in Georgia, visits the site of the protests against Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. The protesters, who are demanding his resignation, have set camp in the center of Tiblisi.
News & Updates
Feature
Televised Candidate Debate in Tbilisi, Georgia
In anticipation of local elections at the end of the month, IFES organized and sponsored live, televised candidate debates for the post of mayor of Tbilisi, Georgia, together with Georgian Public Broadcasting. These debates represent a first in Georgian democracy – live debates featuring candidates running for office have never been produced before.
News & Updates
Feature
Election Day in Tbilisi, Georgia
Throughout the month of May, Georgia prepared for elections to choose representatives to local councils (sakrebulos) as well as the mayor of the capital city of Tbilisi. This represents the first time that voters would directly elect a mayor. IFES contributed to pre-election preparations through a number of initiatives, including sponsoring live television debates featuring the Tbilisi mayoral candidates; supporting local organizations to get out the vote, produce debates, and observe the election; facilitating a Memorandum of Understanding on the Abuse of Administrative Resources; producing voter education posters, leaflets, and T-shirts; and other activities. Election Day, May 30, 2010, was peaceful and orderly. The OSCE noted deficiencies in the electoral framework and the uneven playing field, but called these elections "evident progress" towards Georgia meeting its international commitments.
News & Updates
Feature
Kyrgyzstan Votes to Adopt a New Constitution
On Sunday, 27 June 2010 Kyrgyzstan held a referendum to consider adopting a new constitution. The referendum, administered by a new (interim) Central Election Commission (CEC), was held just 80 days after the violent overthrow of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and just weeks after a violent ethnic clash between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south of the country. With a near 70% turnout, voters overwhelmingly approved changes to the constitution affecting the electoral system, the separation of powers, the judicial system, human rights, and local self-government. With the changes Kyrgyzstan is set to become Central Asia’s first parliamentary republic, though the serious work of implementation lay ahead.
News & Updates
Feature
Kyrgyzstan's Democratic Experiment
On June 27, 2010 Kyrgyzstan adopted a new constitution via nationwide referendum. Introducing a new or revised governing charter was nothing new for the Central Asian republic—they have seen many since their independence in 1991. This new constitution, however, ushered in a new era for the country as it established a parliamentary system that would allow power to be decentralized and shared among different political parties.
News & Updates
Feature
Kyrgyzstan's Upcoming Election
Anthony Bowyer, IFES Program Manager for the Caucasus and Central Asia, tells us why all eyes are once again on Kyrgyzstan as it heads toward general elections on October 30.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Kyrgyzstan: Electing a New President
On 30 October, Kyrgyzstan held an election to choose a successor to interim President Rosa Otunbayeva. IFES Program Manager Anthony Bowyer, along with other IFES staff members, visited polling stations throughout the day.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
Advancing Azerbaijan through Youth
For democratic values to prevail, it is important to instill them in the younger generation. In Azerbaijan, a group of youths founded OL! Azerbaijan - a non-political social youth movement that fosters independent thinking and personal responsibility - two important characteristics for a thriving democracy.
News & Updates
Interview/Speech/Testimony
In Georgia, a Historic Transfer of Power
Observers have lauded the October 1 elections as one of the most peaceful transfers of power in Georgia’s history. Nermin Nisic, IFES chief of party in Georgia, offers his reflections on Election Day, Georgia's democracy and what comes next.