European Forum

Newsflash #11

NEWSFLASH #11

Covering the period: 11 June 2010 – 23 June 2010

In this issue:
►Croatian parliament approves constitutional amendments
►No start date for EU accession talks with Macedonia
►New law allows Erdoğan to run for President
►Albania leaders exchange barbs over failed talks; EP disappointed
►Serbia takes important step in EU effort; SAA to be ratified
►Armenia accuses of Azerbaijan of worst Armenian-Azerbaijani truce violation in two years
►Russia cuts gas supplies to Belarus
►Communists renounce cooperation with governing alliance
►Another opposition protest disbanded
►Nemtsov: “Anti-Putin report will be distributed all over country”
►Poll: Most Ukrainians support new government after 100 days
►Referendum will take place on 27 June
►Ethnic disturbances cause approximately 2000 deaths

And much more news from:

ACCESSION / CANDIDATE COUNTRIES: Croatia, Macedonia, and Turkey

WESTERN BALKANS: Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro and Serbia

WIDER EUROPE / NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, Russia, and Ukraine

CENTRAL ASIA: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan


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The Newsflash of the European Forum of Democracy and Solidarity is a bi-monthly news bulletin covering relevant political developments in Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, and the South Caucasus. We put main accent on political party news, while at the same time attention is being given to gender issues, minority and human rights, and the process of accession to the European Union. It is sponsored by the British Labour Party through the Westminster Foundation for Democracy and is spread by e-mail to more than 500 recipients. The Newsflash is based on mass media and internal sources. Contributions and comments are highly appreciated.

ACCESSION / CANDIDATE COUNTRIES

Croatia

►Josipović: “Open issues should be resolved justly”
On 22 June Croat President Ivo Josipović stated that his country's foreign policy should focus on good neighbourly relations and a swift and just resolution of all open issues. "All open issues, especially those that are consequences of war, should be resolved quickly and justly, so that the resolution opens the door to the EU widely for Croatia and its neighbours," Josipović pointed out at an Anti-Fascism Day celebration in Brezovica, near the town of Sisak. Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor in her speech condemned all crimes committed by Croatia's WW2 puppet Nazi Ustasa regime, as well as every attempt at, as she put it, revising and rehabilitating the fascist ideology. On the occasion of June 22, “Anti-Fascism Day and the 69th anniversary of the beginning of organized fighting against fascism in Croatia”, Josipović and Kosor, along with state and party delegations, laid down wreaths by the monument dedicated to the First Sisak Partizan Squad in the Brezovica forest.

►War crimes indictment filed against former soldiers
On 21June the prosecution in Zagreb filed an indictment against seven people for war crimes committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) in 1995. According to the indictment, which must be confirmed by the court, seven former members of the Croatian Army (HV) participated in the execution of a group of six Bosnian Serb soldiers in BiH.

►Croatian parliament approves constitutional amendments
On 16 June Croatian parliament approved a series of constitutional amendments that enable the completion of EU accession negotiations. The vote was 133-4, with one abstention. The amendments facilitate holding a referendum to join the EU, strengthening judicial independence and giving local courts the power to directly apply EU laws. There are also non-EU-related amendments, including one on voting by expatriates, which will only be allowed in diplomatic and consular buildings, and three parliamentary seats will be earmarked for Croatians living abroad. In addition, the election of Constitutional Court judges will require a two-thirds majority of votes in parliament, instead of a simple majority. The changes will also allow Croatia to extradite its citizens to other countries to stand trial for crimes.

►Croatian unions collect signatures for referendum
On 13 June, in just four days, Croatian unions collected 57% of the necessary 450,000 signatures required to call a referendum on proposed amendments to the labour law. Ozren Matijasevic, chairman of the trade unions association, discussed the progress and urged more people to back the drive. Zoran Milanovic, leader of the main opposition Social Democratic Party, is among those who signed it. The proposed labour law would set a six-month deadline for hammering out a new collective agreement after the existing one expires. After that, workers’ rights would be subject to separate agreements with individual employers. By law, any group has 14 days to collect the signatures required to hold a referendum, but none has been successful since Croatia declared independence in 1991.

►Slovenia may block Croatia from closing chapter in EU talks
On 10 June Slovenian Foreign Ministry announced that Slovenia may prevent Croatia from closing its competition chapter in EU accession negotiations over the Nova Ljubljanska Banka (NLB). Ministry spokesman Milan Balazic said that the NLB is not allowed to operate in Croatia, which Balazic says impedes the free movement of capital. The Central Bank of Croatia blocked access until the former Ljubljanska Banka (LB) settles its debts to Croatian citizens.

Macedonia

►No start date for EU accession talks with Macedonia
On 17June Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and his Greek counterpart George Papandreou said that Macedonia and Greece remain dedicated to continuing their name talks with the mediation of UN envoy Matthew Nimetz. They reiterated they are ready to find a mutually acceptable solution to the dispute that would not harm the interests of either country. They also discussed problems related to the global economic crisis and the European and Euro-Atlantic integration efforts of countries in the region. On 16 June it was announced after the meeting between European leaders that in light of the slow pace of the Athens-Skopje name talks it is expected that the EU will not extend a start date for Macedonia's accession talks. “This means that Macedonia is now definitely at the very bottom of the EU agenda,” said Stevo Pendarovski, former advisor to ex-Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski. The 17 EU Foreign Ministers did not mention Macedonia in their conclusions on the Western Balkans. This made it clear that the country would not be given a start date at the summit in Brussels. Instead, the EU ministers agreed to encourage all Western Balkan states in their efforts to meet membership criteria and urged all parties to address outstanding issues with neighbouring countries. Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki expressed regret that the bilateral dispute had hampered his country’s hopes of being granted a start date, adding that this will have a serious negative impact.

Turkey

►After 12 soldiers die in a terrorist attack Turkey reveals new anti-terror strategy
On 21 June following a bloody weekend in the country’s Southeast, Turkey announced it will restructure its intelligence and military operations in an attempt to stop growing attacks by the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). In the threefold anti-terror strategy Turkey will review current operations, intensify cooperation with neighboring countries and work to boost the nation’s morale while psychologically weakening terrorist groups. The government’s announcement was not met with full support from the opposition, which called such ‘daily and temporary measures’ insufficient to stop the bloodshed. ‘The fight against terror was widely assessed and in light of recent developments, additional short- and mid-term measures were decided to be taken,’ read a written statement issued following a security summit chaired by President Abdullah Gül with the participation of top civil and military officials, including heads of the intelligence service and the newly established civilian anti-terror unit. Twelve troops died over the weekend in clashes with PKK, largely as a result of the latter’s assault on a military outpost in the Hakkari province. Forty-six Turkish troops have been killed in the last two months, prompting renewed concerns about the threat the PKK poses to the country

►New law allows Erdoğan to run for President
On 17 June a parliamentary commission approved a draft law regulating the Presidential elections procedure, allowing the PM to run for the office without being obliged to resign from his current post. In 2007, parliament amended the Constitution to allow direct elections of the head of state instead of a parliamentary appointment. However, it took nearly four years to amend related laws regulating the Presidential electoral process due to legal ambiguity regarding the current President’s tenure. According to the Constitution, the President will be elected for five-year period with a right to run for a second term. The draft also confers a special status on PMs who wish to run for President by allowing them the right to remain in their seat even though they want to compete in the elections. Opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) MP Tayfun İçli argued that the draft law is intended to safeguard the expected Presidential bid of current PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

►PM Erdogan accuses BDP of supporting terrorism
On 15 June PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan criticised opposition parties, and pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) in particular, for collaborating with the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). He accused BDP of supporting terrorism, saying ‘those who are in direct or indirect contact with the PKK are accomplices to murder.’ Emphasizing that PKK disturbs Turkey’s peace and creates the biggest obstacles for the country, Erdoğan said the terror problem is causing local and foreign investors to be cautious. He said it was AKP that carried out the most active fight against PKK in history. ‘We focused on law, investments, service and democracy, despite terror. It is an injustice to say “the government didn’t help the Southeast.”’ Meanwhile, BDP leader Demirtaş said Erdoğan’s statements were a kind of call for courts to close down BDP. ‘Those [AKP] who run after ethnic conflicts will not see the benefits of their efforts. Our policy is on the side of peace and democracy,’ he said. BDP submitted a motion to Parliament saying Erdoğan discriminated against Kurds, politicised the judiciary via secret wiretaps, and that the AKP puts pressure on its opponents. On 22 June PM Erdogan also harshly and openly criticised the media for the first time of supporting a terrorist organisation.

►Kılıçdaroğlu: Turkey’s road should be towards EU
On 11 June leader of main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu urged Turkey to keep facing toward the West, as he expressed distrust of ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s stance on EU membership. He also criticised the government for ‘mistakes’ in foreign politics, which he says are apparent in the tensions with Israel and the weakening of EU ties: ‘Turkey […] has modelled its democracy, human rights and laws on the West and is now in danger of drifting away from these values,’ Kılıçdaroğlu said. Adding that he does not believe in AKP’s sincerity on EU membership. Kılıçdaroğlu added that he is ready to make the social, legal and economic changes that would bring Turkey to Western standards.

►AKP clashes with opposition over Turkey’s UN Security Council ‘no’ vote
On 10 June opposition parties criticised Turkey’s ‘no’ vote on Iran sanctions at UN’s Security Council. ‘Turkey is located in a very important geographical position […]. We don’t want Israel or Iran or any of our neighbours to have nuclear weapons,’ said Republican People’s Party (CHP) leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu. Mehmet Şandır of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) said UN’s decision was an injustice, but the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP)’s, wrong-headed policies have pushed Turkey toward isolation. AKP’s Mehmet Dülger rejected the criticism, saying a ‘shift in axis’ was out of the question for Turkey. ‘Turkey had to say no’ It had to stand behind the deal it brokered in Teheran,’ Dülger said, referring to a fuel-swap agreement signed by Turkey, Brazil and Iran. ‘Also, Turkey and Iran have shared the same region for 370 years, and it is not right for historic ties to change in line with the purposes of countries overseas.’

WESTERN BALKANS

►First joint meeting between Croatia and BiH held
On 21 June the first joint meeting of the Croatian government and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was launched in Split. The meeting - intended as a confirmation of the good relations between the two countries - was chaired by Croatian Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor and the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of BiH Nikola Spiric. Relations with BiH are high on the list of Croatia’s foreign policy priorities, not only because they share some 1,000 kilometres of border, but also because a large number of Croatians live in BiH. "I think that today is the beginning of stronger cooperation between us and proves that BiH and Croatia are not only neighbouring countries but also countries that continuously build friendships and bridges of cooperation," Kosor said. Spiric affirmed that bilateral relations between the two countries are on the rise: ‘I agree with Prime Minister Kosor that borders should not be used for separation, but that all depends on the politicians. Where people are in conflict over time and future, unfortunately, the borders are much firmer."

Albania

►Court decision boost to small Albania parties
On 21June Albania’s Constitutional Court struck down two articles of electoral code which had made it virtually impossible for small political parties to run in parliamentary elections. The court found two articles of the code in breach of the constitution. The articles required political parties that had no deputies in parliament to gather 10,000 signatures in order to put their candidates on the electoral ballot, and that the signatures must be submitted individually by the electorate backing of the MP list.
The electoral code, which was drafted in 1998 as a compromise between Albania’s two largest political groups, the Democratic Party of Prime Minister Sali Berisha and the Socialist Party headed by Tirana mayor Edi Rama, has often been contested by smaller political parties, both on the left and the right.
Small parties inside and outside the parliament claimed that the code, which imposes a regional proportional system for the selection of members of parliament, unfairly favours large political parties or coalition members tied to them.

►Albania calls for Balkan Schengen system
On 21 June Albania’s Minister of Interior Lulzim Basha declared that Albania’s Presidency of the Regional Initative for Migration, Asylum and Refugees would be dedicated to creating a Balkan Schengen system. “Our main goal is to produce within a short period an agenda for the instalment of the Balkan Schengen, the free movement of the citizens of our countries without borders, tariffs or custom barriers,” Basha said. The idea of the so-called Balkan Schengen put forward by Basha was backed by the head of the delegation of the European Commission in Tirana, Helmut Lohan.

►Albania's junior government partner wants an end to political crisis
On 20 June junior ruling coalition partner Socialist Movement for Integration (LSI) reiterated its calls for a solution to the longstanding political crisis in the country. SMI General-Secretary Luan Rama said there is a lack both of responsibility and actual results in efforts to overcome the crisis. "A compromise is needed to speed up the process of ... EU integration," Rama said.

►Albania leaders exchange barbs over failed talks; EP disappointed
On 17June Albania’s political leaders blamed each other for the failure of EU-sponsored talks aimed at resolving the country's political crisis. Speaking in parliament Prime Minister Sali Berisha accused the opposition Socialist Party (SPA) of having a covert plan to boycott the upcoming 2011 local elections, rather than seek transparency over parliamentary elections held last June. Reacting to Berisha’s accusations, head of the SPA parliamentary group Gramoz Ruci said that the talks to resolve the crisis had failed because the ruling majority had not offered its consensus for a compromise. Top members of the European Parliament who sponsored the talks, MEPs Joseph Daul and Martin Schulz, in a joint statement expressed regret that the two main political parties in Albania have been unable to solve their political stalemate, and warned that the country risks stalling its EU bid if it does not find a solution Daul and Schulz on behalf of their political groups, initiated talks between Berisha and SPA leader Rama to help the country find a solution to the political dispute between the two main parties following the Albanian general elections on June 28, 2009. On 23 June Daul and Schulz agreed to undertake one last-ditch attempt before moving to put on hold Albania's bid for EU membership.

Bosnia-Herzegovina

►Brammertz: “Mladić is alive”
On 21 June Hague Chief Prosecutor Serge Brammertz said that Hague fugitive Ratko Mladić is alive and that his arrest is the court’s main priority. He added that his recognition of the efforts that Belgrade is making in cooperating with the prosecution is not the same as giving a green light for European integration: “On the contrary, the European capitals must put added pressure on Serbia in order to bring Ratko Mladić, who has been free for 15 years since the Srebrenica genocide, to justice.” Brammertz dismissed the demand of the former Bosnian Serb military leader's family to proclaim him legally deceased. “He is alive and there is no reason for us to change our convictions that he is hiding away somewhere, which goes with the reports that we continue receiving from services in Serbia, who are continuing to look for him,” Brammertz said.

►Clinton urges BiH to resolve defence property issue
On 21June US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton sent a letter to the BiH tripartite presidency, urging authorities to resolve the issue of defence property allocation. There are 69 military facilities that must be allocated between Republika Srpska and the Federation of BiH. Clinton noted this is a key condition for implementing the Annual National Programme within NATO's Membership Action Plan. She expressed hope that property registration could be finalised by this autumn and suggested that after the October elections, BiH leaders waste no time in refocusing on constitutional reform. In a reaction Milorad Dodik, the prime minister Republika Srpska, said that a letter from US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton cannot change the Serbs’ positions on the distribution of defence property in the country. Dodik said that Clinton’s letter revealed that she “is obviously lacking crucial knowledge about Bosnia’s constitution because she writes about the Government of BiH although the country has a Council of Ministers and not a government”.

►EP criticises BiH for making limited progress
On 17 June the European Parliament (EP) criticised Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) for its weak central government and continuing nationalistic rhetoric between Bosnian Serbs on the one hand and Croats and Bosniaks on the other. "The nationalistic and secessionist rhetoric polarising society is detrimental to the country's bid for EU integration," EP members said in a resolution adopted during a session in Strasbourg. On the other hand, the resolution welcomed the "significant progress" made in meeting the roadmap criteria for visa-free regime with the EU and urged lawmakers to adopt remaining legislation necessary to make such travel a reality.

►BiH parliament gives preliminary approval to census
On 16 June the House of Representatives gave a first reading approval to the draft law on conducting a population census next year. According to the bill, BiH citizens may - but are not obliged to - declare their ethnic and religious background, or their language. It also stipulates that the Diaspora will be covered by a separate census. Various political parties agreed to hold the census in 2011, but have been arguing over the content of the questionnaire. Bosniaks and Croats have opposed certain questions on ethnicity, given the number of people who fled the country during the 1992-1995 conflict.

Kosovo

►PACE adopts resolution on Kosovo
On 23 June the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) adopted a resolution on Kosovo. The document reportedly outlined a neutral stand on Kosovo's status, but also pointed to a need for greater engagement by the Council of Europe (CoE) in resolving problems regarding the rule of law, democracy and respect of human and minority rights. The resolution points out that the CoE is applying a status-neutral policy towards Kosovo and recognizes the validity of UN Security Council Resolution 1244, although 33 members of CoE have already acknowledged the unilateral independence declaration. The recommendations that PACE adopted point out that, although divided on the issue of Kosovo status, the CoE members should be united in supporting its greater involvement in Kosovo, for the benefit of all Kosovo citizens. The resolution also urges the authorities in Priština and Belgrade to adopt a flexible approach to regional cooperation in order to facilitate the participation of their representatives in international meetings, regardless of the status issue, and to be active in promoting dialogue and reconciliation among communities in Kosovo. According to the resolution, officials from Serbia and Kosovo should take a pragmatic approach and attempt to solve practical problems which the Serbs and other minority communities in Kosovo are exposed to.

►Four people killed near Macedonian border
On 21 June Kosovo police said that that four people died and one was injured when their car was ambushed as it entered the town of Viti in southern Kosovo, near the Macedonian border. Macedonian police spokesman Ivo Kotevski said: "The Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs is in constant contact with the Kosovo authorities and we are familiar with the incident. It is unknown whether the incident might be linked with last month's raids by Macedonian police in the region near the border with Kosovo when several stashes of weapons were found.

►Thaçi: Kosovo has Brussels’ support after ICJ ruling
On 21 June Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaçi said that it is a common stance of all the countries of the European Union to support Kosovo after the International Court of Justice (ICJ) opinion on the legality of its declaration of independence. “I have full confidence that after the presentation of the ICJ opinion, the EU will have a common stance regarding the future of Kosovo, which will include its integration into NATO and also to the EU. But also for new relations on practical issues with Serbia from the position as two separate states, integrated in Euro-Atlantic structures”, Thaçi said.

►Dissatisfaction with institutions rising in Kosovo
On 19 June the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP) argued in its "Early Warning Report" that the level of public dissatisfaction with government institutions is growing compared to a couple of months ago, with the courts still the leading source of frustration. The surveys found that only 29% of the public is satisfied with the government's work, down 7% from January. Unemployment and poverty are seen as the main problems facing Kosovo. According to the report, the public is most satisfied with the performance of KFOR, Kosovo Force, and the Kosovo Police. Satisfaction with EULEX grew.

►OSCE: war crimes in Kosovo not handled as priority
On 15 June the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported that for the past decade, war crimes in Kosovo have not been considered a priority. The report calls for involvement by local judges and prosecutors in the trials, and for more active engagement by competent international authorities.

Montenegro

►Djukanovic refutes rumours about departure
On 22 June Montenegrin Prime Minister Milovan Djukanovic said after a meeting in Strasbourg that he has no plans to leave his country's political scene at the moment: “Of course, everything that starts has to end one day but we will speak about it when the moment comes,” Djukanovic said. This was the first time that Djukanovic addressed various media allegations that he plans to leave his post as head of the Montenegrin government for a high-ranking position at the NATO headquarters in Brussels. If Djukanovic were to leave his post, it would be his second withdrawal since he stepped down as Prime Minister in 2006 and returned to office in February 2008. Before that, Djukanovic served three consecutive terms as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1998 and was the country's President from 1998 to 2002.

►DPS and SDP reach power-sharing agreement
On 19 June sate-level coalition partners — the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) — reached an agreement to form a coalition within Podgorica's local government. According to the deal, the mayoral seat will be reserved for the DPS while the president of the city assembly will come from the ranks of the SDP. During last month's local elections, the DPS-led coalition won 28 seats, the united opposition got 24, and the SDP got five. The mandate of incumbent Podgorica Mayor Miomir Mugosa expires next year.

Serbia

►Serbia takes important step in EU effort; SAA to be ratified
On 15 June Serbia’s Deputy Prime Minister Božidar Đelić said the decision of the EU Foreign Ministers to start the ratification process of the Stabilization and Association Agreement (SAA) with Serbia is a “big step and important moment for the country”. The 27 EU Foreign Ministers took the decision on 14 June after the chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for former Yugoslavia (ICTY), Serge Brammertz, delivered his biannual report on Belgrade’s cooperation with the ICTY, saying: “Serbia has maintained its cooperation with the Tribunal, with a view to deliver positive results.” SAA must be ratified by all 27 EU member states in order to come into force, and represents the next major step in Serbia's path toward the EU. According to Đelić, with the ratification of the SAA Serbia has become an EU associate member and its goal to become a EU candidate country by mid 2011 would become a reality. Reacting to the decision, EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said: “This decision brings Serbia another step closer to the EU, putting our relation on a strong legally binding and institutional basis. I am looking forward to the Council making an equally important decision on requesting the Commission to prepare an opinion on Serbia’s membership application.”
On the same day Fuele urged the EU to take further steps regarding Serbia's EU bid. The European Commission (EC) is now awaiting a formal request from the Council of Europe to begin assessing the candidacy. But the EU Foreign Ministers reportedly prefer to delay the move, in another attempt to press Serbia to meet its commitments to The Hague war crimes tribunal.

►Serbian union leader warns of critical situation
On 13 June President of the Alliance of Independent Unions of Serbia, Ljubisav Orbovic, warned that the workforce situation in Serbia has become critical. He said that at least 1 million citizens are subsisting below the poverty line. According to him, about 160,000 workers do not regularly receive wages and 110,000 people receive only a minimum wage. He added that nearly 500 jobs have been slashed each day since the beginning of the crisis. Orbovic also expressed concern about the situation in the south, where no large enterprises are opening and job opportunities are scarce. No big strikes are being planned however, as workers are worried they may lose their jobs.

WIDER EUROPE / NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES

►Break-away Nagorno-Karabakh elects parliament leadership
On 10 June Nagorno-Karabakh’s new parliament chose its leadership in a vote criticised by Azerbaijan and the EU. The 23 May parliamentary polls were swept by the three parties represented in the unrecognised republic’s government. The largest, PM Ara Harutiunian’s Azat Hayrenik (Free Fatherland), won 14 seats of the 33. The Democratic Artsakh Party (ZhAK) of parliament speaker Ashot Ghulian came in second with 10 seats, followed by the Karabakh branch of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation with 6 seats. Remaining three deputies are also loyal to Karabakh President Bako Sahakian and his coalition government. Despite not leading the largest parliament faction, Ghulian was overwhelmingly reelected as speaker. Azerbaijan as always condemned elections in the Armenian-controlled disputed region, calling them a ‘farce’. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton also called the elections illegitimate. The French, Russian and U.S. mediators co-chairing the OSCE Minsk Group gave a far more cautious assessment. In a joint statement, they said they understand the ‘need for the de facto authorities in Nagorno-Karabakh to try to organise democratically the public life of their population.’

Armenia

►Armenian political parties warn Azerbaijan
On 22 June Armenia’s leading political forces blamed Azerbaijan for the latest ceasefire violation in Nagorno-Karabakh, warning it against attempting to resolve the conflict by force. They accused Baku of deliberately provoking the 18-19 June clash that left four Armenian soldiers dead. Armenia’s ruling Republican Party linked the incident to the latest meeting of Armenia’s and Azerbaijan’s presidents in St Petersburg on 17 June. Spokesman Eduard Sharmazanov claimed Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev came away from the talks ‘extremely dissatisfied’, which may be why ‘he resorted to that step’. He added, ‘if Azerbaijan hopes that with such provocative acts it can spread panic in Karabakh or Armenia, then I must disappoint them […] our military is in very high spirits,’ saying Azerbaijan would lose more land in case of another war. Hrant Markarian, a leader of the opposition Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnaktsutyun) agreed, adding that the latest proposed solution seems to have failed. As it ‘envisaged a totally pro-Azerbaijani solution […] that failure has naturally left Azerbaijan in a nervous state.’ Opposition Armenia National Congress (HAK) also condemned ‘the violation of the ceasefire […] by Azerbaijan,’ adding it would be ‘at the forefront of the fight for Nagorno-Karabakh’s security in the event of a war’.

►Armenia accuses Azerbaijan of worst Armenian-Azerbaijani truce violation in two years
On 19 June Armenia accused Azerbaijan of ‘doing everything’ to scuttle the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process after the worst truce violation in over two years. Armenian Defense Ministry said an Azeri sabotage unit attacked Karabakh Armenian positions in the northeast, killing four people and wounding four troops before retreating into Azerbaijan-controlled territory. Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry did not comment immediately. The incident came a day after the Armenian and Azerbaijani Presidents held another meeting in St Petersburg attempting to make progress towards a peaceful settlement. Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian and Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian described the incident as an Azerbaijani ‘provocation’ directly connected to the talks and an affront to the three mediating powers. Sarkisian urged them not to let it go ‘unpunished.’ He also said it will have no impact on Armenia’s position in the peace talks. On 21 June Azerbaijan’s Defence Ministry reported an Armenian attack on its positions, which was repelled. The break of ceasefire was strongly condemned by OSCE Minsk Group.

►Two opposition leaders resign
On 18 June two top leaders of Armenian Pan-National Movement (HHSh), a key party within opposition alliance Armenian National Congress (HAK), stepped down amid conflicting reports of a disagreements with HAK, led by former President Levon Ter-Petrosian. HHSh announced its chairman Ararat Zurabian’s resignation on 17 June. Zurabian remained unreachable. He stepped down just days after the equally mysterious resignation of his deputy, Khachatur Kokobelian, who declined to comment. A HHSh spokesman claimed Kokobelian quit because of disagreement with HAK’s cautious strategy of challenging Armenia’s leadership, as he favors more ‘decisive’ actions. But according to unconfirmed reports, both men were suspected by HAK leaders of secretly collaborating with the authorities. Ter-Petrosian, who maintains a strong influence on the party, is rumored to have personally told them to resign. HAK representative Vladimir Karapetian declined to confirm or refute this.

►Armenia fined over human rights violations
On 16 June the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) fined Armenia’s authorities EUR 16.000 for ‘inhuman’ treatment of a businessman who died in prison last year. ECHR ruled that Ashot Harutiunian had been humiliated by prosecutors during trial and denied adequate medical assistance during imprisonment. Harutiunian suffered from serious illnesses and died of a second heart attack in prison at the age of 57. He was arrested in 2003 and sentenced to seven years in prison charged with defrauding a business partner. In a 2004 lawsuit filed to the ECHR, Harutiunian protested the fact that he was kept in a metal cage during trial and accused law-enforcement authorities of not allowing him to undergo urgent surgery recommended by doctors. The Armenian government insisted that he always had access to a doctor and had surgery for an intestinal ulcer in 2003. There are, however, no medical records proving such operation was actually carried out.

►Parliament passes controversial media bill
On 10 June parliament passed a controversial bill that press freedom groups say will fail to end a strong government influence on Armenia’s broadcasters. The final version of the TV and radio law amendments contains a provisions most criticised by local media groups and the OSCE: a clause to reduce the number of TV and radio in Armenia and likely complicate the emergence of new, independent broadcasters. The government also refused to drop an amendment allowing the National Commission on TV and Radio not to explain its decisions to grant or revoke licenses. In a joint statement, Yerevan-based EU ambassadors urged government not to put the amendments to a final vote for now. However, the parliament dominated by pro-government MPs ignored this and adopted the bill. The amendments are meant to regulate Armenia’s ongoing transition to mandatory digital broadcasting by July 2013. Media watchdogs and the opposition say the authorities initiated the process to prolong their de facto control over virtually all Armenian TV and radio stations.

Azerbaijan

►Azerbaijani Defence Ministry blames Armenia for the ceasefire violation
On 22 June spokesman for Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry Lieutenant-Colonel Eldar Sabiroglu said ‘There is no doubt that the ceasefire violation on June 18 was instructed by [Armenian President Serzh] Sargsyan’. Sabiroglu said Sargsyan ordered the severe clash because he seems to be discontent with some points in the recent St Petersburg talks. Sabiroglu claimed that recent events show Armenia is not interested in peaceful solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. ‘Armenia hinders resolution of the conflict in many ways. Therefore, co-chair countries - the U.S., Russia and France must take more effective measures. Otherwise, a collision on the front lines can result in a new situation in the region,’ Sabiroglu said.

►PACE to monitor parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan
On 21 June Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) President Mevlud Cavusoglu announced the PACE decided to send a mission of 30 persons to observe the parliamentary elections in Azerbaijan. ‘Fair, transparent and democratic parliamentary elections would mark a decade of Azerbaijan's membership in the structure,’ Cavusoglu said. Parliamentary elections will be held in Azerbaijan in the fall of 2010 according to a majoritarian system in Azerbaijan's 125 constituencies.

►Another opposition protest disbanded
On 19 June Azadlig Bloc - consisting of the Popular Front Party (PFPA), Liberal Party and “Citizen and Development” Party - held an ‘unauthorised’ rally in front of Baku’s Mayoral Administration. 83 participants – mostly PFPA members - were arrested. Later most were released, except for four, who were sentenced to some days of imprisonment. One detained was harshly beaten and covered in blood when he was brought to court in handcuffs. PFPA is determined to continue the ‘unauthorised’ protests until Azerbaijan’s government learns to respect the rights of its citizens to freedom of assembly. The opposition maintains that the law on freedom of assembly does not empower the central government or local authorities to authorise or disallow the activities, and only requires a notification by the organisers. PFPA is very concerned about the police’s brutal intervention and calls upon the international community to raise its voice in protest.

►Azerbaijani parliament adopts new electoral code
On 18 June Azerbaijan’s parliament adopted a bill on additions and amendments to the Electoral Code, proposed by members of the ruling New Azerbaijan Party (NAP). 33 additions and changes were proposed, including a cancellation of the practice of allocating funds from the public budget to candidates, changing the period of announcing the date of elections from 75 to 60 days in advance, confirming lists of constituencies 55 days before the election, and their publication for 50 days.

►Civil society’s role in upcoming parliamentary elections discussed
On 12 June a roundtable on the ‘Role of Civil Society in the parliamentary elections’ was held in Azerbaijan. At the event, Senior Fellow at the Azerbaijani Presidential Center for Strategic Research (CSR) Tahira Allahyarova stated that the Azeri civil society must become more active in parliamentary elections. Allahyarova drew attention to the fact that representatives of civil society are lagging behind this time compared to the previous parliamentary elections: they launched activities in April during the last parliamentary elections. The participants of the event also noted the possible contribution of NGOs in the creation of a free and fair atmosphere for the elections. The roundtable announced it will hold an even more significant event on the theme of civil society and elections, with the support of the State Support to NGOs Council under the President in the near future, to which NGOs should come with specific proposals.

Belarus

►Lukashenko instructs government to cut off Russian gas transit through Belarus
On 22 June President Alyaksandr Lukashenko demanded payment from Gazprom for the transit of Russian gas through Belarus and instructed his government to cut off the transit of Russian gas until Gazprom pays the claimed debt of 0 million. ‘It is so cynical and absurd for them to cut down gas supplies when I owe them 0 million and they owe me 0 million,’ Lukashenka said in Minsk during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, underlining that it is Gazprom that fails to execute the contract. ‘They say it is a dispute of economic entities, but I cannot understand how [it] could reach the top level of political leadership of the country. Then it is not a dispute of economic entities,’ he said. The President stated he has raised the necessary sum to extinguish the Gazprom debt. The European Commission called an emergency meeting with Belarus’s representatives in Brussels to discuss the issue. In the meantime, Ukrainian PM Mykola Azarov stated that Ukraine has the capacity to increase its transport of Russian gas to Europe from 15 to 30 billion m3 annually. Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshyn said that Ukraine is neutral and has no plans to interfere politically. Gazprom representative Sergey Kupriyanov announced they will use alternative routes, including transit through Ukraine and Lithuania, to provide consumers in Europe and Kaliningrad region with gas.

►Human rights activists demand urgent medical attention for political prisoner
On 21 June the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) and Viasna human rights center called for urgent medical attention for political prisoner Mikalai Autokhovich. As a result of a long (over a year) prison term in conditions extremely unfavourable for health, Autkhovich has lost most of his teeth and, consequentially, the opportunity of normal food intake. Despite his repeated appeals to the prison’s administration and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he is systematically denied the necessary medical aid. Autukhovich was sentenced to five years of imprisonment on an accusation of possessing weapons and ammunition. According to FIDH and Viasna significant procedural violations were recorded in the course of investigation of the case, showing clear political motivation. They regard the refusal of the Belarusian authorities to give him the necessary medical aid as inhuman and urge the Belarus authorities to immediately provide him with the necessary medical aid.

►Russia cuts gas supplies to Belarus
On 21 June Russian gas giant Gazprom cut gas supplies to Belarus by 15% over unpaid debt. According to Gazprom spokesperson Sergei Kupriyanov the price of Russian gas for Belarus was set at 9 per 1000m3 in the first quarter of 2010, 4 in the second quarter and 3-194 in the third quarter. However, Beltransgaz paid 0 per 1,000 cubic metres in 2010, having set that price unilaterally. This brings the Belarusian debt to 2 million dollars. On 15 June Russian president Dmitry Medvedev declared a so-called ‘gas ultimatum’, saying Belarus must repay the debt to Gazprom within 5 days. As Beltransgaz failed to do this, Gazprom cut gas deliveries to Belarus by 15% on 21 June, to be gradually increased to 85% if Belarus fails to pay. Russian PM Vladimir Putin stated that if needed, Gazprom can deliver gas to Europe bypassing Belarus, through Ukraine. By 22 June the cut was increased to 30%. Belarus PM Uladzimir Syamashka said the country would pay the debt within two weeks. Although on 21 June Belarus declared that supplies to Europe would not be tampered with, on 22 June sources published Syamashka’s letter to Gazprom, in which the former threatens to ‘take gas from the gas transit system to meet the needs of the Belarusian national economy and population’ if Gazprom does not abstain from further cuts.

►Political prisoner declares hunger strike
On 15 June entrepreneur and former candidate in parliamentary elections from the United Civil Party (UCP) Andrey Bandarenka, currently sentenced to 7 years in prison, in a letter to his party declared a hunger strike starting that day. He says he made the decision ‘having no other possibilities and having exhausted all arguments. He states that after participating in the 2008 parliamentary elections he ‘underwent cynical persecution by law-enforcing agencies’ ending in his imprisonment and ‘all attempts to prove my innocence in Minsk courts were futile’. His demands are among other things, (1) an unconditional setting aside of the illegal and unjustified judgment; (2) dismissal of the criminal persecution.

►Protests against new internet law
On 15 June ‘European Belarus’ activists held several protest actions against Internet censorship. The directive ‘on the national segment of the Internet’ was signed by President Lukashenko and will come into force on 1 July. The Belarus civil society and international human rights associations including the OSCE criticised the law. Independent experts do not doubt that Lukashenko’s orders are aimed, first of all, at blocking the opposition’s web-resources during Presidential election campaigns. A point causing most concern is that the law states that ‘providers of internet services upon request of users of internet services provide services on limiting the access of those users to information, the content of which is aimed at realising extremist activity’.

Georgia

►Georgia signs visa facilitation agreement with EU
On 17 June Georgian and Spanish Foreign Ministers Grigol Vashadze and Miguel Ángel Moratinos, whose country holds EU’s rotating presidency, signed a EU-Georgia visa facilitation agreement. The agreement will include issuing multiple-entry visas with long validity to certain categories including journalists and family members of Georgian citizens residing in the EU. Commissioner for Home Affairs Cecilia Malmström called it a ‘concrete step forward in EU-Georgia relations’ and ‘EU's message of openness to the Georgian citizens.’

►Alliance for Georgia falls apart
On 15 June leader of Alliance for Georgia (AfG) Irakli Alasania announced that the alliance was dissolved, although the parties will continue ‘close coordination’. He said he would now focus on building and strengthening his own party, Our Georgia-Free Democrats (OGFD). The alliance was established in February 2009 by New Rights, Republican Party and Irakli Alasania, Georgia's former UN ambassador. In July 2009 Alasania established OGFD, which automatically became part of the AfG. In April 2010 ex-Foreign Minister Salome Zourabichvili's party, Georgia's Way joined AfG. Alasania said that the parties that were part of the AfG, now had two major goals; ‘to jointly struggle for change of electoral environment’ and ‘to strengthen our own political parties.’ He added that ‘there is a big chance that we will again go into next elections on a joint ticket’. During the elections New Rights and the Republican party said they wanted closer ‘structural’ integration among the parties, but failed to reach an agreement with Alasania.

►Final results of Tbilisi local elections
On 15 June the Central Election Commission (CEC) approved a final vote tally for the 30 May Tbilisi local elections. The final results confirm ruling party’s Gigi Ugulava’s re-election as Tbilisi mayor with 55.2% of votes. It also confirmed the early results, bringing no changes in expected distribution of seats in the City Council. As a result five parties and blocs, having cleared the 4% election threshold, will take the 25 council seats: National Movement (52.5%) – 14 seats; Alliance for Georgia (17.9%) – 5 seats; Christian-Democratic Movement (12.05%) – 3 seats; National Council (8.2%) – 2 seats; Industrialists (6.2%) – 1 seat. All 25 majoritarian contests in single-mandate constituencies were won by ruling National Movement Party candidates. Thus, the ruling party will have 39 seats out of 50 in the Tbilisi City Council. According to the CEC, the turnout was 46.7%. The first sessions of the municipality is to be held within 30 days after approval of the final vote tally.

►Saakashvili promises new leadership in 2013
On 12 June President Saakashvili said that the new constitution ‘will not be tailored on personalities’ and his goal is not staying in power, but securing continuation of reforms launched. The state commission on constitutional reform endorsed on 11 May a basic draft of the constitution, envisaging more powers to the PM at the expense of the President. No formal deadlines are set for parliament’s endorsement of the document; it is still an initial draft that may undergo further amendments. The document triggered many speculations that Saakashvili is eying the PM's post in paving the way to remain in power after the expiration of his term. These speculations were further fuelled by Saakashvili’s remarks in an interview, in which he said that he had thought of becoming PM, but ‘too many uncertainties remain for now.’ Saakashvili said that ‘the constitutional model, which will be created in Georgia, will be democratic, European and the best one.

Moldova

►Humanist Party elects new leader
On 21 June former director of the Security Intelligence Service and ex-Minister of Defense Valeriu Pasat was elected president of the Moldovan Humanist Party (MHP). ‘We support the initiative of Mr. Pasat and Metropolitan Vladimir to include “Fundamentals of Orthodoxy” as a compulsory subject in schools by means of a referendum’, founder of the party Ion Mereuta stated. After being elected MHP leader, Pasat stated that it is the only party in Moldova to support the said initiative. MHP was created in December 2005 and did not take part in the last parliamentary elections. Recently, Pasat, stated he intended to create a party and participate in the parliamentary elections this autumn. Last week the Orthodox Church of Moldova openly stated it would support Pasat's political initiatives. Pasat's launching in politics with the involvement of the church caused a negative reaction from both the governing alliance and the opposition Communist Party.

►Roma Party created in Moldova
On 18 June the first party of the Roma people, the Social Political Movement of the Roma (SPMR), was created in Moldova. At a press conference first Vice Chairman Petru Baranciuc said the party was registered at the Justice Ministry on 2 March. SPMR has 7000 members and is chaired by businessman Ion Bucur. Baranciuc said SPMR has a centrist doctrine, and aims to guarantee political stability in Moldova, as well as ‘to eradicate poverty among the Roma, increase the level of literacy, facilitate access to healthcare, provide passports for every Roma of age and create work places’. In his opinion, in order to solve the Roma's problems they must be represented in parliament, government and local authorities. The party intends to run in the early parliamentary elections this fall.

►Communists renounce cooperation with governing alliance
On 17 June the opposition Communists Party (CP) said it was breaking every relation with the governing Alliance for European Integration (AEI) and is withdrawing all initiatives on building a ‘constructive partnership’, including intentions concerning Constitutional amendments. According to CP, the referendum for Constitutional amendments is an ‘instrument to fool people’, a way of avoiding early legislative elections and remaining in power for an unlimited period of time. Commenting on the statement by Speaker and acting President Mihai Ghimpu on 16 June that he would dissolve Parliament only after the referendum, CP said that indicates that the current government is set to ‘definitively liquidate the remains of Moldovan democracy and break the constitutional foundations of the state’. Democrat Party (DP) leader Marian Lupu said that PCRM's stated intention to cooperate on a consensus on constitutional amendments was thus proved fake and ‘a dangerous game’.

►Voronin: the Communist Party (CP) has several Presidential candidates
On 15 June ex-President and opposition Communist Party’s (MCP) Chairman MP Vladimir Voronin maintained his party has several candidates for the post of President. However, MCP has not yet decided who will represent it in the presidential elections. ‘It is premature yet to discuss this topic in earnest. […] If the population supports at the referendum the idea of a direct election of the head of state, then we will take a decision on a candidate’, he said. Voronin said he may decide not to run for another presidency, adding that CP has many well-prepared candidates for the post. Presidential elections are to take place in November 2010 simultaneously with parliamentary elections. The four constituent parties of the governing Alliance for European Integration have already stated they will all have their own presidential candidates. If Voronin decides to take part in the presidential race, the Constitutional Court will have to say whether it is permissible: he has been President for two consecutive terms, and Mihai Ghimpu now is only an acting president. The unique situation may well fall under Constitution Article 80, limiting Presidential terms to two.

►Three ex-ministers join Democratic Party (DPM)
On 12 June ex-minister of local public administration, and, until recently, member of the Moldova Unită - Edinaia Moldova (MUEM) party Valentin Guznac, ex-minister of defense Vitalie Vrabie and former Minister of Energy and ex-Communist Iacob Timciuc joined DPM. They announced this officially at the presentation of DPM’s social program. Guznac stated he joined DPM because it is the only organisation capable of resolving the existing political, economic, social and education problems. Guznac noted he continues contacts with his former party comrade and MUEM party leader, MP Vladimir Turcan. Commenting on Guznac's words, Turcan stated that he had no idea about Guznac's leaving MUEM. Earlier, During the presentation, Democratic Party First Deputy Chairman, MP Oleg Serebrean announced he was leaving the party as he is appointed Moldova’s Ambassador to France. According to DPM information, 55 former members of the Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party officially joined the Democratic Party on the same day. The party had a parliamentary faction of 13, and with Valentin Guznac it will have 14 members.

Russia

►Russia agrees with CoE rights abuse report on North Caucasus
On 22 June it was announced that for the first time Russia has supported a condemnation of human rights abuses in the North Caucasus by the Council of Europe (CoE) Parliamentary Assembly. Its report noted disappearances and intimidation in the region’s republics, and said the authorities continue to nurture a climate of fear. The CoE member states unanimously approved a resolution based on the report by Swiss liberal Dick Marty. Marty said: “Terrorism must be fought by the rule of law. Let’s not forget that injustice is the first ally of terrorism, so it is injustice we must fight.” The Assembly urged Russia to fight terrorism by respecting fundamental rights. The vice-head of the Russian delegation said the report’s conclusions were not completely positive for Russia, not agreeable, but it was objective. Following repeated wars in which Russian and pro-Russian forces battled Chechen separatists, the parliamentarians pointed out that the European Court of Human Rights had been compelled to assume a protector role for many victims in the region, finding repeated rights violations which showed a climate of impunity. They said this and the passiveness of the authorities undermined the population’s trust in the security forces and fed the spiral of violence.

►Nemtsov: “Anti-Putin report will be distributed all over country”
On 21 June it was announced that one day after FSB officials confiscated 100 thousand copies straight off the presses of the anti-Putin report, and just a few days after St Petersburg city police confiscated another 100 thousand from a truck, opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was on the streets of St Petersburg handing out two thousand hastily printed samizdat copies of his co-authored report, “Putin. Results. 10 Years”. The former Deputy PM and co-leader of the Solidarity opposition movement plans to travel throughout Russia to distribute the controversial pamphlets, which condemn Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for the problems that have grown or first arose during his time in power. “We’re going to hand out the report all over the country, regardless of the difficulties,” Nemtsov said. On 14 June, the Solidarity movement presented its finalised report on how Russia has fared over the ten years of Putin’s tenure in power. The pamphlet includes topics ranging from corruption and crumbling infrastructure to population decline and the collapse of the pension system. The document was written by two of Solidarity’s co-leaders, Nemtsov and former Deputy Energy Minister Vladimir Milov. One day after they presented the report police in St Petersburg seized 100 thousand copies of it, a tenth of the total million that were printed.

►Eleven people arrested for racially-motivated murders in St Petersburg
On 17 June eleven suspects were arrested in a series of killings and serious hate crimes in St Petersburg. Vladimir Markin, a spokesman for the Investigative Committee of the Prosecutor-General's Office, told journalists that the men were between 17 and 23 years old. They were suspected of having carried out ten murders and several attempted murders, Markin said. Investigators said the victims included a Ghanaian killed in December, as well as a number of homeless people, foreigners, and people of non-Slavic origin.

►Rights activists seek Moscow mayor's resignation
On 15 June it was announced that Russian rights activists said they will hold a mass protest called "The Day of Wrath" later this month, to call for Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov's resignation. Sergei Udaltsov, the coordinator of the opposition Left Front movement, told international reporters that the organisers of the action have asked Moscow officials to allow them to hold the demonstration in front of Luzkhov's office. The activists are also seeking a thorough investigation of Luzhkov's activities.

►Duma passes controversial bill for FSB
On 11 June the Russian State Duma passed a bill that will greatly expand the powers of the FSB and which civil liberties advocates have decried as a grave threat to freedom of speech. The bill was introduced by the Russian federal government on 24 April. It will allow the FSB to issue pre-emptive warnings to individuals or groups that the agency suspects of acting in a way that could potentially become “extremist.” Such extremist activity, it claims, is on the rise in Russia today. Experts warn that the legislation is so vague that the agency could easily use it to severely impede upon normal social activism and the normal operation of the press, leading to greater self-censorship by anyone critical of government policy. This concern stems from the fact that allegations of extremism are routinely used by Russian law enforcement agents to stifle legal forms of dissent by human rights activists, oppositionists and others. Vladimir Lukin, the federal human rights ombudsman reappointed by President Dmitri Medvedev in 2009, said that the law was dangerous and discredits the FSB. But calls by critics to veto the legislation expect to go unheeded by the president, as it was the federal government that introduced the bill in the first place.

Ukraine

►Poll: Most Ukrainians support new government after 100 days
On 18 June a new survey showed that over half of Ukrainians support the activities of the new government after its first 100 days in power, although Ukrainians were more optimistic after the change of government in 2005. According to the survey called "100 days of the new government" a total of 54.4% of those polled support the activities of Yanukovych after the first 100 days of his presidency, 25.7% of Ukrainians do not support him, and 19.8% failed to answer. The equivalent poll results in relation to former President Viktor Yuschenko's activities totalled 54%, 14.5% and 6% respectively in March 2005. A total of 49.1% of Ukrainians positively assessed the 100 first days of Azarov's premiership, 29.1% of those polled negatively assessed his activities, and 21.6% found it difficult to answer. The equivalent results regarding Tymoshenko's activities totalled 54.2%, 16.5% and 29.3% respectively in 2005. Some 60.1% of the respondents believe and hope President Yanukovych will fulfil his election promises, 34.1% have doubts or do not believe him, and 5.9% failed to answer. In 2005 the equivalent results in relation to Yuschenko were 66.6%, 23.9% and 9.4% respectively. The survey was conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Razumkov Center, with financial support from the International Renaissance Foundation.

►Yanukovych describes local election date of October 31 as realistic
On 17 June Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said that there are realistic prospects for holding elections to local councils on 31 October, 2010. "Of course, [the local election date of October 31] is realistic. I believe it would be correct for the elections to be held in autumn when the crops are already harvested, ahead of winter," he told journalists while commenting on the local election date of 31 October earlier announced by his entourage. Yanukovych said that under the current law and the Constitution of Ukraine, the next local elections should be held in 2010. He noted that local council deputies "are no longer working, they are sitting on their suitcases." "And the sooner we hold the elections, the sooner people will elect the deputies," he said. Yanukovych expressed hope that the elections to local councils would be conducted under new legislation, in particular, under a mixed electoral system. Head of Ukraine's Presidential Administration Serhiy Liovochkin earlier announced the local election date would be 31 October.

►Parliament refuses to dismiss Interior Minister
On 16 June the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, refused to dismiss Interior Minister Anatoliy Mohyliov. A draft resolution on the dismissal of Interior Minister Mohyliov was supported by 141 out of 408 MPs registered in the hall on the same day, with 226 votes needed to pass the decision. Mohyliov's dismissal was supported by 109 MPs of the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko faction and 32 MPs of the Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense faction. During his speech, the author of the resolution, Borys Tarasiuk, said that the grounds for the Minister's dismissal were his cynical statements in mass media justifying the crimes of Stain's rule, including the deportation of Crimean Tatars.

►Ukrainian Court sues Yanukovych over famine statement
On 15 June a court in Ukraine started hearing a lawsuit against President Viktor Yanukovych for stating that "it is not fair to call the great famine in Ukraine in 1932-1933 a genocide against the Ukrainian people." Volodymyr Volosyuk is suing Yanukovych for his statement he made in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in April. Volosyuk argues that Yanukovych wounded his personal honour and dignity and the memory of the millions of Ukrainians who died in the famine. He wants the court to demand that Yanukovych offer a public apology for his statement. Mykola Zamkovenko, a former chairman of Kyiv's Pechera District Court, which is hearing the case, told international media that it is necessary to have adequate legal documentation in order to state officially that the famine was genocide. He added that Yanukovych was simply expressing his personal opinion, which he has the right to do.

CENTRAL ASIA

►Russia and CSTO will not send military support to Kyrgyzstan
On 17 June the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), consisting of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, announced it will not deploy peacekeepers to Kyrgyzstan but may send security specialists. Interim leader of Kyrgyzstan, Roza Otunbayeva, asked Russia to send military help to support the interim government restoring peace in the southern regions. But Russia stated there was no reason for any unilateral Russian intervention since this was a domestic Kyrgyz problem.

Kazakhstan

►Kazakhstan closes border for Kyrgyz refugees
On 17 June Kazakhstan closed its border for Uzbek refugees as a response to the enormous exodus of Uzbeks fleeing from Kyrgyzstan. Four days earlier the Kazakh Minister of Emergency Situations declared that Kazakhstan was willing to accept refugees from southern Kyrgyzstan. The border between Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan was only recently reopened on 20 May. The April events in Kyrgyzstan led the Kazakh government to decide to close the borders. At the moment, Kazakhstan is no longer allowing ethnic Uzbeks with Kyrgyz passports to enter the country.

►New ‘Leader of the Nation’ law evokes protests
On 15 June Kazakhstan's state media outlets published a new law declaring President Nursultan Nazarbaev 'Leader of the Nation'. This law makes Nazarbaev immune to prosecution for crimes and protects him and his families property, even when he abdicates as president. Nazarbaev refused to sign this law himself, but the presidential signature is not needed to pass the law. As long as Nazarbaev does not officially veto the law, the parliament can activate it. It is not clear yet when the new law will enter into force, but its publication in state media indicates it will be done soon. Several journalists in Kazakhstan have protested against implementation of the 'Leader of the Nation' law. They consider it a violation of the democratic Kazakh Constitution.

Kyrgyzstan

►Referendum will take place on 27 June
On 22 June Kyrgyz interim leader, Roza Otunbayeva, stated that the referendum scheduled for 27 June will take place despite the current situation in Kyrgyzstan. The Constitutional referendum will offer the Kyrgyz people the opportunity to vote for a balance in power between parliament and president. Many Kyrgyz Uzbeks have left the country and an estimated 400.000 people in Kyrgyzstan have fled their homes. If this number is correct, over 7% of the 5,5 million Kyrgyz population might be disabled to vote. Western observers encourage the interim government to proceed with the referendum, but within Central Asia people are more cautious of the lack of legitimacy that might be used to protest the referendum outcome.

►Ethnic disturbances cause approximately 2000 deaths
On 11 June ethnic disturbances broke out in the southern city of Osh. What started the conflict is not quite clear, according to eye witnesses the riot emanated from a fight between Kyrgyz and Uzbek youths. 49 people were killed and over 650 persons were reported with injuries. The interim government declared a state of emergency and send in troops to dampen the violence, but to no avail. In the following days violence spread to other cities in Southern Kyrgyzstan as well. Casualties have also been reported in Jalalabad. The aggressiveness towards Uzbeks continued upon which many Uzbeks decided to leave the country. This caused an exodus of the Uzbek minority heading for the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border. An estimated 75.000 Uzbeks fled the country. The situation seems to have stabilised, but many Kyrgyz fear another violent outbreak. The official number of casualties is estimated at 250, but many believe the real number is about 2000. On 13 June ousted ex-President Kurmanbek Bakiyev called the allegations of him being responsible for the outbreak of violence “shameless lies” in an official statement from his current residency in Minsk, Belarus. He denied being involved in stirring up ethnic tensions between Kyrgyz and Uzbeks in the south. Many suspect Bakiev and his family of instigating the violent conflicts by financing protesters and inciting ethnic tensions to topple the interim-government.

Tajikistan

►Rumours of Tajik involvement with Kyrgyz unrest
On 15 June the Tajik Foreign Ministry rejected stories about Tajiks being involved in the ethnic violence in Kyrgyzstan. The Tajik Foreign Ministry called these allegations as being false. According to the Minister's spokesman these reports cannot be confirmed by Tajik security or border forces. On 17 June the Tajik National Security Committee send a letter to the Kyrgyz interim government asking for the source and reason of these allegations. Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Security Minister, Kubat Baibolov, was quoted by Russian media as saying that the conflict between ethnic Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in Jalalabad and Osh was ignited by a group of Tajiks hired by relatives of ousted President Kurmanbek Bakiyev who killed Uzbeks and Kyrgyz in order to provoke the ethnic unrest. The Tajik government hopes that Kyrgyzstan will quit emitting these "unfriendly" statements.

Turkmenistan

►Western officials see progress of Turkmen human rights
On 16 June US top official Robert Blake stated that Turkmenistan is making slight progress in its human rights situation. Blake visited the country for the start of the first annual bilateral consultation between the US and Turkmenistan and offered American help to further develop the condition of human rights. Several other top officials from Europe and ODIHR acknowledge this progress. They hope to open a dialogue with Turkmen officials, focusing on issues such as the legislative framework for elections, the law on public organisations, the development of civil society in general, and human rights education.

Uzbekistan

►Uzbekistan closes border after accepting 75.000 refugees from Kyrgyzstan
On 15 June Uzbek authorities decided to close the border after accepting approximately 75.000 Uzbek refugees who escaped the ethnic conflict in Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan could not accept any more Kyrgyz Uzbeks as it had no more possibilities to accommodate them. Only people who arrived at the border with fresh wounds and needed immediate medical attention were accepted to cross the borderline. On 22 June Kyrgyz authorities visited the refugee camps to ask people to return to Kyrgyzstan as the situation seems to have stabilised. The Kyrgyz border guards reported 35.000 Uzbeks returning to Kyrgyzstan the same day. It is expected that all refugees will be back within two days.

Edited by: Marina Ohanjanyan, Danijel Tadić, Marianna Tsirelson and Ingeborg Visscher
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