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Moldovan democracy: one more hurdle down 

The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum welcomes the outcome of the second round of the presidential elections in the Republic of Moldova. The result confirms Moldova’s commitment to join the European Union. We hope this vote will further boost the internal reform agenda following the official opening of EU accession negotiations last June. 

This result also shows Moldovans’ resilience despite serious foreign interference. The first round of the election on 20 October saw an “unprecedented assault” on the country’s democracy to quote President Maia Sandu. Pro-Russian vote-buying schemes were unearthed, and strong anti-EU messages were spread. Yesterday’s second round saw no difference: several voters reported receiving anonymous death threats to induce fear and disincentivise them from voting. Moreover, fake bomb threats targeting foreign polling stations on the election day attempted to disrupt the electoral process of the diaspora across Europe.  

These sabotage attempts on the voting process have not prevented Moldovans from voting. The determination and engagement of the more than 300,000 Moldovans in the diaspora must also be recognised. 

Two weeks ago, Moldovans already confirmed their European aspirations in a constitutional referendum on EU membership. Yesterday’s election confirms Moldova’s strong interest in joining the EU. The recently adopted European Commission’s 2024 Report confirmed that Moldova has made steady progress on its EU accession path. We therefore call on the Moldovan authorities to continue implementing the necessary changes to see a speedy Moldovan accession. 

We particularly call on the following actions: 

  • Moldovan authorities to pursue its “de-oligarchisation” efforts and implement a comprehensive justice reform and further advance in reforming the justice sector, particularly on the vetting process, 
  • The Moldovan authorities to put further efforts towards increasing meaningful participation of civil society in the decision-making processes, 
  • The EU and Moldovan authorities to open the “fundamentals” negotiation cluster during the upcoming Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union next year,  
  • The EU Institutions to continue building resilience to hybrid threats and disinformation in the framework of the EU-Moldova Security and Defence Partnership and strengthen cooperation with the country in the fields of strategic communication, support for journalists and civil society, 
  • The EU and its Member States to ensure speedy negotiation of the Reform and Growth Facility for Moldova within the Moldova Growth Plan and urge them to start the Facility as soon as possible to accelerate Moldova’s reform process and boost socio-economic growth. 

The relatively weak mandate obtained in the referendum risks undermining Moldova’s fragile resilience against foreign interference. Pro-Russian opposition is ready to exploit narrow referendum result to fuel the anti-Western propaganda ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections. Despite pro-Russian candidate vowed not to oppose European integration, the risk of a parliament not having the power to advance on the internal reform agenda stemming from the country’s EU commitment remains high. 

It is therefore particularly essential for the EU and the international community to stand behind Moldova to support its ambitious reform agenda. 

The Steering Committee of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum

Available documents

Download the Statement on this link.

EaP CSF Steering Committee calls for non-recognition of rigged elections in Georgia 

Brussels, 28 October 2024: The Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) Steering Committee is expressing its concerns over the conduct of Georgia’s legislative elections on 26 October 2024.

“We call for the non-recognition of these election results by the international community, until an impartial investigation is conducted. The 2024 elections in Georgia, held for a first time under a fully proportional system, were intended to increase democratic representation and transparency. However, reports from civil society, as well as both local and international observers, show that the process was deeply flawed with systemic manipulation, voter and observer intimidation, breaches in vote secrecy, and political bias of the Central Election Committee (CEC), among many other issues.” said Lasha Tugushi, EaP CSF Steering Committee Co-chair.  

Vulnerable groups, minorities, public sector employees, and citizens in rural areas were particularly targeted by the ruling Georgian Dream party, that allegedly secured more than 50% of the votes.  

In this context, President Salome Zourabichvili’s call for public mobilization to protest the election results marks an initial step in contesting the legitimacy of these elections. 

We, the EaP CSF Steering Committee members, stand in solidarity with the people of Georgia in their fight for a democratic and transparent society, and a European future. We urge all stakeholders, including the Georgian government, the EU and the international community, to support Georgia’s fight for democracy by ensuring that all Georgian citizens’ voices have been listened to and respected during the 26 October elections.  

Therefore, we call on:  

  • International and EU Election observation missions: to publish comprehensive reports and make clear and unambiguous statements detailing all observed irregularities during both pre-election period and election day, thus providing a transparent picture of the scale of alleged electoral fraud; following elections, to launch an independent audit of the election results, looking into the integrity of CEC electronic voting procedures, vote tallying, and reported instances of electoral misconduct;  
  • International community, including EU and US Institutions: to call for more accountability and non-recognition of election results until a thorough investigation is made;  
  • US government: to impose sanctions on individuals and entities involved in electoral fraud, vote manipulation, and intimidation of voters and observers via the MEGOBARI Act; this includes freezing assets, applying visa restrictions and imposing travel bans; 
  • EU institutions: to condition any future financial aid to the Georgian government on electoral integrity, and the investigation of alleged systemic fraud during the legislative elections of 26 October 2024;  
  • EU Member States: to engage in diplomatic pressure on Georgia by intensifying diplomatic efforts, including by summoning Georgian ambassadors for consultations and issuing strict unanimous statements to hold the Georgian government accountable for election misconduct; 
  • Georgian courts and judicial system: to commit to investigate all reported cases of electoral fraud and prosecute those involved in a timely manner, regardless of their political affiliation; 
  • Georgian authorities: to immediately repeal restrictive laws that limit the work of civil society and independent media, such as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, and ensure the freedom of speech and press; 
  • Georgian civil society organisations: to continue to stand up for their rights and freedoms and speak up against electoral irregularities, fraud and intimidation; seek international support and protection to ensure that CSO activities are safeguarded against state harassment or restrictions. 
  • Donor community: to strengthen their support to local civil society in Georgia in a flexible manner as the needs emerge, particularly in light on allegedly fraudulent elections and the consequences they may have for the independent CSO and media sectors.  

Members of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Steering Committee  

Additional resources

You can download the statement using this link.

Georgian civil society demands ahead of elections

In the context of Georgia’s upcoming legislative elections on 26 October 2024, representatives of the Georgian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) conducted advocacy meetings in Brussels on 15-16 October 2024.

The delegation included Lasha Tugushi (Director, Liberal Academy Tbilisi and EaP CSF Steering Committee Co-Chair), Ekaterine Tsimakuridze (Director, Democracy Index, and EaP CSF Working Group 1 co-coordinator), and Ketevan Chachava (Executive Director, Center for Development and Democracy, and EaP CSF Working Group 1 co-coordinator in Georgia).

During these meetings, the delegation engaged with key EU stakeholders—including the European Commission (DG NEAR), the European External Action Service (EEAS), the European Parliament (DG EXPO), and Members of the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), representatives from seven EU member states (COEST delegates), and Brussels-based think tanks and organisations (gathered through a public roundtable discussion).

The discussions focused on the challenges faced by Georgian civil society, particularly the impact of the “transparency of foreign influence” law, the pre-election environment, and Georgia’s EU integration process.

Conclusions

Despite the numerous challenges it faces, Georgian civil society remains resilient. Prior to legislative elections, their efforts focus on ensuring free, fair and transparent elections, upholding an independent judiciary and safeguarding human rights.

Five urgent steps are seen as necessary to bring Georgia back on its European path:

1) Ensure free, fair and transparent elections on 26 October;

2) Abolish the law on the transparency of foreign influence;

3) Abolish the anti-LGBTQI+ legislative package;

4) Put an end to the anti-civil society rhetoric and “us versus them” discourse;

5) Commit to a genuine reform process in line with EU’s nine recommendations for Georgia.

Read the report

The full report can be downloaded here.

Meet the Armenian LGBT+ activists working for more inclusivity

In our Meet our Members series, this month we talked to Mamikon Hovsepyan (He). Mamikon is Communications Director for Pink Human Rights Defender in Armenia. We asked him about the organisation’s role in defending LGBT+ rights in Armenia and the events they are working on as part of LGBT+ History Month.

What is the mission of Pink Armenia?

Pink Armenia Human Rights Defender NGO [hereafter Pink Armenia] aims to create a safe space for LGBT+ people by promoting well-being and protection in all spheres of life. We were founded in 2007 by members of the LGBT+ community. We serve and support the needs of the community, promote LGBT rights and advocate for change in public policy around LGBT+ issues.

Why is it so important to have an LGBT organisation in Armenia?

The Armenian LGBT+ community faces significant challenges. Armenia remains a conservative society where LGBT+ individuals often experience widespread discrimination and social stigma. Some members experience marginalisation, harassment, and even violence. There is only limited legal protection and little recourse to justice.

What is Pink Human Rights Defender offering its members?

Pink Armenia, as an LGBT+ organisation can provide much-needed legal, social and psychological support. We offer safe spaces for those affected which include crucial mental health resources and community support. We also seek to address the health and well-being of LGBT+ individuals who often face barriers to adequate care.

Pink Armenia also works to tackle the causes of discrimination by raising public awareness, combatting prejudice, and pushing for legal reforms. In a country where visibility for LGBT+ people is low and negative societal attitudes prevail, such organisations are essential for promoting tolerance, equality, and advocate for human rights.

What current projects and events are you working on this month?

This month, Pink Armenia is actively engaged in celebrating LGBT+ History Month. This is a time dedicated to recognising the struggles and achievements of the LGBT+ community. Originally introduced in the United States in 1994, the celebration was timed around October 11, which marks the Coming Out Day, a significant moment for the visibility and empowerment of LGBT+ individuals. For Armenia, LGBT+ History Month is particularly important, as it allows us to reflect on the progress made since the movement began in 1998 with the founding of crucial organisations created by queer Armenians in the diaspora.

As part of this year’s campaign, Pink Armenia is focused on recalling key milestones in the Armenian LGBT+ movement, such as the decriminalisation of same-sex relations in 2003. Throughout October, we will publish a series of posts on our social media channels, highlighting these important events and their influence on advancing rights for the community in Armenia. This campaign is not only a celebration of progress but also an opportunity to engage with ongoing challenges and work toward a more inclusive and just future for all.

You can find out more about Pink Human Rights Defender NGO and their History Month publications on their website.

More from our “Meet our Members” series

“The Sakharov Prize could shed light on Azerbaijan’s poor human rights record” 

On October 17, the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees of the European Parliament will shortlist the three final nominees for this year’s Sakharov Prize. The Azerbaijani academic, anti-corruption advocate and EaP CSF co-founder Gubad Ibadoghlu has been nominated by the Greens/EFA. His daughter Zhala Bayramova told us about what this nomination could mean for him and for civil society in Azerbaijan.

Who is Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu?  

Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu is a human rights defender. He also happens to be my father. 

As an anti-corruption advocate, he has been investigating money laundering, corruption and how Azerbaijan helps Russia avoid sanctions since the invasion of Ukraine. As a critic of the fossil fuel industry, he has organised protests and lead campaigns against oil companies SOCAR and BP. As an academic, he has opened a youth scholarship foundation to return assets stolen from the Azerbaijani people by the Azerbaijani authorities to students.  

Now, my father is fighting for his life in house arrest. 

Where is he now? 

While my father is technically in house arrest, he is practically in prison. 

His house is bugged, and there are police cars parked right in front of the house. His ID and communication devices have all been confiscated by the authorities. He has a travel ban imposed on him, and he is not allowed to leave the house. My father needs urgent heart surgery but he is denied access to medical treatment. 

The authorities claim he is free because he is in the comfort of his own house. But, in reality, his house is now a prison. 

How was he arrested? 

When my dad was arrested, he was with my mother. They were stopped by the police and dragged out of their car. They were both tortured and detained. The police punched my mother’s head several times.  

They injured my father’s spinal column. He was kept with no access to drinkable water, proper food or medication. He wasn’t able to contact us. 

He was threatened and kept under constant psychological torture. Bright lights were on all day and night, and they were making constant noise to prevent him from sleeping. His inmates were trying to provoke him, and he was not allowed to leave the cell, which is a violation of the Geneva Convention.  

Why should Gubad Ibadoghlu receive the Sakharov prize?  

Azerbaijan is the host of COP29 in November this year. Having Azerbaijan host the largest climate change conference in the world is a unique opportunity to draw attention to the devastating state of human rights in my home country.  

This, along with the crackdown on Azerbaijani civil society, is rarely talked about. This prize will give platform and attention to Azerbaijan, whose human rights record is among the worst in the world. Receiving the prize would not only be significant for my father, but for all of Azerbaijani civil society who would be honoured by the Sakharov Prize for the first time in history. 

Aside from the similarities between my father and Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize can save his life and get him out of Azerbaijan. If my father is shortlisted on 17th October, he will be one of the nominees to be invited to Strasbourg by the European Parliament. In my father’s case, the Sakharov prize can save his life and have a direct impact.

You can read more about the Greens/EFA nomination for Gubad on their Instagram account. To find out more about the Sakharov Prize process, please visit the European Parliament’s dedicated page.

Battered but resilient

On 28 May 2024, the Georgian Parliament adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Funding despite widespread opposition from local civil society, donor community, EU and international partners, and a significant portion of the Georgian population.

Over the period of July to September 2024, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum conducted a consultation on the needs, challenges and expectations of Georgian civil society in the context of the implementation of the law and ahead of the legislative elections scheduled to take place on 26 October.

The results of this survey are now available in a report in digital format on the EaP CSF website.

Highlights from the report

The report adresses several issues mentioned by the surveyed Georgian civil society organisations. These include:

  • The general situation of civil society within the last 12 months,
  • The immediate impact of the law,
  • The specific needs for financial, legal and advocacy support,
  • The outlook after October 2024.

The report shows the increasing pressure faced by Georgian which civil society. With nearly all respondent receiving 20% of their funding from international donors, the foreign agent law will strongly impact civil society and its essential work.

The stigmatising effect, disproportionate sanctioning implementation mechanism, and burdensome administrative and monitoring reporting requirements of the law are also severe issues for most civil society organisations.

The report highlights key areas for support from international institutions and donors. 75% of the respondents called for financial support, including funding for covering fees associated with non-compliance with the law. 62% expressed the need for more legal assistance, including pro bono legal assistance by local lawyers, and 57% for advocacy support, including policy dialogue with EU and international stakeholders.

Ukraine’s health care under siege

Russia’s missile strike on 8 July that targeted Okhmatdyt National Children’s Hospital, the largest paediatrics facility in Ukraine, and Isida, a maternity hospital in Kyiv, is part of a series of systematic assaults carried out against Ukraine health care system and aimed at terrorising civilians.  

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Meet the Armenian environmental activists fighting for safe drinking water

This article is part of our Meet our Members series. In 2023, the NGO Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (AWHHE) received funding from EaP CSF to lead a case study aimed at sharing best practices between Armenian, Georgian and Moldovan environmental actors on equitable access to safe drinking water. Interview was provided by Emma Anakhasyan, Head of Environmental Health Department at AWHHE. 

Could you briefly describe AWHHE’s mission?

The mission of Armenian Women for Health and a Healthy Environment (AWHHE) is to explore the issues of environmental pollution and climate change in Armenia. We advocate the human right to live in a healthy environment and promote the reduction of health risks from environmental pollution and hazards. We also promote climate adaptation and mitigation as well as a healthy lifestyle focusing especially on children and women. 

AWHHE promotes solutions to the issues related to health and the environment through education and information campaigns. We raise awareness about the environmental health threats and social injustice related to environmental pollution. AWHHE provides independent monitoring and investigations on water supply management and other related issues, lobbies decision-makers to make sound solutions, contributes to capacity building of rural communities and strengthens the participation of women in decision making at local and national levels.   

AWHHE puts a significant focus on the role of women in protecting our environment. What decisive role do women play in this regard?

Throughout history, women have played a significant role in environmental protection.  In communities, women manage water, sources for fuel, and food. They also perform forestry and agricultural activities. Involving women in planning and decision-making processes increases environmental sustainability․  

Understanding the role women play in protecting our environment led AWHHE to be involved in high-level political processes, such as the High-Level Political Forum, the Commission on the Status of Women, Chemical Convention debates (Stockholm, Basel, Rotterdam), the Minamata Convention, the Negotiation on Plastic Treaty, the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health, the UN 2023 Water Conference and Water Decade in Dushanbe among others. 

AWHHE representatives sit on the boards of the Netherlands-based Women for Water Partnership and the US-based International Pollutants Elimination Network which counts more than 600 active civil society organisation members.  

AWHHE is also very active at the national level and has a representative in the Steering Committee of the National Policy Dialogue on water-related issues in Armenia, in the National Committee of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme and in the Regulatory Board of the Water User Associations among others.  

The high professionalism of our members, their great experience and dedication serves as a strong basis for the successful implementation of the projects at local, regional and national levels. A good example is the work we did under our “USAID-CARD Armenia’s Rural Economic Development – New Economic Opportunities Program”. Within the framework of this project, AWHHE organized trainings on entrepreneurship for 3,500 rural women and advanced trainings on sustainable agriculture approaches for 2,000 rural “agripreneurs” women. 

AWHHE believes that empowering women will guarantee the protection of our environment’s sustainability.  

Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, why was it important to share environmental best practices between these three countries?

The UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes was adopted in 1999 and entered into force in 2005. Among the Eastern Partnership countries covered by the proposed project, both Armenia and Georgia are signatories and the Republic of Moldova ratified it. The Protocol aims to protect human health and well-being by better water management, including the protection of water ecosystems, and by preventing, controlling and reducing water-related diseases.  

Armenia and Georgia, while not yet being Parties to Protocol, have both been actively involved in the work carried out under its framework and gained valuable experience in using the tools under the Protocol. Moldova has achieved notable progress in the implementation of the ratified Protocol, including stakeholder engagement experience.  

In Armenia, the project activities targeted ten settlements that have limited access to drinking water. In Georgia, the project addressed water-related challenges in the Borjomi municipality, particularly targeting three villages identified as among the most vulnerable. In Moldova, the project focused on issues faced by population that does not have access to centralised sources of drinking water and relies on water from mine wells. 

Within the course of the project, all three countries developed their country case studies based on their findings. During the case study development process, each country formulated a set of recommendations based on their specific contexts and findings. These recommendations were discussed during an international meeting in Yerevan on 25 October 2023 and the recommendations were sent to the national authorities of the respective countries. 

The shared environmental best practices and common recommendations helped refine the steps to be implemented for the provision of the Protocol on Water and Health. 

What lessons did you draw from the case study? Did it contribute to changing your approach?

We learnt a lot from being a project partner and sharing our experience among partners.  

The Moldovan member, Eco-TIRAS, described the experience in their country. As Moldova had signed and ratified the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health early, they used the opportunities offered through national priorities and international assistance to develop a report looking into the operational challenges in the sphere of application of the Protocol. They also demonstrated the importance of ratifying the Protocol to attract financial investment for its implementation. 

By working together, AWHHE, Eco-Tiras and the International Center for Environmental Research (Georgian member) raised the importance of regionally important issues. As partners, we discussed the challenges and opportunities related to the implementation of the Protocol for their upcoming activities.  

The International meeting held in Yerevan on October 25, 2023, brought together project partners, various state organisations such as the Ministry of Health, Water Committee, Statistical Committee, local municipalities, civil society organisations and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). Participants were engaged in a constructive dialogue by exchanging perspectives and providing valuable inputs. This interactive process allowed for a thorough examination of the proposed recommendations, ensuring that diverse viewpoints and expertise were considered. The meeting served as a platform for knowledge-sharing and exploring collective strategies to enhance equitable access to water and sanitation. 

The 13th meeting of the Task Force on Target Setting and Reporting under the UNECE/WHO Protocol on Water and Health took place on 14 November 2023 in Geneva. AWHHE made a statement about the equitable access to water and sanitation and presented the project. 

Find more about Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment on their website https://awhhe.am/.  

This project benefitted from support through the EaP Civil Society Forum Re-granting Scheme (FSTP) to Members and is funded by the European Union as part of its support to civil society in the region. Within its Re-granting Scheme, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum (EaP CSF) supports projects of its members that contribute to achieving the mission and objectives of the Forum. Grants are available for CSOs from the Eastern Partnership and EU countries. Key areas of support are democracy and human rights, economic integration, environment and energy, contacts between people, social and labour policies. Find out more on our re-granting activities here.

More form our “Meet our Members” series: