A prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia brought a tactical victory to both Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Vladimir Putin. However, Russia gained a strategic victory while Ukraine did not manage to balance between the release of its citizens and the pursuit of national interests. A new stage of prisoner exchange will depend on further progress in Read more about Prisoner exchange: progress towards peace or false hope?[…]
The new government of Oleksiy Honcharuk shall address a number of complex political and economic issues. First, it has to ensure high GDP growth and increase investment attractiveness. Second, carry out structural reforms in the agricultural, energy and social sectors. Apart from unpopular decisions, it will be necessary to fulfil the President’s populist demands – Read more about New Government of Oleksiy Honcharuk: risks, opportunities and major groups of influence[…]
On September 10,2019, MPs voted in the first reading for the bills, which determine the rules for using cash registers (PPOs) by the business. These bills are aimed at combating tax evasion by large businesses using status of individual entrepreneurs (FOPs). These bills provoked heated discussions. While discussing the draft at the Rada meeting, MPs Read more about Fiscal innovations of the new government[…]
On September 19, 2019 Democracy House presented a new issue of U at Glance analytical paper. The presentation was held within the project “Analytical support for the Slovak 2019 OSCE Chairmanship” which is implemented by Democracy House with the support of the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. During the presentation, the experts of Democracy House analyzed Read more about Democracy House presented a new issue of “U at Glance”[…]
The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (RS) is one of the most debated international treaties that Ukraine has signed, but has not ratified yet. Despite the large number of Ukrainian citizens who suffered from war crimes and crimes against humanity in Donbas and Crimea, Ukraine still lacks the political will necessary to join an Read more about Will the new Parliament ratify the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court?[…]
Ukraine’s GDP shows growth for the 14th consecutive quarter. GDP grew by 4.6% in the second quarter of 2019. President Zelensky has promised growth of 5-7% of GDP. Under favorable circumstances, Ukraine may well expect a 5% growth in 2019. However, this growth is unlikely to be sustainable. There are many risks and challenges for Read more about Prospects and Challenges of the Ukrainian Economy in the Second Half of 2019[…]
After the parliamentary elections, political and economic contradictions began to rapidly escalate between Ukrainian oligarchs. The lack of a single arbitrator among the oligarchs and the weakness of President Zelenskyi are gradually plunging the country into the chaos of an oligarchic struggle for resources. Ihor Kolomoiskyi, Viktor Pinchuk and Arsen Avakov have the best Read more about Conflict lines of Ukrainian oligarchs before the opening of a new political season[…]
After the annexation by Russia, Crimea has actually turned into an “island of lawlessness”. Russia as an occupying power disregards its obligations in Crimea under international humanitarian law and brazenly violates fundamental human rights and freedoms, enshrined in international human rights instruments. Moreover, Russia impedes an access of international human rights missions to Crimea. At Read more about Human rights situation in the occupied Crimea[…]
On August 20, 2019 Democracy House presented a new issue of U at Glance analytical paper at the Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine. Experts of Democracy House analyzed inter-oligarchic struggle in Ukraine in a new political season, large-scale human rights violations in the occupied Crimea, Ukraine’s economic forecast in the second half of 2019 and bilateral trade between Ukraine Read more about Democracy House presented a new issue of “U at Glance”[…]
Key points and trends: Parliamentary elections were held democratically, freely and openly. Ukraine once again succeeded in passing test on democracy. Only few majoritarian electoral districts were detected involving dirty technologies, clones, illegal agitation and single cases of bribing voters. The turnout was only 49.8% (as experts of Democracy House predicted), which is the smallest Read more about The results of the parliamentary elections held on July 21, 2019[…]