Скачать или смотреть USIP Discussion on "Expanding Ukraine's Democratic and Electoral Progress During War"

“We are in a full-fledged war. And in this war, where not only the war is going on all territory of Ukraine, the aggressor occupies right now more than 20% of our territory. There is active combat. There are more than roughly a million people in the armed forces in and out. There are more than 12 million internally and externally displaced people out of which more than 6 million are still outside of Ukraine. So, in this situation, can we have the elections? Well, definitely not. If you believe in free and fair elections,” stressed Ambassador of Ukraine to the U.S, Oksana Markarova, in her welcoming remarks during a discussion at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) on “Expanding Ukraine’s Democratic and Electoral Progress During War” on October 26.

USIP Vice President of the Center for Russia and Europe, Ambassador William Taylor, moderated the discussion between the Board Chair of Civil Network OPORA, Olga Aivazovska, and Global Principal Advisor of IFES, Senior Country Director of IFES Ukraine, Peter Erben. President and CEO of NED Damon Wilson, concluded the event by providing closing remarks.

During the discussion, panelists elaborated on key steps Ukraine can undertake now to refortify its democratic and electoral foundations and prepare for free and fair postwar elections, while also addressing strategies for Ukraine to safeguard itself against disruptive Russian disinformation narratives targeting its democracy and the postponement of elections.

Though elections are on hold, IFES’ Global Principal Advisor and IFES Ukraine Senior Country Director Peter Erben urged Ukraine to, “restart electoral reform. There are many things that can be done already now and the most important one is enfranchising all of those who are most affected by this war to vote, including over seven million Ukrainians abroad, millions of internally displaced Ukrainians, soldiers who would also like to have the possibility to both run as candidates and to vote.”

This video offers select highlights from the event.

Watch full video recording of the event here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?...