III OSCE
| Date | 01 June 2008 |
| Author | Arie Bloed |
| Published date | 01 June 2008 |
| DOI | 10.1177/016934410802600206 |
| Subject Matter | Part B: Human Rights News |
244 Intersentia
III OsCe
A B
1. ELECTIONS CAUSE TURMOIL IN SEVERAL OSCE
COUNTRIES
e recent period has made it abundantly clear, why the OSCE as a security organisation
is focu sing strongly on the observation of national elect ions and on improving t he
legislative framework for elections. e reasoning behind is that only free a nd fair
elections can create the basis for stable democracies and, therefore, peace and security
in the OSCE region.
Although some Western countries consider the organisat ion of elections as some
kind of recipe for lots of polit ical diseases, elect ions in several countries in t he OSCE
region in the past si x months could oer a dierent perspective. Some obser vers may
argue that elections c an also b e the cause for serious polit ical turmoil, as shown by
events in countries like Georgia, Armenia and, to a lesser extent, Kyrgyzstan. Even when
independent Western election observers consider the outcome of national elections as
more or less fair and reecting the ‘wi ll of the people’, in spite of some irreg ularities,
the opposition sometimes continues to organise strong protests, suggesting that the
outcome of the elections was fraudulous. is happene d, in particular, in Ge orgia
and Armen ia. In Georgia, President Mikhai l Saakashvil i decided on a snap election
for his contested presidency at t he end of last yea r which he won wit h an absolute
majority in January. e OSCE observers considered the elections not without some
serious shortcomings , but nevertheless fair. In spite of this, the opposition conti nues
to call pe ople to the streets and refus es to recognise the re-elect ed President, causing
serious problems and instability in the country. is forebodes badly for the upcoming
parliamentar y elections, which will be held later thi s spring.
A simila r situation developed i n Armenia, where the OSCE considered the
presidential elect ions on 19 February to be more or less fai r, in spite of some serious
shortcomings. Nevertheless, the opposition headed by former President Lev-Petrosian
refused to recognise the outcome, leading to massive street protests. e unrest was
quelled by the authorit ies through the use of brutal force, resulting in allegedly eight
people k illed. At the same ti me, an emergency situ ation was declared with a total
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