11.10.2016-17.10.2016 • No: 85

EVALUATION OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS TO THE STATE DUMA IN RUSSIA The 7th legislative elections for the State received 19.19%, the Just Russia Party re- gard, on April 5, 2016, in accordance with the Duma, which is the Lower House of the ceived 13.24% and the Liberal Democratic Decree №157 the Federal National Guard Russian Parliament, were held on September Party of Russia received 11.67% of total Troops Service was established and states- 18, 2016. According to the results of the votes. As a result, the United Russia Party men, who have an authority in the military Russian Central Election Commission, took 238 seats, the Communist Party of the forces, were appointed as governors in some 47.82% (namely 52,631,849) of 110,061,200 Russian Federation took 92 seats, the Just subjects of the Russian Federation. Therefore, registered voters participated in the elections Russia Party took 64 seats and the Liberal the 7th elections to the State Duma were and the United Russia Party won with 54.20% Democratic Party of Russia took 56 seats in conducted in this complex environment. of total votes (28,527,828). According to the the State Duma. As for the elections results, 4580 parliamen- Constitution, the Russian Parliament (Federal The parliamentary elections to the State Duma tary candidates participated in the elections. Assembly) consists of two chambers – the coincided with the period of strained interna- Four parties were able to overcome the 5% State Duma and the Federation Council (art. tional relations between Russia and the West, threshold: the United Russia Party gained 95).The legislative power of the State Duma especially the U.S., over Syria and increased 54.20% of votes (28,527,828), the Communist can be distinguished mostly in terms of func- socio-economic problems in the country. Party of the Russian Federation and the tions and powers. Whereas, the Federation Because of the different aims and interests of Liberal Democratic Party of Russia took over Council looks like a that mostly acts as the parties in the context of the Syrian issue, 13.34% (7,019,752) and 13.14% (6,917,063) an advisory and representative body. Accord- the US-Russia relations are expected to con- of votes respectively and the Just Russia Party ing to the Constitution, the State Duma con- tinue to be strained. On the other hand, the got 6.22% (3,275,053) of votes. Thus accord- sists of 450 members. The Federation Council heads of the U.S. and the Western countries ing to party lists, the United Russia Party won includes two representatives from each of have expressed their concern over the Eura- 140 seats in the State Duma, the Communist Russia's federal subjects: one from the legisla- sian Economic Union (EAEU) established Party of the Russian Federation received 35 tive and one from the executive body of the under the leadership of Russia. They perceive seats, while the Liberal Democratic Party of state authority (art. 95). Accordingly, in the the EAEU as an organization, by which Russia and the Just Russia Party gained 34 Russian Federation, which has 85 federal Russia can strengthen its position and authori- and 16 seats respectively. subjects, the Federation Council includes 170 ty in the world through its immediate envi- According to the results of elections in the members. The President of Russia has the ronment (post-Soviet countries). This is why 225 single-member districts, the distribution right to appoint 17 members of the Federation the Western countries have supported of seats are as follows: the United Russia Council (art. 95). The Federation Council is Ukraine's EU-oriented policies instead of the Party – 203 (79.6%), the Just Russia Party – 7 the organ that works on a permanent basis EAEU-oriented ones. (2.7%), the Communist Party of the Russian (art. 99). According to the Federal Law on the Economic sanctions imposed by the Western Federation – 7 (2.7%), the Liberal Democratic Procedure for the Formation of the Federation countries to Russia combined with the drop in Party of Russia – 5 (2%), the Rodina Party – 1 Council of the Federal Assembly of the oil prices have shaken the budget of Russia, (0.4%), the Civic Platform Party – 1 (0.4%) Russian Federation dated December 3, 2012, whose economy is dependent on oil and gas and Independents – 1 (0.4%). Overall as a terms of the members of the Council are not revenues. According to data published by the result of the elections, the United Russia won nationally fixed, but instead are determined Federal State Statistics Service, at the end of 343 seats (76.2%), the Communist Party of according to the regional bodies the senators 2015, 19.2 million people were living in the Russian Federation, the Liberal Democrat- represent. (art. 1). Russian citizens who are poverty below the minimum wage, which is ic Party of Russia and the Just Russia Party over the age of 30 years and who are legally 13.4% of Russian population. According to gained 42 (9.3%), 39 (8.7%) and 23 seats eligible can be a candidate for senator of the some experts, the amount of the Russian (5.1%) respectively, while other parties took 2 Federation Council (art. 2). citizens living in poverty are forecasted to rise seats (0.4%) and the independent candidate The members of the State Duma are elected by 3 million people if there is no increase in gained 1 seat (0.2%) of the total 450 seats in for five years (art. 96). Any Russian citizen oil prices. These circumstances carry the risk the State Duma. The most active participation who is over the age of 21 and has the right to of deteriorating Russia’s internal stability and in the elections was observed in two regions: participate in elections can be elected as a increasing the number of citizens who are the Tuva Republic (90.13%) and the Kemero- deputy of the State Duma (art. 97). A mixed dissatisfied with the government policies. vo oblast (86.80%). Whereas the least active system is implemented in the parliamentary Indeed, on February 26, 2016, Russia's Presi- participation in the elections was in the Ir- elections according to the Federal Law on dent Vladimir Putin had a meeting with the kutsk oblast (32.92%). 874 representatives Elections of Deputies of the State Duma of Federal Security Service Board expressing his from 63 countries and 10 international organi- the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federa- predictions about a political turmoil that zations and more than 260 thousand local tion dated February 22, 2014. Accordingly, might occur in the country with the influence observers monitored the Russian State Duma 225 deputies of the State Duma are elected in of external forces before the elections. At the elections. International institutions such as single-seat electoral district (one district – one meeting, Vladimir Putin stated that foreign SCO, CIS and local observers that monitored member) and other 225 deputies are elected intelligence agencies widened their activities the election process reported that the parlia- by a proportional representation system (art. in Russia and he gave additional tasks to the mentary elections were held in a free and 4). According to this law, in order to be Intelligence Department of the Federal Securi- democratic environment. elected to the State Duma through the party ty Service to increase security in the country To conclude, the ruling United Russia Party lists the candidate’s party needs to receive at and prevent provocations from outside. In achieved to increase the number of its seats least 5% of votes (art. 88). short, the Russian head officials paid special compared to the previous elections by 69% During the 6th parliamentary elections held on attention to the implementation of necessary (+105). This means that the ruling party can December 4, 2011, only 4 out of 7 political security measures aimed at preventing an easily enact the laws that they want with the parties were able to overcome the 7% thresh- increase in activities of the groups influenced help of their deputies in the State Duma and old. Out of all 65,656,526 electoral votes, the by external forces that want to take advantage can prepare the legal ground for the activation United Russia Party received 49.32%, the of difficult social and economic situation in of Russia’s foreign policy designed to ensure Communist Party of the Russian Federation the country before the elections. In this re- its leading position in the multipolar world. Written by Aidarbek Amirbek, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs and Security Economy, Finance and Energy of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) Association and adopted its • On the sidelines of the 23rd World Ener- charter. The Association will aim at at- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uz- • gy Congress, Russia and Turkey signed tracting transit and foreign trade cargo to bekistan announced signing protocols an intergovernmental agreement on the the route, as well as at the development of with Kyrgyzstan on 55 border areas with- implementation of the Turkish Stream gas TITR’s integrated logistics products. The in Namangan, Andijan and Ferghana re- pipeline project, according to which the association’s office will be located in gions of , adjacent to Jalal- parties envisages deliveries of Russian Astana. Abad, Osh and Batken regions of Kyr- natural gas to Turkey and Eastern Europe. gyzstan. According to the agreement, the parties • According to the First Vice Prime Minis- ter of Kyrgyzstan, Mukhammetkaly During his visit to Yerevan, the President agreed to construct two parallel lines of • the pipeline through the Black Sea with Abulgaziev, in 2015 China became one of of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, and the the capacity of 15.75 billion cubic meters the main trade partners of the republic President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, of gas each. and occupied the second place in the total exchanged views on a number of interna- The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) turnover with 18.5% amounting to more tional and regional problems being of mu- • agreed to finance the construction of the than $ 1 billion. tual interest, including the current situa- Turkmen section of the Turkmenistan – The State Statistics Committee of Uzbek- tion in Afghanistan and the fight against • Afghanistan – Pakistan – India (TAPI) istan reported that 23,616 new small terrorism, extremism and drug trafficking. natural gas pipeline. The IDB will pro- business entities (excluding farms) were • During his visit to Tbilisi, the President vide to the county $700 million loan for created in Uzbekistan in January- of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, 15 years for the construction purposes. September 2016. The amount of small and the President of Georgia, Giorgi • The Minister of Energy of Azerbaijan, business entities reached 215,801 units, Margvelashvili, discussed issues of fur- Natig Aliyev, stated that there is a neces- which is 5.8% increase year-on-year. The ther strengthening of cooperation. More- sity to hold negotiations with Kazakhstan share of small businesses in industrial over, the parties signed agreements on in- on the issue of construction of a 739- production of the country reached 43.8% tensifying the relations in economy, secu- kilometer Eskene – Kuryk – Baku oil in January-September 2016 compared to rity and education. It was the first official pipeline via the Caspian Sea, which 38.7% at the same period of 2015. visit of Kyrgyzstan’s leader to Georgia in would enable Astana to export its oil to • According to the Vice Minister of Agri- the history of the Kyrgyz-Georgian rela- Georgian and Turkish ports. The new culture of Kazakhstan, Kairat Aituganov, tions. pipeline’s capacity could amount to 23-25 the country has gathered the best grain million tons per year with the possibility The participants of ministerial meeting in harvest in its post-Soviet era history. It • of a future expansion to 56 million tons. Lausanne on Syrian issue confirmed their was noted that in 2016 the Kazakh farm- strong support for preserving Syria’s ter- • According to the Ministry of Energy of ers harvested 23.1 million tons of grain ritorial integrity and made a focus on the Kazakhstan, the first batch of export oil compared to 20.3 million tons of grain from the Kashagan oil field in the amount goals of restoring the ceasefire regime in harvested in 2015. About 17 million tons of 7,000 tons was piped via the Caspian of grain was collected in the main grain Aleppo and in Syria in the context of the Pipeline Consortium. Moreover, 18,800 regions such as Akmola, Kostanay and Russia – US agreements reached in Ge- tons of oil were shipped through a pipe- neva in September. Northern Kazakhstan. line operated by the state-controlled com- • During the 5th EU – Azerbaijan Justice, pany KazTransOil and 22.8 million cubic Society and Culture Freedom and Security and Human Rights meters of gas were transported to the Subcommittee meeting, the parties dis- pipeline system of Intergas Central Asia. • During the meeting of the Azerbaijani cussed the European Neighborhood Poli- It was also noted that four wells of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Policy cy Action Plan in the field of migration, field is producing a total of 12,600 tons and State Building and Public Associa- border management, as well as the rule of per day. tions and Religious Organizations, offi- law and judicial cooperation. • During his official visit to , the cials discussed the new changes proposed First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakh- to the Criminal Code of Azerbaijan, ac- • The UN General Assembly unanimously cording to which foreigners and persons appointed the former Prime Minister of stan, Askar Mamin, and his Uzbek coun- terpart, Rustam Azimov, discussed the without citizenship, carrying out ceremo- Portugal, Antonio Guterres, as the next nies and rites pertaining to Islam, will be United Nations Secretary-General for a current state of bilateral trade and eco- nomic relations between Kazakhstan and fined. five-year period to succeed Ban Ki-moon Uzbekistan. In addition, the parties signed The Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan and when he steps down on December 31, • a protocol to extend economic and trade the United Nations Children’s Fund 2016. cooperation between the countries high- signed a cooperation plan for 2016-2020. • The Government of Turkey extended its lighting to increase the turnover from $3 The plan will help to implement the Ka- state of emergency for another three in 2015 to $5 billion in the medium term. zakhstan 2050 Strategy and achieve the months. The extension was advised by • During the 1st round of the trade dialogue United Nations Sustainable Development the National Security Council of Turkey. between Belarus and the Directorate Goals. • The NATO press service announced its General for Trade of the European Com- • The Senate of Uzbekistan approved the plans to develop a new Individual Part- mission, the parties signed an agreement acting President Shavkat Mirziyaev's nership Action Plan (IPAP) to expand its on cooperation in the establishment of the proposal for a mass amnesty of prisoners. cooperation with Azerbaijan. trade dialogue. The amnesty was adopted in honor of the • During the Collective Security Treaty • The General Administration of Customs Constitution Day, which is marked on Organization Summit held in Yerevan, of China reported that the trade turnover December 8. the leaders of member-states decided to between Russia and China grew by 0.4% • The experts of the needs assessment set up a joint crisis response center to ex- in the annual terms to $50.27 billion over mission of the OSCE Office for Demo- change information on common threats, the first three quarters of 2016. Russian cratic Institutions and Human Rights had including terrorism. export to China grew by 7.1% over the a meeting in Uzbekistan’s Central Elec- • According to the State Security Service of same period to $26.98 billion while im- tion Commission (CEC) during which the Kazakhstan, three people suspected of port decreased by 6.4% to $23.3 billion. Chairman of the CEC, Mirza-Ulugbek planning attacks against the country's se- • The national railway operator Kazakhstan Abdusalomov, informed in details about curity services have been arrested in Al- Temir Zholy reported that the railway the work carried out for preparing and maty. administrations of Azerbaijan, Kazakh- holding the presidential election. stan and Georgia signed a memorandum

Prepared by Lidiya Parkhomchik, Hayal Ayca Simsek, Daniyar Nurbayev. Meiramgul Issayeva