Published by the Centers for Pluralism INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY IN EASTEN EUROPE (IDEE) Editors Eric Chenoweth NEWSLETTER Irena 2003 (last issue) Lasota Contents: Editorial Production Ivan Lozowy Editor’s Introduction . 3 “Referendums” and “Elections”: Can Democracy Editorial Assistant Andrea Ever Prevail? . 5 Detjen Elections and Observers in the Caucasus by Ivlian Haindrava . 6 Computer Layout Ludmilla Memorandum on Fair Elections in Armenia, Azerbaijan Kuznetsova and Georgia . 11 Who Needed a Referendum? IDEE by Asylbek Ismailov . 13 1808 Swann Street, NW, Suite A Washington, DC, 20009 USA Conclusion of the Public Headquarters for Phone: (1 202) 667 63 00 Fax: (1 202) 667 00 32 the Monitoring Committee of the Results of E-mail: [email protected] the Referendum Conducted on February 2, 2003. 15 http://www.idee.org IDEE COUNTRY REPORT Belarus: “Toward a Future Democratic Victory” . 17 ISD vul. Skovorody 7, kv. 21 The Estonian NGO Roundtable Kyiv, Ukraine 04070 by Agu Laius . 20 Phone/fax: (380-44) 416-3072 E-mail: [email protected] Roundtable of Estonian Nonprofit Organizations. 22 This issue of the The Power of Networks: Lessons of the Centers Newsletter will be its last for Pluralism until new funding. No new subscriptions will be by Irena Lasota . 23 accepted. For additional copies of this issue, write The 18th Meeting of the Centers for Pluralism . 25 to Institute of Statehood and Democracy (1-5 issues = $10/apiece; 6-10 PRIMA Human Rights and Information Service = $8.00/apiece; more than — News Items . 26 11 = $7.50/apiece) at [email protected]. All back issues are available Dispatches from Chechnya . 31 on request from IDEE for $10/copy (including WHO IS WHO. 35 postage and handling). Make checks and interna- WHO IS WHO PARTNERS . 48 tional money orders (in USD only) payable to and send requests to: WHO IS WHERE . 60 "CFPN/IDEE" at [email protected] or the above address. Unfilled subscriptions will be refunded, unless donated. INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY IN EASTERN EUROPE The second Centers The 20th issue of the Centers The 25th issue of the Centers for Pluralism Newsletter for Pluralism Newsletter for Pluralism Newsletter The 8th issue of the Centers for Pluralism Newsletter in The 19th issue of the Centers for The first Centers for Pluralism Azerbaijani Pluralism Newsletter in Russian Newsletter in Ukrainian, now with 12 issues, came out in 1997 The 26th issue of the Centers The 27th issue of the Centers The first publication of the Centers for Pluralism Newsletter for Pluralism Newsletter for Pluralism Newsletter in Mongolian, published in 2003 Centers for Pluralism NEWSLETTER, 2003 3 Editor’s Introduction by Eric Chenoweth Editor We apologize to our readers for the lateness of this, In this issue, we also include more positive exam- the 28th, issue of the Centers for Pluralism Newsletter. ples of civic development, as in Estonia (see Agu Unfortunately, it may be its last. We feature articles by Laius’s “The Estonian Roundtable” among other arti- key advocates for democracy, civil society, and change cles of interest). And we also publish contributions of in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet two E-mail publications associated with the Centers Union; we include articles on model developments in for Pluralism: the Prima Human Rights Agency from the region’s NGO community; and, for the first time, Moscow, edited by Alexander Podrabinek, and the we publish a comprehensive “Who’s Who” Section of heroic reporting on the situation in Chechnya by the the Centers for Pluralism and its Partners Network. Chechen NGO Latta, through the Dispatches from The reasons for the delay in publication are simple. Chechnya. In these publications, one confronts the Suffice it to say that the organization that previously continuing profound struggle for human rights. handled the layout, design, production, and distribu- As noted, this 28th issue of the Centers for tion of the Newsletter, the Foundation IDEE in Pluralism Newsletter may be its last; already the NIJ Warsaw, had to be liquidated in court due to severe Weekly Service has had to be suspended. (although mismanagement by its directors, Malgorzata Naimska and Urszula Doroszewska. This misconduct included its near-full archive remains available through taking out unauthorized loans, running up unpayable www.idee.org). For the past ten years, the Centers for debt of at least $34,000, and misusing funds from mul- Pluralism and the Centers for Pluralism Newsletter tiple grants. As a result, efforts to continue the have been financially supported by the National Newsletter were made difficult. (You may find more Endowment for Democracy, including, we wish to information on the liquidation of Foundation IDEE on note, this issue. But in the spring of 2003, the NED the Web site www.geocities.org/ideeorgpl). suddenly suspended support for the Centers for In the process of preparing this issue, we also dis- Pluralism program and it is unlikely to resume doing covered that the CfPN database, maintained in Warsaw, so. Although IDEE regrets this disinvestment in had not been kept current and thus we have spent a regional networking programs, it accepts any change great deal of time trying to properly update the records. in direction the NED wishes to make. IDEE continues We know we have not succeeded fully. We thus ask to believe that NED’s financial support over the past everyone receiving the Newsletter to check their infor- decade permitted IDEE, with its partners, to build a mation (and that of their colleagues) and to send to significant, long-lasting, enduring and independent [email protected] any corrections, including requests to be civic movement in Central and Eastern Europe and added to the Newsletter mailing list and database list- the former Soviet Union. ing. We are also posting the Newsletter on IDEE’s and We believe that, while NED funding is not essen- the Institute for Democracy and Statehood’s web sites tial, the CfP’s continuation is essential and can and (in Adobe Acrobat Reader Format). will continue to develop enormous resources in the This issue of the Newsletter highlights some central continuing struggle for democracy in the region. We issues facing democrats and civic activists in the shall continue our efforts to publish the Newsletter region of Central and Eastern Europe and especially (and welcome contributions to that end). But while the former Soviet Union. The first section deals with the CfP Newsletter itself may not be able to continue, the holding of false elections and referenda — and the we know that many of the publications it inspired in Western recognition of them — that only serve to per- different countries and regions will continue. IDEE, petuate in power undemocratic, semi-democratic, and as well as the Centers for Pluralism themselves, are dictatorial regimes. Ivlian Haindrava’s article all endeavoring to continue this unique movement “Elections in the South Caucasus” describes the mis- and network of NGO and democratic activists that conceptions and deliberate misreading by Western spans two continents, crosses ethnic, religious, cul- observers of elections in the region; we also include tural, and national divides, and demonstrates the uni- the appeal of representatives from throughout the South (and North) Caucasus to Western governments versality of the experience of those who emerged and institutions for free, fair, and transparent elections from communism fourteen years ago and whose in the region. There follow a series of articles and widely differing circumstances can help strengthen statements highlighting the fraudulent referendum and solidify the development of democracy in the held in Kyrgysztan in early 2003. region — and beyond. Anniversary Publication Centers for Pluralism — Networking for Democracy: 10 Years The Centers for Pluralism is a unique, enduring network of democracy and NGO activists from 22 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. Begun in 1992 with 7 organizations, the Centers for Pluralism has expanded to 22 organi- zations and 21 partners. The CFP builds upon common experiences in widely differing circumstances to foster joint initiatives, programs, and exchanges that strengthen the region's democratic civic activism. IDEE's ten-year anniversary book of the Centers for Pluralism - Networking for Democracy: 10 Years - features some of the region's leading democratic, civic, and human rights activists, including Gabriel Andreescu from Romania, Miljenko Dereta from Serbia, Ivlian Haindrava from Georgia, Petru!ka "ustrov# from Czech Republic, and Vincuk Viacorka from Belarus, among many others, describe the work of the network of the Centers for Pluralism and our ongoing - and expanding - efforts to overcome the adversaries of liberal democracy. ORDER FORM TO ORDER COPIES ! for “Centers for Pluralism — Networking for Democracy” For CEE/FSU region: write to Institute of Statehood and Democracy, Name: ______________________________________ vul. Skovorody 7, kv. 21, Address: ________________________________ Kyiv, Ukraine 04070, (street, building no., office/apt.) Telephone/fax: (380-44) 416-3072, ________________________________ E-mail: [email protected]. (city, country, postal code) For U.S. and Western Europe: write E-mail: _____________________________________ to Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe, 1808 Swann St., NW, Suite A, No. of copies: ______ x $5.00 postage and handling Washington, DC 20009 Fax: 202-667-0032 Please enclose international money order in USD. E-mail: [email protected].