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Post-Soviet countries often struggle to build democratic institutions and free and open societies, and Ukraine is no exception.  In its first decade of independence, Ukraine evolved into a highly centralized and corrupt managed democracy.  The seemingly inevitable progression toward autocracy was abruptly halted by the 2004 Orange Revolution, a public protest against fraudulent presidential elections.   However constant political in-fighting thwarted any significant economic and political reforms and Victor Yanukovych, whose government has been widely criticized for a regression in democracy, was elected president in 2010.  This trend continued in the 2012 parliamentary elections which international organizations, including IRI and the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe, determined were a step backward in Ukraine’s democratic development.

Download Summary (PDF)
Post-Soviet countries often struggle to build democratic institutions and free and open societies, and Ukraine is no exception.  In its first decade of independence, Ukraine evolved into a highly centralized and corrupt managed democracy.  The seemingly inevitable progression toward autocracy was abruptly halted by the 2004 Orange Revolution, a public protest against fraudulent presidential elections.   However constant political in-fighting thwarted any significant economic and political reforms and Victor Yanukovych, whose government has been widely criticized for a regression in democracy, was elected president in 2010.  This trend continued in the 2012 parliamentary elections which international organizations, including IRI and the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe, determined were a step backward in Ukraine’s democratic development.

The objective of IRI’s work is to support the development of national democratic political parties, promote democratic governance and strengthen civil society.

Political Party Development
IRI has a long history of working with political parties to strengthen their structures and organization in Ukraine.  To further this work and help parties establish and improve communications with civil society IRI launched a program in Chernihiv in 2011 that brought the two groups together to solve local issues.  Based on the success of this model, IRI has expanded the program to Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi and is looking to further expand it nation-wide. 

Democratic Governance
To ensure Ukraine’s local elected officials are able to better represent the citizens of Ukraine, IRI works with local elected officials to improve their communications, constituent services, management and other skills necessary for effective and transparent governance.  IRI’s public hearing program empowers Ukrainian civil society, particularly in Crimea, to bridge the gap between citizens and elected officials.  The project increases citizen participation in the decision-making process by working with citizens to raise local problems at public hearings, which then must be addressed and voted on by local councils.

Elections Support
IRI has extensive experience conducting international election observation missions in Ukraine, having deployed delegations to observe every parliamentary and presidential election since Ukraine became independent in 1991.