Elections in the former Soviet Union are stolen all the time, but governments get away with it by stifling democratic institutions. Western leaders need to support struggling civil societies in the region, before there is nothing left to support.
The dramatic but peaceful transfer of power in Georgia on Sunday must be rattling repressive leaders all across the region. The danger now is that governments in Central Asia and the Caucasus may step up political repression to head off a similar scenario.
Last week's presidential election in Azerbaijan ensured that the current government
would maintain its control over the country's significant oil reserves. In the former
Soviet bloc's first dynastic succession, Ilham Aliyev, son of the ailing
Communist-era holdover Heydar Aliyev, has now become president.
Last week's presidential election in Azerbaijan ensured that the current government would maintain its control over the country's significant oil reserves. In the former Soviet bloc's first dynastic succession, Ilham Aliyev, son of the ailing Communist-era holdover Heydar Aliyev, has now become president.
Elections in the former Soviet Union are stolen all the time, but governments get away with it by stifling democratic institutions. Western leaders need to support struggling civil societies in the region, before there is nothing left to support.
The dramatic but peaceful transfer of power in Georgia on Sunday must be rattling repressive leaders all across the region. The danger now is that governments in Central Asia and the Caucasus may step up political repression to head off a similar scenario.
Last week's presidential election in Azerbaijan ensured that the current government
would maintain its control over the country's significant oil reserves. In the former
Soviet bloc's first dynastic succession, Ilham Aliyev, son of the ailing
Communist-era holdover Heydar Aliyev, has now become president.
Last week's presidential election in Azerbaijan ensured that the current government would maintain its control over the country's significant oil reserves. In the former Soviet bloc's first dynastic succession, Ilham Aliyev, son of the ailing Communist-era holdover Heydar Aliyev, has now become president.