LECTIONS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: The country last held parliamentary elections in 2019, which were widely reported to be fair and mostly free of abuses and irregularities. The country last held a presidential election in two rounds in 2019. The joint international election observation mission reported candidates could campaign freely, although numerous and credible indications of misuse of state resources and vote buying undermined the credibility of the process.
The constitution prohibited parliamentary elections during martial law and legislation similarly prohibited presidential and municipal elections. According to the constitution, the president and parliamentarians retained their powers until the lifting of martial law. Parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26 were postponed due to Russia’s full-scale invasion and the resulting declaration of martial law. Civil society widely supported the postponement of elections while under martial law.
