A few weeks ago when commenting upon the long anticipated/expected assimilation of UDAR and National Front into the Solidarity Party, this paragraphs appeared - “Entering into 2016, and the much anticipated early Rada elections may become far more questionable. UDAR and the National Front will have ceased to exist and Solidarity will be the dominant […]
Un-decentralisation? Rada passes 2nd “decentralisation vote”
September 1, 2015 by 1 Comment
On 17th July, this entry appeared relating to the successful passing of Bill №2217a “On Amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine (concerning the decentralization of power). “Having garnered 288 votes (300 being a constitutional majority), the Bill now heads to the Constitutional Court for its consideration. It has to be noted that the Venice Commission is […]
Big picture, little picture, FDI - Odessa & Ukraine
August 31, 2015 by 1 Comment
Some time ago an entry was published here that raised certain questions surrounding the “projects” and “project selection” machinery of Sasha Borovik and team, Governor Saakashvili’s “project manager” for the “Odessa project”. “Specifically concentrating upon those volunteers that end up with Sasha Borovik who looks after “projects” (are casinos and gambling projects for the Singaporean […]
A long hot Autumn/Winter - Ukraine
August 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
If the summer has not been hot enough, both by way of weather and political, diplomatic, economic and military engagement, the Autumn is likely to get far hotter even as the summer sun fades. 31st August will see the constitutional amendments relating to “decentralisation” strong-armed through the Rada, delivering nothing like the outcome The Kremlin […]
After the local elections - expect local elections (Ukraine)
August 29, 2015 by 2 Comments
On 25th October local elections will be held across Ukraine (other than in occupied Crimea and Kremlin controlled regions of the Donbas). The thinking behind it, following a presidential election in May 2014, and a Rada election in October 2014, local elections in October 2015 will provide the Ukrainian constituency with the opportunity to have […]
Local elections result predictions - Odessa
August 28, 2015 by 2 Comments
Following on from yesterday’s entry and the numerous questions raised regarding prickly agendas and subsequent local election political fallout, extremely unfairly a reader emailed and asked for predictions regarding Odessa and the local elections - this before any candidates and party lists have been formalised. Solidarity meets later today to select candidates and form lists, […]
Prickly agendas? - Odessa City Hall
August 27, 2015 by 2 Comments
Following along nicely from the previous entry, yesterday’s session of Odessa City Council - not to be confused with the Oblast Council - was canceled. The City Council session was canceled due to only 56 deputies registering in the session hall, when the minimum number required for a legal quorum is 61. An issue of […]
Time to peel away the recently applied Odessa veneer and get dirty once more
August 26, 2015 by 1 Comment
Odessa has benefited from some rather rosy/and or glorifying headlines lately - the obvious increased tourism (due to the loss of Crimea), the new Patrol Police taking to the streets to (hopefully) change societal attitudes towards the rule of law, Governor Saakashvili doing numerous populist (and popular) PR stunts - and the first signs of […]
The new “Patrol Police” begin - Odessa
August 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment
On 25th August, perhaps fittingly, the first 392 officers of new “Patrol Police” take their oath and are subsequently unleashed upon the (diving) public of Odessa, at the statue of Armand Emmanuel Sophie Septimanie de Vignerot du Plessis - better known as the (5th) Duke Richelieu. The remainder of the 800 Patrol Police officers do […]
Running the (prosecution) interference - Odessa
August 24, 2015 by 1 Comment
Saturday afternoon was spent by your author with a member of an EU Mission visiting Odessa. The EU Mission in question relates directly to the rule of law. For once your author was not talking to a diplomat, bureaucrat or academic (enjoyable as that always is) - this EU Mission Member was a practitioner. The […]