By Yuriy Hanushchak, expert of the group on decentralisation and administrative-territorial reform of the Reanimation Package of Reforms, specially for UP

What was it?

This is far not a rhetorical question that arose after the publication of the decision of the Central Election Commission No. 122 dated 9 August.

A so-called bare-faced blackmail – we will not work until you persuade us.

The most natural reaction on the part of the government would be to suspend the funding of the CEC until it gets a grip, since there is absolutely no legal basis in the CEC’s decision.

So far, there has been response to this decision from the public organisations. The relevant statement was published by the Reanimation Package of Reforms. Some newly formed AHs, which have to pass through the elections procedure to get final legitimation, expressed their indignation as well.

Astonishment and anxiety about the fate of the decentralisation reform have already been expressed by Georg Milbradt, Special Envoy of the German government.

And this is the first reaction from the international community. A tougher stance is to be expected soon – too many international donors have contributed to ensuring the success of the reform, and a simple decision of the CEC cannot just banally roll up the process.

According to my information, MinRegion will most likely limit itself to correspondence with the CEC, granting it a chance to correct its mistake.

There is still no reaction of the Prime Minister, for whom decentralisation is a too dear reform.

The President has expressed no reaction so far, although he has repeatedly stated that decentralisation of power is the most successful reform and counted it as an electoral asset.

Political parties keep silent as well. And it is difficult to explain it by the off-season period – the media reason is more than vivid.

The opposition is silent as well as political parties of the new wave, not represented in the Parliament.

In general, the CEC's demarche is a maturity test for the civil society, the government and political community.

The full version of the expert column is available HERE