Discussants
- Olena Prokopenko, Head of International Relations, Reanimation Package of Reforms
- Iryna Bekeshkina, Director, Democratic Initiatives Foundation
- Denys Kovryzhenko, Senior Legal Advisor, International Foundation for Electoral Systems
Moderators
- Jonathan Katz, Senior Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
- Orest Deychakiwsky, Board Vice-Chair, U.S. Ukraine Foundation
Please join us for the launch of the Transatlantic Task Force on Elections and Civil Society in Ukraine. The task force was established by the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN) Democracy and Civil Society Task Force and Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR). Other organizations participating in the working group include the Ukraine Crisis Media Center (UCMC), Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law, Centre for Policy and Legal Reform, OPORA Civil Network, Democracy Initiatives Foundation, DEJURE Foundation, Centre for Economic Strategy, Anti-Corruption Action Centre, Centre UA, and Transparency International Ukraine. The main focus of the task force is to provide a platform for stronger U.S.–Ukrainian engagement and information sharing prior to the upcoming Ukrainian presidential election in March 2019 and parliamentary election in October 2019.
The task force will serve as a platform for events and information exchanges and will connect U.S., Ukrainian, and European policymakers, opinion makers, think tanks, and civil society organizations from Kyiv to Washington. The task force will also look at issues impacting the conduct of the elections prior to, during, and after the elections, as well as U.S. policy toward Ukraine heading into elections. The group will also review ongoing Ukrainian reform efforts including good governance, judicial reforms, the rule of law, combatting corruption, promoting economic development, and ensuring the safety of civil society. Finally, the group will focus on internal and external efforts, notably by Russia, to exercise undue influence on the outcome of the elections and Ukraine's trajectory.
The pre-election period is in full swing and the outcome of the elections is anything but certain. With both the presidency and the parliament up for grabs, the winners of these elections will shape Ukraine’s future, including relations with the United States, European Union, and the West, as well as engagement with Russia. The elections will also affect Ukraine’s security, economic progress, and democracy.
The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), the Friends of Ukraine Network (FOUN) Democracy and Civil Society Task Force, and Reanimation Package of Reforms are pleased to invite you to the task force launch and opportunity to hear from leading Ukrainian nongovernmental organizations focused on the challenging issues that may arise both before and after the Ukrainian elections.
Attendance is by invitation only.
If you have any questions, please contact John Alexander at jalexander@gmfus.org.