Russia and Ukraine

The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights regarded visa problems and the limitations imposed on proposed observers as inconsistent with their functions and decided not to participate as an observer.4 The Russian government's anxiety about the security of its position is reflected in many government actions: the elimination of the direct election of independent candidates to the Duma; the increase in the number of votes required for eligibility to win seats in the Duma from 5 percent to 7 percent; the refusal to register some political parties; prohibition of the formation of voting blocs by registered political parties to satisfy the 7 percent eligibility threshold; and legislation requiring special and detailed registration by nongovernment organizations, particularly those which receive funds from outside Russia.5 Of course, similar regulations are not uncommon in Western democratic countries, but many observers believe that these Russian regulations also reflect the government's desire to assure that there are no protests in Russia like those in Ukraine and Georgia in 2006, which led to a change in those countries' regimes. The Russian State Statistics Service reported 1.57 million government workers for 2006-not including municipal workers or employees of government owned and controlled companies-a number which the Russian branch of Transparency International estimated to be less than half the true number.12 On National Police Day, Vladimir Putin himself urged Russia's law enforcement agencies to combat economic crimes and corruption, declaring that these 'social ulcers' of our society not only hamper Russia's economic development but also do not allow the quality of life in the country to improve.