On 27 April, 2012, the Razumkov Centre in the framework of NATO-Ukraine Partnership Network and with the support of the Norwegian Embassy in Ukraine and held a roundtable “NATO-Ukraine partnership in the framework of Ukraine’s non-bloc status: topicality, status, and prospects”.

Among the invited participants were representatives of the legislative and executive branches of the government, scholars, governmental and independent experts as well as the representatives of foreign embassies and international organizations.

The following issues were discussed:

• Ukraine-NATO partnership: common goals, values, and interests;
• Role of NATO among the priorities of Ukraine’s foreign and security policy;
• Factors that hamper constructive NATO-Ukraine partnership;
• Key priorities and strategic directions for cooperation between Ukraine and NATO over the next 5-7 years.

The Razumkov Centre prepared analytical materials and the results of expert and sociological surveys to assist the discussion.

During the roundtable, the Ukrainian translations of the “SIPRI 2011 Yearbook: Armaments, Disarmament and International Security” was presented. The yearbook is prepared by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and published in Ukrainian by the Razumkov Centre.

Even before the start of the electoral campaign, the level of mistrust towards the integrity of the upcoming elections in the Ukrainian society is very high: 37% of the population assume that the results may be distorted, and another 24% are confident that the results will be distorted.

The citizens are quite pessimistic about the outcome of the elections: the overwhelming majority (43%) believes that the elections won’t change anything; 31% hope that the elections would be able to improve the situation in the country, and 6% expressed concerns that the election would make the situation worse.

Only 13% of citizens believe that their participation in the elections would influence the situation in Ukraine, 38% think that some influence is still possible, 39% believe their vote would not have any effect.

The most useful in the next parliamentary elections citizens find the activities of Western observers (40%), followed by observers from Ukrainian NGOs (35%), the Ukrainian observers representing the parties and candidates (34%) and international observers from the CIS countries (20.5 %).

In December 2011, upon the request from the Razumkov Centre, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted a research among 2040 Ukrainian residents to estimate these attitudes. 37.5%  of the respondents gave a positive answer to the question “Have you ever heard of the Razumkov Centre?”. The education level is positively correlated with this awareness, which amounts for 58% among the respondents with higher education. 40.8%  of those who know the Razumkov Centre trust the results of its research, and 18.7%  lack the trust.

In 2005, the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology conducted a study to estimate the level of trust for sociological services. Back then, only 7% of the respondents could name at least one research institute whose research results they trusted. Among such companies, the Razumkov Centre was the most popular one (53.5%).

On 29 November, 2011, in Simferopol, the Razumkov Centre and Tavria Regional Development Institute with the support of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation held roundtable discussions on “Crimea: security and development”.

At the roundtable the Razumkov Center presented the results of two projects:

• “The quality of life — a priority development for Crimea”, which is performed within the framework of the National Initiatives to Enhance Reforms (UNITER) and financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the Swiss Cooperation Office and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation;
• “The problems of Crimea in the context of national and regional security”, financed within the Manta programme of the Netherlands Embassy.

The roundtable was attended by Pavlo Burlakov, the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Crimean government, ministers, heads of governmental agencies, renown political scientists, economists, businessmen, university rectors, members of influential NGOs Crimea and journalists etc.

The participants were presented with a special issue of the National Security and Defense journal (¹ 10–11, 2011) which includes the analysis of current state and trends in quality of life of the Crimeans and opportunities and constraints for local authorities in implementing the strategy for socio-economic development of the Crimea.

The Razumkov Centre also prepared the brochure on “Crimea: Safety and development”, which contains brief conclusions and recommendations.

On September 15, 2011, the Razumkov Centre held a press-conference to present the special issue of the National Security & Defence journal on “Cadastre registration system in Ukraine: the state and prospects” (#6, 2011).

Ukraine was among the first post-Soviet states to initiate reformation of land relations on the market principles. However, over 20 years, it failed to create a sufficient legal framework for the land market introduction, to ensure effective protection of rights of land and other immovable property ownership, to create an appropriate basis for the state policy of land use, as the State Land Cadastre is. The principal cause for many years of protraction of land relations reform in Ukraine is that even now, there is no integral and consistent state land policy in Ukraine, the goal and priorities of the reform are not specified. Today, the sector of land relations is deemed one of the most corrupt in Ukraine. This situation rules out the guarantee of the right to ownership of land and other immovable property, which to a large extent deprives Ukraine of investment attractiveness, and therefore, resources for development.

On 15 June 2011 the Razumkov Centre together with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Ukraine held a round table on “The opposition and the government in Ukraine: a chance to overcome the confrontation?”

The roundtable was attended by the leaders and representatives of major political parties, MPs, representatives of national and international institutions, NGOs, media, diplomatic missions in Ukraine and independent experts.

The following issues were discussed:

• The current state of political opposition in Ukraine and main reasons to oppose the current government;
• Whether it is possible for the opposition to carry out its proper functions under the current conditions;
• Effective means for political representation of the opposition sentiment that exists within the society;
• Opportunities and ways to stop a confrontation between the government and the opposition.

At the roundtable the results of the project “The opposition in Ukraine: new conditions, problems, challenges” were presented that was carried out by the Razumkov Centre with the support of the USAID through Parliamentary Development Project for Ukraine: Legislative Policy Development Program. The project comprises the analysis and the results of public and expert surveys (in Ukrainian).

On 6 April 2011, the Razumkov Center in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation in Ukraine held expert discussion on “Crimea: security and development”.

The Razumkov Center presented the results of the first phase of two projects: “Crimea in the context of national and regional security” and “The quality of life of the Crimean people — a priority development for Crimea”, realized with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Netherlands in Ukraine, PACT-UNITER and the Swiss Cooperation Office in Ukraine.

The roundtable discussions were attended by the Vise Prime Minister of Crimea, Ukrainian MPs, representatives of the ministries, state and non-state organizations and diplomatic missions and international projects.

The first part of the event (“Crimea in the context of national and regional security”) examined the following issues:

• The current state and problems of cooperation in the Black Sea region: its stabilizing and destabilizing factors;
• The influence of regional processes on the security of Ukraine and Crimea: its economic, political, military, humanitarian and energy aspects;
• The place of Ukraine and Crimea in the context of regional development.

The second part (“The quality of life of the Crimean people — a priority development for Crimea”), devoted to improving the quality of life of the Crimean people in the context of the ARC Development Strategy for 2011–2020, examined the following issues:

• The quality of life of people in Crimea and other regions of Ukraine;
• Main problems and prospects of socio-economic development of Crimea;
• The Crimea development strategy 2011 — 2020: challenges and risks.
  

The following issues were discussed:

• Religious situation in Ukraine in 2000–2010: Are there the citizens’ right to freedom of conscience and the partner relations between the state and the Church?
• What are the current features of the church-state relations?
• What are the ways to improve state-confessional and inter-confessional relations in Ukraine, the individual right to freedom of conscience?

For the round table the Razumkov Centre produced the analytical report (in Ukrainian, PDF, 3,5 MB) which contains the statistical data and the national polls results that show the trends in development of the state-church situation during the last 10 years and outline the problems related to the right of freedom of conscience and the state-church relations in Ukraine.

The participants of the roundtable signed a petition to the authorities calling for a democratic cooperation between the state and the church.

The roundtable on “Religion and the State in Ukraine: problems in relations”, coordinated by the Razumkov Centre, has been working since 1996. Its permanent members are the leaders and representatives of numerous Christian churches and religious organizations in Ukraine.

In comparison to August 2010, at a statistically significant level changed the support for the Bloc of Lytvyn (an increase from 1,8%  to 3,2%). Compared to May 2010, significantly changed the level of support for the Party of Regions (a decrease from 41.5%  to 29.0%), the Strong Ukraine (an increase from 9,1%  to 12,0%), the political party Front for Change (an increase from 4,0%  to 5,4%), and the number of those who expressed a willingness to vote against all parties and blocs increased from 4.6 % to 12,2%.

The survey was conducted by the sociological service of the Razumkov Centre from 30 September till 5 October, 2010, in all regions of Ukraine. 2007 respondents aged from 18 y.o. who represent the adult population of Ukraine were interviewed, sampled on the basis of main socio-demographic characteristics (age, gender, type of location, area of residence). The statistical error (without the design effect) does not exceed 2,3%.

On October 20, 2010, Razumkov Centre in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and supported by the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Fuel and Energy Complex, Nuclear Policy and Nuclear Safety held a roundtable discussion on “Ukraino-Russian relations in the energy sector: today and tomorrow”.

Within the framework of the expert discussion the analytical materials on the latest trends and prospects of Ukraino-Russian relations in the energy sector were presented, in particular covering oil, gas and nuclear sectors. The materials also include the expert assessments, the results of the monitoring of Ukrainian citizens attitude towards the issues of cooperation between Ukraine and Russia in energy sector, and recommendations on how to maximise the effectiveness of energy policy of Ukraine. These materials together with the speeches delivered by the participants at the roundtable discussion will be released in a special issue of the National Security and Defence journal.

In the expert discussion participated the Ukrainian MPs, representatives of the Ukrainian Government and Ministries, the Presidential Administration, the National Security and Defence Council, foreign embassies and offices, the governmental research institutions, and the mass media.

During the event the following issues were discussed:

• Energy Strategy of Ukraine and Russia: the interests, goals, means;
• The newest trends in Ukraino-Russian relations in the sphere of oil and gas and nuclear energy;
• The prospective of equal Ukraino-Russian energy cooperation in the context of European integration of Ukraine.
  

On 12 October, 2010, the Razumkov Centre together with the Ukrainian Institute of Public Policy held experts discussions on “Problems of modernisation of Ukraine’s defence policy”.

During the discussion the following issues were raised:

• Assessments of current military threats and problems of foreign policy directions in defence policy;
• General requirements for state military organisation, a framework for the Armed Forces reform and measures required for the stabilization period;
• Problems of the defence industry restructuring;
• Ways of improving the defence sector management.

The discussion was attended by representatives of the Presidential Administration, the National Security and Defence Council, the Cabinet of Ministers, Verkhovna Rada, the Defence Ministry, the National Defence University, the Internal Troops, the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Industrial Policy, the Foreign Intelligence Service, the Security Services, by the representatives of think-tanks and by independent experts.

The discussions represented the final stage of public consultations where different views on the prospects for security and defence policy had been discussed. During the discussion, both criticism and recommendations were expressed in relation to the status and prospects of defence sector.

At the discussion the summary results of previous consultations conducted by interviewing the representatives of the government and independent experts were presented. In order to raise the effectiveness of the survey the “Green Paper on Defence Policy” was prepared, which contains the analysis of the situation, and the Survey on the issues of defence policy.

The results of the expert discussion will be put together and analysed, and together with the results of the second Defence Review could represent a sufficient framework for forming transparent, adequate, and effective defence policy of Ukraine.

On October 7, 2010, Razumkov Centre with a support of the Swedish International Development and Cooperation Agency (SIDA) held roundtable discussions “Prosperity through sustainable wage formation”.

A special issue of a journal National Security and Defence (No. 7, 2010) was prepared, which contained an analytical report by the Razumkov Centre, the results of sociological studies, and the positions of experts on the issues of wage formation.

The roundtable discussed the following issues:

• Is there any future for an economic model, based on the use of cheap labour force?
• The role of and opportunities for the institute of social partnership in ensuring the competitiveness and social prosperity in Ukraine.
• Ways and means to achieve an agreement between social partners in implementing the sustainable wage formation.

The nationwide poll, conducted by the Kyiv-based Razumkov Center Aug. 10–14,  found that 22.5 percent of Ukrainians completely supported Yanukovych in August, down from 39.7 percent in May and 40.9 percent in April. According to the poll, 38.7 percent of those surveyed support some of his actions, while 33.3 percent don’t support him.

Yanukovych took office in February with less than 49 percent of the popular vote, banishing the compromised heroes of Ukraine’s 2004 democratic revolution by a paper-thin margin. His approval rating jumped soon afterward, amid promises that he would set the country on a more prosperous track. But with local elections scheduled for Oct. 31, the latest poll figures make for grim reading for the president and his Regions party.

Popular support of the party, a core element of the president’s ruling parliamentary coalition, has also sunk, according to the Razumkov poll, from 41 percent in May to 27 percent this month.

In May, almost 50 percent of Ukrainians also believed that Yanukovych was guided by national interests, with only 30 percent believing that he gave priority to personal or party interests. Now the figures have been reversed, with some 48 percent of Ukrainians suspecting Yanukovych of putting himself and Regions above the nation.

Experts at Razumkov said the 14.5 percent plunge for Yanukovych picked up in their poll was partially due to the president’s decision to prolong the stay of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet at a Crimean port, as well as his implementation of unpopular economic reforms.

Experts said cash-strapped citizens are most upset that Yanukovych, who pledged not to raise utility prices while campaigning for president last year, agreed to raise natural gas prices for households by 50 percent effective Aug. 1.

16 June 2010 a group of think-tank including The Institute for Economic Research and Policy Consulting, Center for Political and Legal Reforms, Razumkov Center, and leading experts from other research institutions presented the results of monitoring of the first 100 days of the new government.

Monitoring was carried out to define the priorities of the new government, evaluate tools and mechanisms to achieve its goals, as well as risks in making certain decisions.  According to the results of monitoring an analytical report containing analysis of actions by the President, Parliament, Government and other governmental institutions in various fields was created (in Ukrainian, with a summary final part in English).

According to Radio Liberty, the authors concluded that during the first 100 days the government\'s actions are directed not as much at implementation of declared systemic reforms, but mainly at strengthening its power position.

In the economic sphere the government showed growth of budget expenditures and external borrowing, and tax ordering accompanied by deterioration of economic conditions for entrepreneurs. Yanukovych\'s government received a substantial discount on gas from Russia, however it should not have been achieved in exchange for prolongation of stay of the Russian Fleet in Crimea and promises of Ukraine’s neutrality status. 

A the same time, the  government officials say that such a monitoring of the first 100 days of the new government appears to be unbalanced. The Deputy minister for the Regional Development Fedir Panasiuk said: "A monitoring does not state anything positive about the government’s work. Of course, the criticism has to exist, however if the study claims to present an objective view, these materials had to be worked through together with governmental institutions first and only then be published”.

On 8 June 2010 Razumkov Centre together with the International Affairs and Foreign Policy Institute (INCIPE) within the framework of Spanish-Ukrainian strategic dialogue held an international conference “Ukraine in the European security system: problems and prospects.” The event was sponsored by the International Renaissance Foundation.

The Ukrainian side was represented by the MPs, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministries and Departments (i. e. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence), the National Security and Defence Council, Foreign Embassies, state and non-state research organizations and mass media. 

Spanish delegation consisted of the representatives from the International Affairs and Foreign Policy Institute (INCIPE), Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB), Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senate and think-tanks. 

The roundtable examined the following issues:

• New approaches to strengthening the stability and security in Europe
• Russia-Ukraine-NATO/EU “triangle” relations
• Prospects for EU-Ukraine cooperation.

Razumkov Centre in cooperation with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation held an expert discussion on "Party system of Ukraine and its future: the stabilization, preservation, (r)evolution?"

The discussion was attended by Ukrainian MPs, representatives from the President’s administration, the National Security and Defence Council, ministries, diplomatic missions and international projects, as well as leading political analysts.

Following questions were raised:

• Can the results of a 20-year evolution of party system in Ukraine be described in terms of "progress, regression, stagnation”? What are the main factors fostering this evolution?
• What are the real and imaginary problems of the current state of political parties and party system in Ukraine? 
• What is the future of Ukrainian political system? It’s potential and desirable alternatives as well as the methods for their implementation.

During the discussion, the results of the project "The party system in Ukraine: the results of a 20-year formation, the problems and prospects for its evolution" carried out by the Razumkov Centre for Parliamentary Development Program and International Renaissance Foundation, were presented.

On 26 May, 2010, Razumkov Centre held an International roundtable discussion within the framework of the NATO-Ukraine Partnership Network: “Priorities for Defence and Security Sector Reform in Ukraine.”

The roundtable was attended by the First Deputy Defence Minister of Ukraine Hryhoriy Pedchenko, the Deputy Head of the Security Service – Volodymyr Porodko, NATO Assistant Secretary General for Defence Policy and Planning Jiri Shedivy, the Head of NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine Marcin Koziel, as well as by the representatives of NATO member states, Ukraine’s ministries and departments, think tanks and independent experts.

The participants exchanged views on the situation in the Security and Defence sectors, evaluated major achievements, problems and challenges in the sphere of military reform, discussed further priorities for security and defence sector reforms, the prospects for NATO-Ukraine military cooperation and the possibility of bringing aid to Ukraine by the Alliance.

Participants noted that despite recent foreign policy changes, military cooperation with NATO remains high on the agenda. Moreover NATO standards are conducive of the combat readiness of the army and social protection of its servicemen, which are essential to achieve for the success of military reform.

The round table presented the following information and analytical materials: 

• Proposals for NATO’s new strategic concept: The Alliance we would like to cooperate with (pdf, 1Mb);
• Energising Military Reform in Ukraine: Propositions for the Supreme Commander-in-Chief (pdf, 100 kb);
• SIPRI 2009: armaments, disarmament and international security (Ukrainian edition, pdf, 2,6 Mb).

The event was co-organised by the Razumkov Centre, the NATO Liaison Office in Ukraine, and NATO Information and Documentation Centre in Kyiv, back-to-back with the 2010 Senior Level Meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Joint Working Group on Defence Reform.

The results of two-day conference’s work were professional recommendations to the current politicians of the OSCE countries on security issues in Central and Eastern Europe.

The forum was initiated by leading Ukrainian government, academic and public figures on December 4, 2009, at the 15th anniversary of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances in connection with Ukraine\'s accession to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

The forum was organized by the Council for Foreign and Security Policy in partnership with the Razumkov Centre, International Center for Policy Studies and Western analytical group.

Given the importance of this judgment from the point of view of adherence to the Constitution, in particular, Articles 5, 8, 19, and ensuring observance in Ukraine of the principle of the rule of law, of human rights and civil liberties, the Razumkov Centre feels it necessary to state the following.

Public concern is aroused by the circumstances of this judgment, certain aspects of its content, as well as by the possible social and political consequences.

Secondly, the procedure for the formation of a coalition of deputy factions set out in the Law “On the Verkhovna Rada Regulations” in accordance with which the coalition “Stability and Reforms” was created in the 6th term of the Verkhovna Rada was seen by its own initiators as dubious. This is indicated by the fact of a submission to the Constitutional Court. The President of Ukraine was aware of this circumstance when he signed the law.

Thirdly, it is known that the creation of the parliamentary coalition “Stability and Reforms” and the formation of a new Cabinet of Ministers were publicly justified by high-ranking public officials, members of the Party of the Regions and other political forms which made up the coalition as being necessary to stabilize the situation in the country. This can be deemed indirect political pressure on the Constitutional Court.

Considerable concern is, fourthly, elicited by the infringement when considering the submission of consulting chamber confidentiality. The content of the judgment became known to top level government officials, members of political forces and some media outlets before it had been officially announced.

With regard to content-related aspects of the judgment, the Constitutional Court effectively equated deputy factions of political parties (blocs) in the Verkhovna Rada and individual National Deputies, both can be players in the formation of a coalition. This approach is clearly in contravention of the logic of the formation of the Verkhovna Rada by political parties (blocs) according to a proportional electoral system. It is worth noting that Ukraine’s Constitution envisages mechanisms for ensuring the connection of National Deputies who are elected according to party candidate lists with their parties (blocs). This is achieved through elements of party (imperative) mandate (although not in full degree), including those set out in Article 81 § 2.6 of the Constitution.

The consequences of the Constitutional Court judgment

The Constitutional Court has effectively legitimized the possibility of radical change in the position of National Deputies in the ratio “government – opposition”, regardless of the political forces whose lists they were voted in on. This renders meaningless the will of citizens as expressed at the elections through support of political parties (blocs) and their pre-election programmes. This devalues the principle guaranteed by Article 5 of the Constitution that power is exercised by the people via state bodies of power and the right of citizens to take part in governance of state affairs, enshrined in Article 38 of the Constitution. The judgment of the Constitutional Court could also lead to increased political corruption in Parliament.

In general the above-mentioned, first and foremost the radical change in the position of the Constitutional Court justified in a somewhat dubious manner, place in doubt the objectivity and impartiality of its judgment, the ability of the Constitutional Court in its present makeup to withstand political and other influences.

Furthermore, the judgment of the Constitutional Court fails to ensure proper public legitimacy for the parliamentary coalition and the Government which it created.  It demonstrates at the same time that there are no institutions in Ukraine capable of guaranteeing adherence to the Constitution of Ukraine by the authorities themselves, and of safeguarding citizens’ rights and freedoms.

In our view this judgment reflects the present state of crisis of the judicial system in Ukraine, in the first instance, the dependence on other branches of power, and corrupt influences. Responsibility for this is borne by all leading political forces in Ukraine, both those presently in power, and those in opposition. We feel it necessary to stress that political and legal cynicism of the government and political elite, the playing with the rules instead of by the rules can give considerable impetus to the spread of legal nihilism in society. As the latest events in some post-Soviet countries demonstrate, the consequences of such nihilism in its extreme forms can be catastrophic.