Is the country sliding away from democracy?
There is no question in my mind that democracy is under attack in Ukraine. For all of its failings and in marked contrast to Russia, the Yushchenko administration encouraged freedom of the press and the development of a vibrant civil society. The current administration is trying to roll back this progress in the name of stability and order. Early legislative action, such as the law on local elections, has focused more on strengthening political control rather than on undertaking measures to address the country’s deep economic crisis. The Ukrainian state security apparatus—the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Ministry of Interior—were granted expanded powers, restrictions on demonstrations are being imposed in the name of “public safety,” and pressure on journalists and media outlets is increasing. In a case that generated significant attention abroad, the SBU tried to intimidate the rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University into signing a secret letter ostensibly holding him
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