Suchergebnisse

The article evaluates policies and governance of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and validates the future of Eurasian integration. In order to avoid volatility of quantitative indicators and externalities that may lead to uncertain predictions, the means for this task include: Firstly, a qualitative analysis of EAEU constituents, namely of Customs Union (CU) and Common Economic Space (CES) policies, as well as of the functions of Union's bodies in accordance respectively with theories of economic integration and theoretical approaches on state sector's effective operation. Secondly, the strategic dimension of collaboration of EAEU member states in other Eurasian organizations and associations, such as the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Greater Eurasian Partnership (GEP), in relation with Russian grand strategy and its dynamics on global order.

The article examines development of economic situation in Belarus in the period of political instability connected with the presidential elections on August 9, 2020 and mass protests against supposed falsification of their results. Condition of the Byelorussian economy on the eve of political crisis is presented including major directions of influence of this crisis on the economy; growth of financial instability, strikes at enterprises, skilled personnel drain, sanction pressure on the part of the West. It is shown that the political crisis in the RB, despite many forecasts, has not provoked so far an economic chock in the country, but in a long-term perspective it may have serious negative consequences. Therefore achievement of high economic indices projected by the country's leadership in the near future seems highly problematic.

This article examines the situation of Ukrainian labor migrants during the Covid-19 pandemic, and shows how the pandemic and the resulting restrictions have affected the situation of Ukrainian citizens working in Poland. Thanks to the first anti-crisis measures undertaken by the Polish authorities at the very beginning of the pandemic, most of Ukrainians working in Poland were able to remain in the country, but their conditions of employment noticeably deteriorated. As the Polish economy "unfreezed", the demand for migrant labor has been growing significantly, and faced with a shortage of workers a significant mber of employers has been ready to raise the wages of Ukrainians, for whom Poland is still the first country of destination.

The municipal elections in Georgia were held against the background of the return of ex-President Mikhail Saakashvili to the country and his subsequent arrest. 4 criminal cases have been opened against Saakashvili, in two of which he was sentenced to 3 and 6 years in prison. Saakashvili's hopes to inspire the opposition electorate with his presence failed to become justified. The ruling Georgian Dream party won both the first and second rounds of voting, in which mayors of 20 major cities were elected. Nevertheless, Saakashvili's return has put the Georgian leadership in a difficult position both from the point of view of domestic and foreign policy.

The article sums up results of development of the main sectors of the Ukrainian economy in 2020. Recent and long-term structural changes are being analyzed. The conclusion is made that the COVID-19 blow was not fatal for the Ukrainian economy, but the trends of deindustrialization and dependence on western credits are on the increase.

The article explores the role of private grant foundations and non-governmental organizations in providing support to the US foreign policy in the states of South Caucasus in 2000–2020. Main directions of their work with civil society in the countries of the region are analyzed. A brief overview of the evolution of approaches to building engagement with local NGOs is given. Particular attention is paid to the analysis of changing financial levels of project activities depending on American foreign policy priorities.

The article studies main agreements regulating trade and economic relations between the Republic of Korea and the countries of Central Asia, taking into account the dynamics of bilateral relations between them. The author also looks into the prospects and effectiveness of the development of multilateral cooperation between the Republic of Korea and the EAEU. Moreover, the author highlights the problems that slow down the development of commercial ties between South Korean and Central Asian business companies. Their resolution depends on economic and political initiatives at the national level in the Central Asian republics.

This article analyses prospects of introduction of Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC) in eleven post-Soviet states as well as their policy towards crypto-currencies. Azerbaijan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova have not taken a final decision yet about the CBDC while the crypto-currency industry is not regulated by law and is not much developed in these countries. Belarus, Georgia and Uzbekistan attempt to get profits by stimulating crypto-currency industry and making their jurisdictions attractive for such business. But these countries also have not decided yet about the CBDC. Kazakhstan and Tajikistan announced plans to introduce national CBDCs. Ukraine attempts to go in both directions – to stimulate crypto-currency industry and to introduce national CBDC.

According to the results of the early parliamentary elections – 2021 in Moldova, the pro-presidential right-wing Action and Solidarity Party (PAS) won. For the first time in the history of the republic, the right-wing party won an absolute majority in the parliament. As a result, the consolidated power of the right-wing pro-European forces has been established in the country, which may mean a change in its geopolitical course.

The article examines the situation with the export of services from Kazakhstan. The dynamics of the volume and relative parameters of export of services, its structure by main types and geographical areas are analyzed. Long-term tendencies of foreign trade in services are revealed, the role of export of services in the total volume of exports of Kazakhstan is compared with other countries and their groups. The features of the export of the two largest types of Kazakhstani export of services – transport and travel are considered in detail. The directions of stimulating export of certain types of services that can make a significant contribution to increasing exports and ensure the advanced development of non-resource foreign trade are substantiated.

The coming to power of the Biden administration in the United States leads to an increase in the Russian-American confrontation. Washington has made a bet on deterring Moscow by all possible means, with an emphasis on the military factor. In the implementation of this political line, an important place is given to Ukraine, which is becoming the main springboard for countering the Russian Federation. Kiev, for its part, expects to achieve a number of strategic goals, counting on Washington's help in exchange for pursuing an aggressive anti-Russian policy.

The Ukrainian government refuses to implement the Minsk agreements in order to resolve the conflict in Donbass. After unsuccessful attempts to change the key points of these agreements in its favor Kiev has made a bet on a military solution of the conflict. However a real threat of Russian intervention has forced Ukraine to temporary abandon its aggressive plans. Along with preparation of a military offensive in the east, Bankovaya has launched a massive attack on the "western front", trying, on the pretext of "Russian aggression", to make its Western partners adopt a number of decisions in its interests.

The Parliament of Georgia operates in a one-party mode. Opposition parties boycott its work demanding annulment of the results of the parliamentary elections due to mass fraud. The ruling "Georgian Dream" is trying to return the opposition to the parliament, offering to discuss and adopt a new election law. On the other hand, the Georgian government threatens to deprive the parties that refuse to work in the parliament of financial support. In the post-election period the top leadership of several major political parties has changed. The founder of the "Georgian Dream" B. Ivanishvili has left politics. N.Melia became the new leader of the United National Movement. After his arrest the internal political situation in Georgia has deteriorated.

A number of factors hinder regional cooperation in Central Asia. They include multidirectional foreign policy priorities of the countries of the region and unresolved acute regional problems (territorial borders, water and energy, environmental, transport and communication, agricultural and food). The ruling elites of the countries of the region may fail to resist the temptation to channel population's dissatisfaction with the difficult socio-economic situation into the mainstream of interethnic and interstate conflicts. Therefore, there can be no question of Central Asian integration.

Following the results of the regular elections to the Mazhilis in January 2021, the ruling Nur Otan party retained its leadership in the lower house of parliament. However, the other two parties, which broke the 7% barrier, strengthened their positions, gaining several new seats. A feature of the 2021 elections was that they were held taking into account a certain liberalization of the country's electoral system. In particular, the constitutional rights of the Mazhilis which received the right to approve the new government were expanded, the institution of parliamentary opposition was legislated, and a 30% quota for women and youth was introduced. In addition, the ruling party introduced the practice of primaries for the first time.