Borynska O. The Role of Elections in the Process of Political Transformation of post-Soviet Countries.

This thesis investigates the role of elections in the process of political transformation of post-Soviet countries. The problem is studied on the basis of the maxim that the election mechanisms have influenced the character of renovation of state constructive processes, determination of political regime, adoption of legal norms which represent the regime, formation and submission of authority systems in former USSR republics, ensured different modification tendencies in Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine. Such constituents contributed to formation of state internal policies and defined their international activity. In the paper the author notes that on the stage of the transition period of the countries under investigation the classical democratic reforms have given way to their hybrid, authoritarian and totalitarian variations. On the basis of systematization of factual materials the author defines tendencies of democratization of election processes in the post-Soviet countries and shows methods of approaching to consolidated democracy through making amendments to the legislation, the norms of which define and regulate election procedures, as well as of ensuring prerogative of legal mechanisms over political expediency, enabling opposition to take part in elections, widening of activity of nongovernmental organizations. Using different sources and documents the author revises a number of statements and assessments in political science and newly interprets political events.