Aggressive tactics by authoritarian regimes and an upsurge in terrorist attacks contributed to a “disturbing decline in global freedom in 2014,” reads the Freedom House report on condition of political rights and freedoms for 2014, Ukrinform reports.
“Acceptance of democracy as the world’s dominant form of government-and of an international system built on democratic ideals-is under greater threat than at any point in the last 25 years,” Arch Puddington, Vice President for Freedom House research says in the report.
The report calls “Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including the outright seizure and formal annexation of Crimea” one of the prime examples of this phenomenon.
The study indicated that the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2014 dealt a devastating blow to democracy.
Assessing Ukraine, the researchers noted that positive developments “related to ousting the corrupt President Viktor Yanukovych” were leveled by Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the armed opposition between the government forces and the Russian-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Of the 195 world countries, assessed in the report, 89 (46 percent) were rated “Free”, 55 (28 percent) “Partly Free”, and 51 (26 percent) “Not Free”. Freedom House rates Ukraine “Partly Free”.
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