Arstotzka lifts ban on political activities.

[President Costava]

ARSTOTZKA - The President of the Republic of Arstotzka, Jorji Costava, announced this morning that he was lifting the temporary ban on political activities and the state of emergency declared on all the national territory, hoping to reduce the influence of extremist autonomists militancy in the areas.

 

All the country's districts have been fully incorporated into the country’s legal and political system. Rights groups have long denounced the rules as draconian and Arstotzka’s political parties have urged the government to do away with them, calling them a dark legacy of of the totalitarian past of Arstotzka.

 

“Today, I am announcing the permission of political activities in Arstotzka to bring them into the main political stream,” President Costava said in a live radio broadcast, referring to the temporary ban issued a week ago. President Costava chose a symbolic moment to make the announcement: the eve of the national holiday marking the first week of independence of the Arstotzkan Republic.

 

But analysts here said the announcement also seemed timed to coincide with the new diplomatic relations with Paraguay and undergoing discussions with Slavorussia to fully recognize the Arstotzkan Republic as an independent nation in eastern Crimea. "Lifting the state of emergency and the ban on political activities we will raise ourself to the ranks of the democratic and free nations of the world, and ensure the most serene and friendly relations with our future economic partners. I guarantee Arstotzka will become a shining diamond of equality and democracy on the Black Sea".

 

The ban on political activities and parties had created a vacuum that was increasingly exploited by militants and extremists, allowing them to tighten their hold on the region as they mounted a suicide attack in the center of Grestin City, the country's political and economic capital.

 

“Now, political parties can organize themselves in Arstotzka and political process can start, in respect of the Law Code of Arstotzka” said President Costava “It was a longstanding demand.” Under the reforms, arbitrary arrest of men and women would be curtailed; a special judicial commission similar to a high court would be set up; and the finances of the administrative districts would be audited.

 

Still, the announcement was not welcomed uniformly. Some of the district governors sharply distanced themselves from it. “We were not consulted,” the Governor of the District of Fardesto. “Whatever good or bad comes out of this decision, we do not own it,” he said.

 

Rights groups and analysts expressed concern over the lack of accord between the Central Government and the local authorities. “The lack of agreement between the parts would mean that the changes would become controversial and the whole process would not remain smooth,” said the director of Human Rights Commission of Arstotzka, a private group.

 

“So far, as permission for political activities is concerned, it is a very healthy development,” he said. “It is an advance and would enable the people to gradually come out of the stagnant separatist relations.” But he warned that there were still some vested interest groups in the autonomous regions “that do not want complete democratization of the areas.” “It is a good move,” he added, “but I wish it had been done since the beginning.”

Edited August 19, 2013 by President Costava