Considering the ongoing Ukraine crisis and rising tensions between Russia and the West, the former Soviet space is definitely a region to observe in 2015.

Elections in the former Soviet republics are especially important to watch. In some cases, like the authoritarian states of Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan, the results are foregone conclusions. However in other more open states, such as Georgia, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan, they are not. In Russia’s case, it will be interesting to see what happens in 2018, and whether or not Putin will stay on for an additional term.

Below is a schedule of upcoming elections in the former Soviet space over the course of the next four years, from 2015 to 2018.

2015

• February

  Voting in Transnistria. (TASS) In 2015, the locals in this breakaway region of Moldova will be voting in new parliamentary elections.

  • Tajikistan:parliamentary election
  • Transnistria (Md.):parliamentary election
• March
  • Uzbekistan:presidential election
• May
  • Nagorny Karabakh (Az.):parliamentary election
• October
  • Kyrgyzstan: parliamentary election
• November
  • Belarus: presidential election
  • Azerbaijan: parliamentary election

2016

• March

  Kazakhstan’s longtime President Nursultan Nazarbayev is widely expected to win a landslide re-election in 2016.  He is seen here casting his ballot in the 2011 presidential election with his wife, Sara. (Photo: AP)

  • Abkhazia (Ge.):parliamentary election
• September
  • Belarus:parliamentary election
• October
  • Georgia:parliamentary election
• December
  • Kazakhstan:presidential election
  • Transnistria (Md.): presidential election
  • Russia: parliamentary election

2017

• January

  Voting in Nagorny Karabakh. (Photolur) In 2017, locals in this disputed, majority-Armenian Caucasus region will be voting for a new president. It is uncertain who will succeed incumbent president, Bako Sahakyan.

  • Kazakhstan:parliamentary election
• February
  • Turkmenistan:presidential election
• March
  • South Ossetia (Ge.): presidential election
• May
  • Armenia:parliamentary election
• July
  • Nagorny Karabakh (Az.): presidential election
• October
  • Kyrgyzstan: presidential election

2018

• February

  Voting in Vladivostok. (Reuters) 2018 will be a big year for elections in Russia. Nationwide, voters are expected to choose a new president. It is unclear whether or not incumbent President Putin will find a successor or will stay on for another term. In 2018, Muscovites will also go to the polls to vote in the Moscow mayoral election.

  • Armenia:presidential election
• March
  • Russia:presidential election
• September
  • Moscow: mayoral election
• October
  • Azerbaijan:presidential election
  • Georgia:presidential election
• November
  • Moldova: parliamentary election
• December
  • Turkmenistan: parliamentary election