On February 24, Russian president Vladimir Putin launched a brutal invasion of Ukraine. This war, which has already displaced millions of people and menaced the lives of millions more, presents an existential challenge not just to Ukraine’s sovereignty, but also to the liberal international order. It comes at the time when liberal democracy’s star has faded across the 29 countries covered in Nations in Transit. This edition of the report by Freedom House, assessing the events of 2021 from Central Europe to Central Asia, marks the 18th consecutive year of democratic decline for the region as a whole.

This report is a summary of findings for the 2022 edition of Nations in Transit. The complete analysis, including detailed reports on all countries, can be found on our website at www.freedomhouse.org.