Upcoming parliamentary elections to be observed by the OSCE ODIHR full mission
01/09/2019 17:28
Upcoming parliamentary elections to be observed by the OSCE ODIHR full mission
01/09/2019 17:28
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The most important factor in the open and transparent or conduct of democratic elections is the participation of observers from other states and international organizations. Therefore, international election observation has been widely recognized throughout the world and has become one of the important tasks of supporting democratic processes and universally recognized human rights and ensuring their observance.
Taking into account the readiness of our country to hold an important political event openly in accordance with generally recognized international electoral standards, the Central Election Commission, following international commitments, sent an invitation to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE ODIHR) to assess the pre-election situation and the preparations for the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, which will be held in December this year.
The Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) positively assessed the pre-election environment and the process of preparing for them, the measures taken in the country to ensure free and democratic elections. The mission expressed its intention to send a full-fledged mission to monitor the country's parliamentary elections, after the adoption by the OSCE Permanent Council in the near future of a decision on the advisability of sending her.
In particular, the report of the OSCEODIHR NAM notes that the basis for the full-scale mission is a new stage of ambitious reforms under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev in the field of economy and public administration, including liberalization of currency regulation, simplification of visa regime, and rapprochement with neighbors , release of a number of political prisoners and law enforcement reform.
The upcoming elections are seen by the OSCE ODIHR as an important political event on the country's transition to democracy.
The report emphasizes separately that elections will be held with significantly updated election legislation.
Uzbekistan’s implementation of a number of OSCE recommendations is considered positively: the exclusion of restrictions on the participation in elections of certain categories of persons held in prisons; the abolition of the institution of quotas for seats in the Legislative Chamber, which contradicted the principles of direct elections, and others.
The adoption of the Electoral Code and its expertise by the OSCE ODIHR and the Venice Commission are fully supported.
As important positive points are indicated:
- CEC public awareness plans about the upcoming elections;
- Organization of cascading trainings throughout the country aimed at quality training of members of district and precinct election commissions in all aspects of the conduct of elections;
- systematic work to prevent "family voting";
- introduction into practice of a single electronic voter list;
- creating the necessary conditions for voting by persons with disabilities.
At the same time, the NAM report provides some criticisms. A working group has already been formed, which will carefully study them and work out proposals for the elimination of comments. At the same time, according to a number of provisions, Uzbekistan has its own principled position, based on many years of practice in holding elections.
In this regard, during the upcoming visit of the OSCE ODIHR mission, we will constructively discuss and clarify our vision on these provisions. In any case, we are ready to take into account all the recommendations that will help ensure the free expression of the will of citizens in elections. This is, first of all, in our interests.
Since then, Uzbekistan has already implemented a number of recommendations of the OSCE ODIHR election observation mission, and confirmation of this is the adoption of a single election code, the introduction of information and communication technologies in the electoral process, the improvement of personnel training and a number of other positive aspects.
In contrast to the previous parliamentary elections, in which the OSCE ODIHR limited observer mission of about 30 observers participated, about 300 people are expected to attend the upcoming elections. According to preliminary information, the mission will include a main group, as well as 30 long-term and 250 short-term observers. The functions of long-term observers will include monitoring various stages of the electoral process, including regions, and short-term observers in their designated area on election day.
Such a full-scale observation in the upcoming elections is a guarantee of the free will of our people and will allow us to give an objective assessment of the democratic electoral process.
Ensuring the wide and active participation of observers in the upcoming parliamentary elections of the country serves to further increase the authority of the Republic of Uzbekistan as a democratic state.
Chairman of the Central Election Commission
Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov
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