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Kyrgyzstan Parliamentary Elections : Update

The elections to the Jogorku Kenesh were held yesterday, February 27, 2005.

Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, who are entitled to vote, made their choice and voted for those candidates whom they believed deserve to represent their interests in the parliament of the country. All necessary conditions are established for free expression of the right to elect and be elected. To this end, improved, in particular the representation of state bodies in election commissions was significantly reduced. The possibilities of citizens and political parties to become members of election commissions was increased. The use of transparent ballot boxes was introduced, as well as the ink for making voters to prevent multiple voting. Besides, to increase a public control not just over the voting process itself but also over the counting, at the end of the voting representatives of candidates have received and signed the copies of protocols on results of the voting.

Three hundred eighty candidates, who represent 14 political parties and public-political movements, were registered for these elections. This promoted for strong competitiveness in the struggle for election as a member of the Parliament.

Given the fact that not in all election districts candidates managed to get enough votes to win a seat in the Parliament in the first round, in accordance with the Election Code of the Kyrgyz Republic the run-off elections will be held in two weeks, namely on March 13, 2005.

Several candidates were disqualified from the election process by the local courts in connection with their violations of the election campaign rules. This led to disappointment of their supporters and in some cases to blockage of roads and demonstrations. However, all these actions have not changed the overall course of the election process. The official authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic have undertaken all necessary measures to make sure that all these issues are solved exclusively on the legal basis in particular by making appeals to higher courts.

For monitoring the election process, including its preparation and organization, more than 5500 local and foreign observers were present at the Election Day at the polling stations and during the vote counting. Among them are 194 observers from the OSCE/ODIHR mission, 136 from the mission of CIS and CIS Inter-parliamentary Assembly, 5 from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, 18 from Japan, 9 from Poland, as well as representatives of the Embassies accredited in Bishkek.

More than 50 local and foreign journalists have been provided a full and free access to the election process.
On the day of election on February 27, 2005 the Central Election Commission (CEC) was providing on-line information to the public about voting to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic. To this end, the central Election Commission used the unified state computer system «Shailoo» that connects it with the district election commissions. As the results and protocols of voting were becoming available the latest information was reflected on the board of the Central Election Commission’s Information Center. This information was also available at the same time on the National TV and Internet.

In general, the elections to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic were held in accordance with the existing legislation and international obligations in transparent, democratic and free manner.

E-mail : newseditor@sarkaritel.com