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Preliminary results of the elections in Kyrgyz Republic

In accordance with the Election Code the run-off elections were held in 39 election districts on March 13, 2005 two weeks after the first round. The elections to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic in one district were held for the first time.

The results of the first and second rounds, tough competition in almost all the districts demonstrated that the elections to the Jogorku Kenesh proved to be an important step in establishing democracy in our country. They were conducted in atmosphere of unprecedented political activity, open democratic contest, in transparent manner and on high organizational level.

Citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic, who are eligible to vote, made their choice and voted for those candidates whom they consider to be most suitable to represent their interests in the parliament of the country. There were all conditions available for free _expression of the right to elect and be elected. To this end, the provisions of the Election Code of the Kyrgyz Republic were considerably improved; in particular the representation of state bodies in election commissions was significantly reduced. The possibility 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 marking voters to prevent multiple voting. Besides, to increase a public control not just over the voting process itself but also over the vote counting, at the end of the ballot representatives of candidates have received and signed the copies of protocols on results of the voting. This enables to conduct independent parallel vote counting, as it was the case in the first round of the elections.

The voter lists have been clarified for the run-off parliamentary elections: all changes and additions made to the additional list on the eve of and at the Election Day on February 27 were added by system administrators into the voter lists. Two copies of changed voter lists were printed out for each polling station, signed by heads of local authorities and state administrations and handed over: one to the local election commission, the second one to the district election commission.

For monitoring the election process, including its preparation and organization, as well as the election day local and foreign observers including from OSCE/ODIHR (63 observers), CIS (108 observers), National Democratic Institute, embassies of China, Russia, Japan, as well as US non-governmental organizations were present at the polling stations and during the vote counting.

Local and foreign representatives of the mass media have been provided a full and free access to the election process.

At the day of election on March 13, 2005 the Central Election Commission (CES) 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 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 Commissions Information Center. This information was also available at the same time on the National TV and Internet.

At the same time some candidates, who lost during the first round of elections, as well as the group of politicians unable legally to run in the elections have undertaken a campaign on the eve of the run-off elections with the aim to disrupt them. By using meetings with voters in some districts they tried to destabilize the situation in several regions. These efforts were accompanied by violation of public order and illegal actions whose ultimate purpose was to provoke the law- enforcement bodies to use force for maintaining public order.

In this situation, wishing to keep peace and stability for citizens in this important historical moment for Kyrgyzstan the Kyrgyz Government, law-enforcement bodies have shown maximum tolerance toward provocative and destructive actions of the opposition. This was specifically reflected in the statement of the OSCE. Center in Bishkek on March 8, 2005.

It is necessary to emphasize that, adequately reacting on actions of destructive forces, the vast majority of voters have demonstrated their active civil position and high civil culture and came to the polling stations.

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

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