CSTO PA international observers at the elections to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic have signed their Conclusion

International observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization have signed their Conclusion on the results of the monitoring of the election of deputies to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 4, 2020.
“The group of international observers from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly based its work on the principles of political neutrality, objectivity, non-interference in the electoral process and compliance with the electoral legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic,” says the Conclusion.
International observers relied on the Convention on Standards of Democratic Election, Voting Rights and Freedoms in the Member States of the Commonwealth of Independent States (October 7, 2002, Chisinau), other universal and regional international standards concerning the observance of electoral rights and international monitoring of elections and referenda.
Members of the group of international observers from the CSTO PA note that the preparation and conduct of the election of deputies to the parliament of the Kyrgyz Republic was organized in full compliance with the requirements of the electoral legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic. In total, 2,475 electoral commissions were organized for the election of deputies to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic.
Moreover, in order to ensure the electoral rights of Kyrgyz citizens who were abroad on the day of voting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic had established 54 polling stations.
Almost all polling stations were equipped with video surveillance systems and were accessible to physically challenged citizens.
Notably, the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic provided training to members of territorial and precinct electoral commissions and published methodological manuals for territorial and precinct electoral commissions, as well as for public observers.
The official website of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic had published documents regulating and explaining the procedures related to the election of deputies to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, information about the meetings of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic and the decisions taken at these meetings, as well as a large amount of information, reference and explanatory materials.
On October 4, international observers visited 30 polling stations in Bishkek.
International observers from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly were present at various stages of voting: from the opening of polling stations to vote counting by precinct electoral commissions.
Polling stations were opened in due time and had all necessary documents, equipment and information materials. At the polling stations, international observers from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly did not register any complaints about the quality of preparation of voter lists, the procedure for issuing ballots or the voting process.
Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic and electoral commissions had created all necessary conditions for effective work of international observers.
Notably, during the preparation and conduct of the election, the public order was very well maintained, which enabled the voters to express their will freely.
While noting the high professional level of preparation of the election, international observers found several technical deficiencies in the voting process at certain polling stations that do not affect the outcome of the voting, namely: at the polling station No. 1030, due to overheating the automatic ballot counting and identification system malfunctioned; at the polling station No. 1031, some observers from the parties had no identification cards; at the polling station No. 1215, in several cases voters were not in the voting lists, but the issue was resolved on the spot by the precinct commission’s chairperson.
Conclusions:
1. The national electoral legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic is the basis for conducting democratic elections to the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic.
2. Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic and the precinct electoral commissions of the Kyrgyz Republic have done significant work to prepare and conduct the election, which includes ensuring election campaigning on equal terms in accordance with the current legislation. Participation in the election campaign of candidates from 16 political parties, movements and public organizations emphasizes its competitive, democratic and open nature.
3. Mass media provided citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic with necessary information about candidates and provisions of their election programmes concerning the key issues of state building, economic and social aspects, foreign policy and national security.
4. To exercise their rights, candidates for deputies and observers from political parties, movements and public organizations were provided with all necessary conditions stipulated by the electoral legislation.
5. The free expression of the will of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic during the voting
was ensured.
6. The election was characterized by broad and representative participation of international and public observers (277 people from 43 countries, representing 35 international organizations). During the organization and conduct of the election, the observers’ high status was ensured and they were provided with the necessary assistance for effective work.
7. Preparation and conduct of the election were carried out in accordance with the procedure stipulated by the electoral legislation of the Kyrgyz Republic and the norms of international electoral law.