Vadim Dengin: Kyrgyz referendum is the realization of citizens’ demand for political stability

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Vadim Dengin, an observer from CSTO Parliamentary Assembly and a member of Federation Council of Federal Assembly of Russian Federation: “I started the monitoring of voting at the Kyrgyz referendum on the Law On Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic in Bishkek. Then I moved to Sokuluk district, went to Sokuluk city, visited Pervomayskoye village.

Everywhere I observed thorough preparation to voting at the referendum”, notes Vadim Dengin. “I was pleased with the format of delivering information to people about how to vote, what to vote for: the approach was very professional everywhere. The Election Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic worked flawlessly.

There were small hiccups when quite elderly people had to use these new voting machines, electronic ballot boxes: it is not very convenient for them. But these are isolated cases. That is, they were purely technical issues of the electronic ballot boxes’ software.

As for the turnout, in the morning, when I was at the opening of the polling station in Bishkek, some people went to the market first, others had some other business, and there were few voters, from 1 to 3%, but then the situation changed, people came to vote, both in the referendum and in local elections.

I was really pleased with the fact that people are politically literate and sincerely want stability for Kyrgyzstan, which drives them to vote. People are trying to influence processes in a legitimate way. It is so good to see it. That is why, from my point of view, this referendum is completely legitimate and well organized. Of course, some attempts to derail the process are possible, but both I and other Russian senators involved in the monitoring of the voting process at the referendum on the Law On the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic can say that the Election Commission of Kyrgyzstan worked professionally, effectively and, most importantly, on the basis of the electoral law of the Kyrgyz Republic.

We are very pleased with this. I would also like to say that everyone treated us with respect and assisted us in our work in every possible way. This also applies to our observers from the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly and the IPA CIS.”