Limitations on political parties raise concerns with Kyrgyzstan elections

Bishkek, 8 February 2000 - The ODIHR Election Observation Mission in Kyrgyzstan is extremely concerned that the Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan's party list has been de-registered from the 20 February parliamentary election.

The ODIHR concern is accentuated by the fact that, in previous weeks, a number of political parties and prominent candidates have been effectively prevented from competing on a fair basis in the election as a consequence of decisions denying them registration and the initiation of legal proceedings.

These decisions restrict the right of political parties to stand in the election on an equal basis and put into question their right to freely choose their candidates. As a consequence, the choice available to the electorate will be narrowed.

As an OSCE participating State, the Kyrgyz Republic has committed to "respect the right of citizens to seek political office, individually or as representatives of political parties, without discrimination" and the "right of individuals and group to establish, in full freedom their own political parties and provide them with the necessary legal guarantee to enable them to compete with each other on a basis of equal treatment before the law."

The ODIHR Election Observation Mission is concerned that these developments may undermine the election process and the confidence of voters.

For further information, please contact Mark Stevens, Head of the ODIHR Election Observation Mission in Kyrgyzstan (phone +996 502 58 59 93), or Emanuele Giaufret, Election Adviser, ODIHR/Warsaw (phone: +48 22 520 06 00, fax: + 48 22 628 69 67).