OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 25 August 2015 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 4 October parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Kyrgyz authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Boris Frlec and consists of a core team of 15 experts based in Bishkek and 22 long-term observers to be deployed in teams of two across the country. In addition, ODIHR will request 350 short-term observers to monitor proceedings on election day.

The mission will observe the elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments, other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor the candidate and voter registration process, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, and the resolution of election-related disputes. As part of the observation, the mission will also monitor the media coverage of the campaign.

In the course of its observation, the mission will meet with representatives from state authorities and political parties, as well as with individual candidates, and with representatives from civil society, the media and the international community.

On election day, observers will monitor the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results. For election day, the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will join efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the elections. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be published approximately two months after the completion of the electoral process.

The OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the OSCE Center in Bishkek operate separately under their respective mandates.

For further information please visit //www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kyrgyzstan or contact Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst of the EOM, on +996 775 975 607 or at [email protected]

or

Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, on + 48 609 522 266 (mobile) or at [email protected] (email).