OSCE/ODIHR recommends comprehensive review of the electoral legal framework in Tajikistan
The review of limitations on fundamental rights, such as freedoms of association and expression, as well as the rights of individuals to vote and run as candidates are among the main recommendations in the final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 1 March 2015 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan.
The report, published on 15 May 2015, indicates that recent amendments to the electoral law addressed some long-standing ODIHR recommendations but, overall, did not significantly improve the process. It underscores a need to comprehensively review electoral legislation.
While the report notes that elections were conducted according to legal deadlines and the sessions of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda were generally open to observers and media, it recommends the election administration be made fully independent from the government and sufficiently pluralistic and inclusive to encourage broad confidence. It further recommends that all essential election-related data should be made publicly available in a timely manner.
The report also recommends measures to enhance the integrity of the voting process and calls for urgent measures to address serious deficiencies observed during the polling and counting processes, in particular pertaining to the secrecy and equality of the vote, integrity of ballot boxes, and protection against undue influence on electoral choices.
In noting concerns that some candidates used the advantage of their office for electoral purposes, the report calls on the authorities to develop and implement mechanisms to ensure a clear separation between State and party.
Additional recommendations relate to amending the legal framework to allow for citizen election observers, provide full access for observers to all stages of the elections, and entitle observers to receive certified copies of results protocols.
For election day observation, ODIHR joined efforts with the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the European Parliament.