OSCE/ODIHR report recommends addressing fundamental rights to increase competitiveness of elections in Uzbekistan

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 some of the main recommendations contained in a final report by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) on the 21 December 2014 parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan.

The report, published on 24 February 2015, also recommends measures to increase transparency and public confidence and calls for a concerted effort by election officials, political parties and civil society to address practices of multiple, proxy and group voting, which contravene the principles of equal suffrage and secrecy of the vote.

The report notes that recent amendments to the electoral legal framework took into account some previous ODIHR recommendations and introduced more detailed regulations on campaign activities and voting procedures. It underscores, however, that a number of key recommendations, in particular those pertaining to freedoms of expression and association have not been implemented. The report recommends the revision of legislation to remove disproportionate or discriminatory restrictions on political parties and non-governmental organizations.

In noting concerns regarding the freedom of expression, the report calls for the repeal of existing provisions prohibiting the dissemination of false information, the decriminalization of defamation, and removing ambiguities in the ban on disseminating election-related information.

While the report notes that technical preparations for the elections were managed competently and the election administration met all legal deadlines, it recommends a clear distinction be made between the roles of election commission members and other officials, so that the electoral process is administered only by authorized individuals. It further recommends that all essential election-related data should be made publicly available, including online, in a timely manner.

The report also recommends amending the electoral legal framework to allow for observation by non-partisan civil society organizations. Moreover, the legal framework should be made clearer as to who can initiate election-related administrative cases on possible violations.

The ODIHR long-term election observation mission issued a preliminary statement of findings and conclusions on 22 December 2014. The mission stated that the elections were competently administered but lacked genuine electoral competition and debate. The statement also highlighted the shortcomings addressed by the recommendations in the final report by ODIHR.