On October 11, 2016 OSCE experts of the Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) headed by Alexander Shlyk, chief of the Elections Department at the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) arrived in Uzbekistan. During the visit from 11 to 14 October, meetings are envisaged in Uzbekistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Central Election Commission, the Supreme Court, the Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis, Ministry of Justice, the National Center for Human Rights, the National Broadcasting Company, the Uzbek Agency for Press and Information, as well as with officials of political parties, the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights and representatives of civil society institutions.

On October 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Central Election Commission held its first meeting with experts from the NAM. At the meeting, the CEC Chairman Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov informed the experts about the works being undertaken by the central and district election commissions toward the implementation of the Program of Major Activities within preparations for and conduct of elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In particular, amendments and addenda have been introduced to the guidelines and regulations of the Central Election Commission, and an action plan to boost the legal culture of voters has been approved. It was also noted that Uzbekistan holds elections openly and publicly. All information and papers related to the electoral season are posted on the website of the Central Election Commission, along with the operating republican press center and press centers of district electoral commissions, while meetings of the CEC are held online.

Experts of the NAM pointed out that CEC’s timely sending of invitation to ODIHR to participate in the observation of the forthcoming presidential ballot fully complies with requirements of international electoral standards.  As it was stressed during the meeting, the CEC has been consistent in perfecting the enforcement practice in order to guarantee the citizens’ electoral rights. To this end, recommendations of international observers, including the results of OSCE ODIHR observation of past elections are taken into account.

OSCE ODIHR highly appreciated the latest amendments introduced into Uzbekistan’s electoral legislation, in particular the provision whereby the number of voters’ signatures to be collected by political parties in support of presidential nominees has been reduced from 5 to 1 percent of the total number of the electorate, as well as the online training seminars conducted by the Uzbek CEC for representatives of district election commissions.

The meeting served for the two sides to exchange views on issues of mutual interest in terms of the efficient organization of OSCE ODIHR NAM experts’ activities and the consolidation of bilateral cooperation.

                                                                                                  Information service of IIMFCS