Parliamentary Elections, 1 March 2015

Press Conference

Following an invitation from the authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan and based on the findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 1 March 2015 parliamentary elections.

Long-term observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Miklós Haraszti (Hungary), consists of 14 international experts based in Dushanbe. In addition, 16 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 24 January 2015.

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

Short-term observers

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested participating States to second one hundred fifty (150) short-term observers (STOs) to observe voting, counting and the tabulation of results. Please consult information sheet request for short-term observers for more information and register on the Short-Term Observers Database: http://stodb.odihr.pl

Election Day

The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, ODIHR, together with its parliamentary partners, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Co-operation with Other Partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) is planning to deploy observer delegation for these elections.

Previous elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has observed five elections in Tajikistan. The Election Observation Mission for the most recent parliamentary elections in 2010 concluded that “the elections failed to meet many key OSCE commitments contained in the OSCE 1990 Copenhagen Document and other international standards for democratic elections. Neither was domestic legislation fully respected. Notable shortcomings occurred regarding respect of legal provisions on complaints and the law was inconsistently applied with regard to campaign regulations. Serious irregularities took place on election day, including a high incidence of observed proxy voting”.

Mission at a glance

• Head of Mission: Miklós Haraszti  (Hungary)
• Core team of 14 staff from 13 participating States
• 16 long-term observers deployed throughout the country

Mission schedule

20 January: Opening press conference
22 January: Arrival of long-term observers
23 January: Briefing of long-term observers
24 January: Deployment of long-term observers
26 February: Arrival of short-term observers
26-27 February: Briefing of short-term observers
27 February: Deployment of short-term observers
28 February: Familiarization with area of observation
1 March: Election day
2 March: Press conference on preliminary findings and conclusions
5 March: Departure of short-term observers
8 March: Departure of long-term observers
14 March: Departure of the core team