OSCE/ODIHR opens observation mission for presidential election in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 5 September 2017 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today formally opened an election observation mission for the 15 October presidential election in Kyrgyzstan. The mission’s deployment follows an official invitation from the Kyrgyzstan authorities.

The mission is led by Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky and consists of a core team of 16 election experts, based in Bishkek, and 26 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 and assess the election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will closely monitor the candidate and voter registration processes, 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 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 observation, the OSCE/ODIHR mission will join efforts with delegations from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the election. 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 Programme Office in Bishkek operate separately under their respective mandates.

For further information please visit //www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kyrgyzstan or contact Elma Sehalic, Media Analyst of the EOM, on +996 77 044 2209 or at elma.sehalic@odihr.kg

Or

Thomas Rymer, ODIHR Spokesperson, on + 48 609 522 266 (mobile) or at thomas.rymer@odihr.pl