OSCE election body deploys long-term observation mission to Kyrgyzstan

WARSAW/BISHKEK, 21 November 2007 - The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has opened an election observation mission for the 16 December pre-term parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.

The deployment of the mission follows an invitation from the Kyrgyz authorities to observe the elections. A needs assessment mission was conducted on 5 and 6 November.

The mission, headed by Nikolai Vulchanov, consists of 11 core staff based in Bishkek, drawn from 11 OSCE participating States. In addition, 20 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country on 24 November.

The ODIHR has requested that a further 250 short-term observers be provided by OSCE participating States to monitor election day activities, including the opening of polling stations, voting, the vote count, and the tabulation of results.

The mission will assess the parliamentary elections for their compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including the Commitments agreed to by all 56 OSCE participating States, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant State bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

The mission would intend to join efforts with short-term observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) and other parliamentary partners.

The OSCE/ODIHR observation mission and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek operate independently, under separate mandates.