Second round of Kyrgyz elections demonstrates need for further improvement, OSCE/ODIHR observers report
(OSCE)A voter in Bishkek casts his ballot during Parliamentary Elections in Kyrgyzstan, 27 February 2005. (OSCE) Photo details
BISHKEK, 14 March 2005 - The 13 March second round of the parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic showed some technical improvements over the first round, but significant shortcomings remain, confirming the need to address the issues identified, concluded the Election Observation Mission (EOM) of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. A total of 82 short-term observers from 17 OSCE participating States observed the second round, which was held in 42 of the 75 single-mandate constituencies.
"The Mission noted that some areas of concern remained unchanged from the first round, including lack of effective voter access to diverse sources of information, bias in the media, continued de-registration of candidates on minor grounds, which are within national law but restrict genuine competition, and inaccurate and poorly maintained voter lists. On the positive side, the right to assembly was more fully respected in the period between the two rounds of elections," said Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, Head of the Observation Mission.
After the first round of voting, candidates filed a significant number of complaints and appeals to election commissions and courts, calling into question first round results. A number of subsequent decisions changed first round results. In two instances, court cases resulted in de-registration of candidates, and the Central Election Commission (CEC) postponed the second round in these constituencies. These decisions showed no apparent pattern with regard to candidates' political affiliation.
The CEC's preparations for the second round were generally efficient. However, the accuracy of the voter lists remained a problem. While the CEC announced that updated voter lists, including all changes made during the first round, would be given to all polling stations, the EOM found that voter lists often had not been properly updated. As a result, in some cases more than 10 per cent of voters were added to additional voter lists. While undertaking an in-depth investigation in response to allegations of first round violations in one constituency, the CEC decided not to follow the recommendations of its own investigative body.
On election day, EOM observers reported that most voting procedures were followed in polling stations observed. Although domestic observers provided widespread coverage, in some instances they faced restrictions on their positioning in polling stations which prevented them from observing all aspects of election day proceedings in a meaningful way. At times, candidate proxies appeared to be overly assertive and controlling. The EOM observed vote buying and groups of unidentified individuals appearing to co-ordinate voters outside of polling stations. Observers also received multiple allegations of voters being transported to more than one polling station.
In general, counting procedures appeared to be followed, but observers again noted protocols being filled out in pencil or blank signed protocols being transferred to the Territorial Election Commissions. In some instances, EOM and domestic observers were prevented from viewing all aspects of the counting process or denied copies of the protocols. No significant problems were observed with regard to operation of the Shailoo aggregation system and most result protocols were published on the Internet the morning following the election.
The second round was held against a background of public protests, some of which resulted from developments in the first round of elections, including de-registration of candidates. The conduct of the police towards protestors was notably tolerant, and protests were overall peaceful. Power supply was restored to a printing house which publishes the opposition daily MSN and other periodicals.
The OSCE/ODIHR will finalize its findings in a Final Report, including recommendations, to be published approximately six weeks after the completion of the election process.
"The Mission noted that some areas of concern remained unchanged from the first round, including lack of effective voter access to diverse sources of information, bias in the media, continued de-registration of candidates on minor grounds, which are within national law but restrict genuine competition, and inaccurate and poorly maintained voter lists. On the positive side, the right to assembly was more fully respected in the period between the two rounds of elections," said Ambassador Lubomir Kopaj, Head of the Observation Mission.
After the first round of voting, candidates filed a significant number of complaints and appeals to election commissions and courts, calling into question first round results. A number of subsequent decisions changed first round results. In two instances, court cases resulted in de-registration of candidates, and the Central Election Commission (CEC) postponed the second round in these constituencies. These decisions showed no apparent pattern with regard to candidates' political affiliation.
The CEC's preparations for the second round were generally efficient. However, the accuracy of the voter lists remained a problem. While the CEC announced that updated voter lists, including all changes made during the first round, would be given to all polling stations, the EOM found that voter lists often had not been properly updated. As a result, in some cases more than 10 per cent of voters were added to additional voter lists. While undertaking an in-depth investigation in response to allegations of first round violations in one constituency, the CEC decided not to follow the recommendations of its own investigative body.
On election day, EOM observers reported that most voting procedures were followed in polling stations observed. Although domestic observers provided widespread coverage, in some instances they faced restrictions on their positioning in polling stations which prevented them from observing all aspects of election day proceedings in a meaningful way. At times, candidate proxies appeared to be overly assertive and controlling. The EOM observed vote buying and groups of unidentified individuals appearing to co-ordinate voters outside of polling stations. Observers also received multiple allegations of voters being transported to more than one polling station.
In general, counting procedures appeared to be followed, but observers again noted protocols being filled out in pencil or blank signed protocols being transferred to the Territorial Election Commissions. In some instances, EOM and domestic observers were prevented from viewing all aspects of the counting process or denied copies of the protocols. No significant problems were observed with regard to operation of the Shailoo aggregation system and most result protocols were published on the Internet the morning following the election.
The second round was held against a background of public protests, some of which resulted from developments in the first round of elections, including de-registration of candidates. The conduct of the police towards protestors was notably tolerant, and protests were overall peaceful. Power supply was restored to a printing house which publishes the opposition daily MSN and other periodicals.
The OSCE/ODIHR will finalize its findings in a Final Report, including recommendations, to be published approximately six weeks after the completion of the election process.