OSCE/ODIHR deploys mission to observe parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK, 7 September 2010 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened its election observation mission for the 10 October parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan.

"The upcoming parliamentary elections will be an important test of Kyrgyzstan's commitment to hold democratic elections in line with its obligations as a participating State of the OSCE," said Corien Jonker, the head of the election observation mission.

"We welcome the opportunity to observe these elections and hope to see progress in implementing the recommendations previously made by ODIHR. We also hope that the pre-election period and election day will be calm and peaceful."

The mission was deployed following an invitation from the Foreign Ministry. It comprises 17 experts based in Bishkek and 22 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country on 10 September. The experts and long-term observers are drawn from 23 OSCE participating States.

In addition, ODIHR will request 300 short-term observers from OSCE participating States to be deployed immediately prior to election day. They will observe the opening of polling stations, the voting, counting of ballots and tabulation of results.

The mission will assess the parliamentary elections for their compliance with OSCE commitments and other international standards for democratic elections as well as domestic 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 coverage of the election campaign and the media environment, as well as the resolution of election-related disputes.

For these elections, the OSCE/ODIHR election observation mission will join efforts with the delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.

A statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be issued on the day after the elections. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

The ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Centre in Bishkek operate separately under their specific mandates.