Pre-term Parliamentary Elections, 16 December 2007
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Mission at a glance
- Head of Mission: Nikolai Vulchanov
- Core team of 12 staff from 11 OSCE participating States
- 20 long-term observers deployed throughout the country
- 250 short-term observers requested from OSCE participating States
Mission schedule
- 21 November: mission opens
- 22 November: arrival of long-term observers
- 12 December: arrival of short-term observers
- 16 December: election day
- 17 December: press conference
Following an invitation from Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Ministry, ODIHR deployed an election observation mission on 21 November to observe the early parliamentary elections on 16 December.
Headed by Nikolai Vulchanov of Bulgaria, the mission consisted of 14 experts and 20 long-term observers from 21 OSCE participating States. Some 270 short-term observers from 38 OSCE participating States were deployed for election day.
According to the mission's final report: "In their Statement of Preliminary Findings and Conclusions, the OSCE/ODIHR and the OSCE PA concluded that the 16 December pre-term parliamentary elections failed to meet a number of OSCE commitments, despite respecting some that underscore existing pluralism. The elections were a missed opportunity, falling short of public expectations for the further consolidation of the democratic election process in Kyrgyzstan. Further efforts and political will are necessary to underpin the progress which was evident during the 2005 presidential election."
For election-day observation, ODIHR also joined efforts with an observer delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
Long-term observation
The EOM, headed by Mr. Nikolai Vulchanov, consisted of 12 core staff based in Bishkek, drawn from 11 OSCE participating States. In addition, 20 long-term observers were deployed throughout the country on 24 November.
The EOM assessed the pre-term parliamentary elections for their compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as with national legislation. Observers closely monitored 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.
Election day
The OSCE/ODIHR requested 250 short-term observers who were deployed immediately prior to the elections.
The mission joined efforts with short-term observers from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly.
The day after the election, the EOM issued a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.
Previous elections
The OSCE/ODIHR observed elections in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2000 and 2005.