OSCE supports Kyrgyzstan’s efforts to prepare and ensure safety and lawfulness during 2020 Parliamentary Elections

More than 100 representatives of the Bishkek city's law enforcement agencies took part in the OSCE-supported three-week online training course on 17 August 2020 in Bishkek. The course focused on how to prepare and ensure safety and lawfulness during the upcoming 4 October parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan. 

Kyrgyzstan’s Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CEC) and the "Civic Platform" public foundation organized the course, entitled “Elections to the National Parliament in 2020: The Role of Law Enforcement Agencies in Developing Measures and Reacting to Electoral Legislation Violations”, with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and UNDP. In the coming weeks, a series of similar online training courses will be held throughout the country.

These courses aim to enhance efforts to ensure public security, especially in time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants also gain a better understanding of the rule of law, and safe electoral processes, as well as the legislation changes recently made by the national parliament, Zhogorku Kenesh.

Nurzhan Shaildabekova, Chairperson of the CEC, said: "The CEC has developed an algorithm of actions to ensure sanitary and epidemiological safety to protect the health of citizens during the organization and conduct of the elections. The course is also focused on countering the use of administrative resources and vote buying,” added Shalbadekova.

Participants discussed the important role the Rapid Response Coordination Groups (RRCG) play in the electoral processes, the principles of lawfulness, publicity and openness, and in accordance with the international standards.

The RRCG consists of the central and territorial electoral commissions and representatives of law enforcement bodies. It is formed during preparation and conduct of elections to co-ordinate efficient response to electoral legislation violations and to inform citizens on measures taken.  

Lawfulness and security, and timely and effective response to violations are an inseparable part of democratic elections. Therefore, the knowledge representatives of law enforcement agencies obtained at these courses will contribute towards creating and maintaining public order during the 2020 parliamentary and 2021 local council elections.