Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The OSCE / ODIHR Election Observation Mission in the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held on 22 December 2019, published its Final Report on the OSCE official website. This was reported by the press service of the Central Election Commission. Previously, the Interim Report (on 13 December 2019) and the Statement on the preliminary results and conclusions of the Mission (on 23 December 2019) were published.

ODIHR is the leading election observation organization in the OSCE region. Each year, the Bureau coordinates and organizes the deployment of thousands of observers to assess elections in the OSCE countries for compliance with OSCE commitments, other international standards and national legislation.

The interaction of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan with the OSCE / ODIHR has already become a tradition. The missions of this organization have been participating in the monitoring of the parliamentary and presidential elections in Uzbekistan since 1999. The OSCE / ODIHR for the first time sent a full-blown mission to the parliamentary elections. On election day, an International Mission was formed with a delegation of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which included 316 observers from 37 countries.

The Final Report concluded that the elections were held against the backdrop of improved legislation and increased tolerance for independent opinions. Parliamentary elections were held in the context of the Development Strategy for 2017–2021, initiated by the President of the country Sh. Mirziyoyev, which aims to transform the economic, social and political life of Uzbekistan. “On the eve of the election, independent opinions became more audible, and citizens felt free to post their political views on the Internet through blogs and social networks,” the report said.

The report positively assesses the work of the Central Election Commission, which "has made great efforts to better prepare for the parliamentary elections." In particular, the work on training members of election commissions, improving their skills in organizing and conducting elections, ensuring the unhindered participation of a large number of international and local observers, including from political parties and self-government bodies of citizens, representatives of the media, an intensive and visible information campaign, was positively noted. for voters.

The results of the training of members of election commissions were emphasized: “Members of the election commissions visited by the Mission well understood the new Electoral Code.”

As a positive fact, the Mission noted the implementation by Uzbekistan of a number of OSCE recommendations that bring the national legal framework closer to OSCE commitments. It is noted: “The Electoral Code was adopted following a complete review of the electoral procedures, during which the Uzbek government reviewed the previous ODIHR recommendations, conducted a constructive dialogue with the ODIHR and requested the ODIHR and the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission to express an opinion on the draft law.”

It is emphasized that the introduction of information and communication technologies in the electoral process - “The introduction of the Unified Electronic Voter List is a significant achievement and improvement of the previous approach to voter registration” —is noted in the report.

A positive assessment was also given of the increase in the share of women among candidates for deputies (up to 41%) and representatives of other nationalities (up to 8.4%). As noted in the report: “In June 2019, President Sh. Mirziyoyev criticized political parties for not having nominated more women candidates in the last election. With regard to the 2019 parliamentary elections, parties increased the proportion of female candidates from 32 percent in the 2014 parliamentary elections to 41 percent, with 48 elected (32 percent) representing a significant increase.”

The OSCE / ODIHR, expressing its willingness to help Uzbekistan further improve the electoral process, made a number of recommendations in the Final Report.

In particular, as priority recommendations, it is proposed to eliminate disproportionate legal provisions that impede the creation and functioning of political parties, review the existing legal framework to ensure “three freedoms” - freedom of assembly, association and expression, and cancel the “qualification of residence” (at least five years on the territory of Uzbekistan) for candidates, exclude criminal punishment for defamation and insult, provide non-governmental non-profit organizations with the right to observe and by elections, prohibit voter registration on election day to exclude multiple voting.

Recommendations were also made on ratifying the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and on granting incapacitated persons the right to vote, canceling the permit and introducing a notification procedure for campaigning during the pre-election period, authorizing private financing of parties and candidates, and improving the financial reporting system of parties.

The Central Election Commission expresses its sincere gratitude to the OSCE / ODIHR Mission for the assistance provided to Uzbekistan in conducting fair, fair and transparent elections in accordance with generally recognized standards and best practices, and the country’s international election commitments.

The Central Election Commission expresses its readiness to continue a constructive dialogue with the OSCE / ODIHR and to carry out consistent work to further improve the election legislation and electoral practice.