Central Election Commission: OSCE mission will observe parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has expressed its intention to send a full-fledged mission to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections in December this year, the Central Election Commission (CEC) website of Uzbekistan reported.

The Central Election Commission sent an invitation to the OSCE to assess the pre-election situation and preparations for the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis.

“The Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) positively evaluated the pre-election environment and the process of preparation for them, the measures taken in the country to ensure free and democratic elections. It expressed its intention to send a full-fledged mission to monitor the country’s parliamentary elections, after the adoption of a decision on the expediency of sending it in the near future by the OSCE Permanent Council,” the CEC said.

The OSCE noted that the basis for sending a full-fledged mission is “a new stage of ambitious reforms led by the President of Uzbekistan”.

The upcoming elections are seen by the OSCE ODIHR as an important political event on the country’s transition to democracy.

“We are ready to take into account all recommendations that will help ensure the free expression of the will of citizens in elections. This is, first of all, in our interests,” the Central Election Commission of the republic noted.

About 300 observers are expected to attend the upcoming elections. According to preliminary information, the mission will include a main group, as well as 30 long-term and 250 short-term observers.