CIS mission: Election campaign in Uzbekistan held at high level

Election campaign in Uzbekistan is taking place in a calm atmosphere, in the spirit of open competition and at a high organizational level in accordance with international standards, said an interim report of the CIS monitoring mission, published Nov. 29.

The report covers a period from November 17, when the mission began its monitoring, to November 28.

The mission performs its functions freely and independently, guided by the legislation of Uzbekistan, without interfering in the electoral process and the internal affairs of the state, said the report.

The mission noted that amendments were introduced to the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan in order to improve the practice of organizing and holding the election. In particular, the concept of the election campaign was disclosed in details, deadlines, as well as procedure of early voting, were determined, according to the mission.

Voters have all the conditions to become familiar with the programs of the candidates, as well as conditions for the free voting and the use of their rights, the report noted.

In general, the CIS monitoring mission said the election campaign in Uzbekistan is taking place in compliance with the law, equal conditions are created for the presidential candidates to present their programs and meet with the voters. The Central Election Commission of the country effectively uses the potential of the mass media to ensure transparency and openness of the electoral process, says the report.

The mission will publish final conclusions and evaluation after the election.

More than 70 observers representing Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the CIS Executive Committee have been accredited in the CIS monitoring mission. Chairman of the Executive Committee and Executive Secretary of the CIS Sergey Lebedev is the head of the mission.

Uzbekistan will hold an early presidential election December 4 due to the death of ex-president Islam Karimov, who passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 79 on Sept. 2.

Candidates from four political parties of Uzbekistan participate in the presidential election - Uzbekistan Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP), People's Democratic Party (PDPU), Milly Tiklanish (National Revival) Party, and Adolat (Justice) Social Democratic Party.

Among the presidential candidates are the country’s Acting President Shavkat Mirziyoyev from UzLiDeP, Sarvar Otamuratov from Milly Tiklanish Party, Nariman Umarov from Adolat Party, and Hotamzhon Ketmonov from PDPU.