Presidential Election, 15 October 2017

LIVESTREAM: International Election Observation Mission press conference, Bishkek, 16 October 2017

Following an invitation from the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic and based on the findings and conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Needs Assessment Mission, undertaken from 24 to 26 May 2017, the OSCE/ODIHR has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to the 15 October 2017 presidential election.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek operate separately under their specific mandates.

Long-Term Observation

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ambassador Alexandre Keltchewsky (France), consists of 17 international experts based in Bishkek. In addition, 26 long-term observers will be deployed throughout the country from 13 September 2017.

The mission will assess this election for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation. Observers will follow candidate registration, campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant state bodies, implementation of the legislative framework, and the resolution of election disputes. As part of the observation, the EOM will conduct a comprehensive monitoring of the media.

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR has requested participating States to second 350 short-term observers immediately prior to the 15 October election. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the election, the OSCE/ODIHR, together with its parliamentary partners, will issue a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions at a press conference. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Co-operation with Other Partners

The OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament are planning to deploy observer delegations for this election. The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has appointed Mr. Azay Guliev as Special Co-ordinator and leader of the short-term OSCE observer mission.

Previous Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR has previously observed nine elections and one referendum in the Kyrgyz Republic, most recently the 2015 parliamentary elections.