ODIHR election assessment mission deployed in Tajikistan

Head of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), Mr. Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda, on February 17 met here with Ambassador Pohl Eberhard and members of the ODIHR EAM, according to the CCR press center.   

During a meeting, Khudoyorzoda reportedly informed members of the ODIHR EAM of the preparatory wok carried out by the Commission.

He noted that the CCER had created equal conditions for the subjects of the electoral process to ensure conducting healthy political competition, the CCER press center said.  

Ambassador Pohl, for his part, reportedly assessed positively the work carried out by the CCER with women, youth and people with disabilities.   

To-date, more than 200 representatives of the CIS Executive Committee, CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, OSCE/ODIHR as well as representatives of diplomatic missions of the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, Iran, German and Japan active in Tajikistan have been registered with CCER as international observers, according to the CCER.   

Meanwhile, OSCE says that following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan to observe the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 1, 2020, based on the findings and conclusions of the Needs Assessment Mission deployed from December 9 to December 12, 2019, and in accordance with its mandate, ODIHR has deployed the EAM for these elections.

The ODIHR EAM, headed by Ambassador Eberhard Pohl, reportedly began its work in Tajikistan on February 13. The EAM includes seven international staff, drawn from seven OSCE participating States.

The mission will assess the electoral process in terms of its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as national legislation.  Observers will, in particular, look into the legal framework for the elections, the administration of elections, conduct of the campaign, the resolution of election-related disputes, campaign finance rules, as well as media environment and media coverage of the elections.

In line with ODIHR methodology, the ODIHR EAM will not carry out systematic or comprehensive observation of the voting, counting and tabulation on election day.  Mission members will, however, visit a small number of polling stations on election day.

A final report will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the electoral process.

The ODIHR EAM and the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe operate separately under their specific mandates.

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) provides support, assistance and expertise to participating States and civil society to promote democracy, rule of law, human rights and tolerance and non-discrimination. ODIHR observes elections, reviews legislation and advises governments on how to develop and sustain democratic institutions. The Office conducts training programs for government and law-enforcement officials and non-governmental organizations on how to uphold, promote and monitor human rights.