CIS Mission: There is no such comprehensive system to ensure transparency and reliability of elections in any of CIS countries

Bishkek, Jan. 9, 2021 / Kabar /. Chairperson of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Kyrgyzstan Nurzhan Shaildabekova met with the Mission of International Observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States, the press service of the CEC of the Kyrgyz Republic reported.

Head of the mission, Vasily Volkov, informed that the mission consists of 138 professionally trained people, most of whom have experience in monitoring elections in different countries.

“So far, we have not found any shortcomings,” he said. “We wish the presidential elections and the referendum to become the starting point for stabilizing the situation, so that the country will follow the path of development.”

Shaildabekova informed that the Central Election Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic has an intensive election schedule - this is the local elections in April 2021, repeated parliamentary elections, and a referendum on the draft Constitution may also be held.

The head of the CEC noted that testing is underway to receive data from the automated control system.

“In the first ten minutes, the results are received from almost 80% of the ballot boxes, during the first hour - 93.5% of the boxes,” Shaildabekova noted.

First Deputy Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee Viktor Guminsky noted that “there is no such complex system for ensuring transparency and reliability of elections in any of the CIS countries. Some elements are present in other countries, but in the aggregate there is no such system."

International observers showed great interest in the upcoming referendum. A consultative referendum is being held in Kyrgyzstan for the first time and from the point of view of development, a referendum is a positive phenomenon, when voters are given the opportunity to make decisions on important issues. It was noted that in Switzerland, referendums can be held 4 times a year on various topics.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Alexei Chepa emphasized the interest of the Russian side in continuing friendly relations between Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Taking into account the large number of Kyrgyz citizens living on the territory of the Russian Federation, Chepa noted the importance of ensuring the electoral rights of citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic abroad.