Kyrgyz Election Update

The Central Election Committee ruled on January 29 that migrant citizens living outside Kyrgyzstan could not participate in the upcoming poll, unless they return to their home electoral districts for voting.

Originally, those voting abroad were to have chosen candidates from four electoral districts of Bishkek. Just 7,000 Kyrgyz citizens had registered to vote at diplomatic missions overseas, though up to 700,000 labour migrants are estimated to live in Russia alone.

VOTERS TO RECEIVE ‘DEFECTIVE’ PASSPORTS

On February 1, President Askar Akaev issued a decree promising the more than 120,000 passports needed by Kyrgyz citizens in order to prove their identity on voting day would be issued speedily. The so-called defective passports will be issued for one year, then replaced by a “correct” document. There has been a delay in sending out the country’s long-awaited new passports which opposition deputies claim are riddled with errors.

DIPLOMATS MAKE PRE-ELECTION VISIT

Representatives of OSCE member states and heads of international organisations working in Kyrgyzstan made a two-day visit to the country to discuss election preparations.

They met with President Akaev, Prime Minister Nikolay Tanaev and the chair of Central Election Committee Sulaiman Imanbaev. Imanbaev said there are 30 long-term observers from OSCE/ODIHR and six from CIS countries covering the poll. On election day itself, a further OSCE 170 observers and 100 from the CIS will be on hand.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura Kennedy met with President Akaev on January 31 in Bishkek to discuss bilateral cooperation and the elections.

PRESIDENT APPEALS TO KYRGYZ YOUTH

On February 3, President Akaev addressed more than 3,000 university and high school students, teachers, doctors, police cadets and members of the National Guard at a youth rally in Bishkek. Akaev said the president and government rely on the country’s young people who he said have proven to be “immune to foreign disease-causing pink, orange and yellow viruses”.

ELECTION PREPARATIONS

A conference on February 2 organised by the Central Election Committee, various NGOs, the OSCE and the UNDP discussed the role of non-governmental organisations in the run-up to the elections and contributions they could make. Participants were from district electoral committees, political parties, civil society organisations, the media and the government.

As parliamentary candidates officially began campaigning February 2, the country’s state-appointed media representative, Shamaral Maychiev, reminded journalists of the importance of objectivity, impartiality, factual accuracy and giving equal opportunities to all candidates. Media outlets were also told to refrain from making prejudicial comments about candidates and expressing preference for particular candidates.

A survey commissioned by the media NGO Internews-Kyrgyzstan found most respondents believe wealthy candidates should be parliamentary deputies since they won’t use their position to improve their financial position. The survey, released Febuary 1, said political preferences of candidates don’t play a significant role in determining who voters will choose. Instead, the survey revealed gifts from candidates are important in winning voters’ approval.

The Central Election Commission released the final list of registered candidates on February 1. There are 427 people are on the list, with about six candidates vying for each of the unicameral parliament’s 75 seats.

A diverse group including journalists, representatives of international organisations, embassy staff and members of the Central Election Committee met on January 29 to discuss election coverage by the country’s mass media and obstacles that journalists face.