TURKPA observed parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan

The TURKPA Election Observation Mission (EOM) conducted a short-term monitoring of the parliamentary elections held in the Republic of Uzbekistan on 27 October 2024. The parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan followed the adoption of the new edition of the Constitution and the amendments to the electoral legislation in 2023. For the first time, elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan were held on the basis of a mixed electoral system which combines proportional representation and majoritarian systems. The TURKPA Mission commenced its work in Uzbekistan on 25 October 2024. Within the observation program, the Mission held meetings with Tanzila Narbayeva, Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Zayniddin Nizamkhodjaev, Chairman of the Central Election Commission (CEC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the meetings, the Mission was informed on preparations for and main features of the parliamentary elections. The Mission met also with the heads of the political parties contesting the elections and was informed on their views on the pre-election environment and expectations from the parliamentary elections. On the election day, members of the Mission visited polling stations in Tashkent and Bukhara, and observed the voting process starting from the opening of polling stations till the counting of votes. On 28 October, the TURKPA Mission held a press conference on the preliminary outcomes of its observation. According to the Mission, the election day was peaceful and well-administered. The overall voting process was evaluated positively in the polling stations observed. The Mission underlined the significant amendments to the electoral legislation and noted that the increase of the quota for women during candidate registration contributed to the wide participation of women in the electoral process and political life of the country. The Mission commended the work of the CEC on training of lower-level commissions and raising public awareness on the electoral process. The development of the “E-saylov” information system, which digitizes the interaction of participants of electoral process and provides citizens with election-related information, was positively noted. The Mission highly appreciated the measures on ensuring the electoral rights of voters with disabilities and in this context, noted that the polling stations visited had been suitable for these voters. The Mission concluded that the parliamentary elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan of 27 October 2024 had been held in compliance with the national legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan and international election standards. The visit also featured cultural program in Tashkent and Bukhara cities. The TURKPA EOM was composed of the parliamentarians from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Türkiye – Ahliman Amiraslanov, Aghalar Valiyev (Azerbaijan), Kudaibergen Bexultanov (Kazakhstan), Azizbek Tursunbaev (Kyrgyzstan), Osman Mesten, Mahmut Rıdvan Nazırlı, Kadim Durmaz, Harun Özgür Yıldızlı, Filiz Kılıç, Ömer Faruk Gergerlioğlu (Türkiye), TURKPA Secretary General Mehmet Süreyya Er, parliamentary staff members and other representatives of the TURKPA Secretariat. The Mission was headed by the member of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Osman Mesten.