Referendum to amend the Constitution started in the Kyrgyz Republic

From the early morning the IPA CIS international observers have been working on the ground at polling stations in Bishkek, settlements of the Chui region of the Kyrgyz Republic, and abroad – in Baku, Minsk, Moscow and St. Petersburg.

All the citizens of the Kyrgyz Republic above 18 years old have the right to participate in the referendum, except for persons recognized incapacitated by the court or sentenced to imprisonment. According to the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic, the number of citizens eligible to vote in the referendum is about 2.8 million.

54 territorial commissions and 2365 election commissions are involved in the operation of the referendum on 11 December 2016 (inside the country and abroad).

The voting has started at 8.00 and will run until 20.00.

The IPA CIS international observers visited the polling station where President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev cast his vote.

The coordinator of the team of the IPA CIS international observers, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov shared his impressions with the journalists: “We highly appreciate the organizing of the referendum. On the E-Day we held several meetings with the agitation groups “In Favour” and “Against” and with the representatives of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic. We saw that the agitation groups had equal opportunities to bring their arguments to voters. We welcomed with surprise the voting system using biometric passports which minimized the influence of human factors on the voting process. We found that the voting process complied with international standards and was held in accordance with the values of democracy”.

Member of the IPA CIS Observer Team, Member of Committee of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on International Affairs Anatoly Lisitsyn said: “I have been working with the Kyrgyz Republic since 1999, I know Kyrgyz people, and I come here very often. In 2015, I worked as an international observer at the parliamentary elections in the Kyrgyz Republic - this was the first time I came to know the new e-voting system. Indeed, this modern system prevents various fraudulent activities related to the electoral process. The Kyrgyz Republic is at the forefront in terms of innovation in the electoral process”.

Deputy Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on International Affairs Alexey Chepa said: “The voting process is very smooth. There are small technical delays in identification, but people are patient. The voter turnout in visited areas is quite high”.