IPA CIS Observers Started Monitoring Parliamentary elections in Republic of Tajikistan

A group of international observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly from among the staff members of the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens of IPA CIS Member Nations headed by Deputy Director of the IIMDD IPA CIS Ekaterina Goloulina, started monitoring of the electoral campaign for the elections to the Majlisi namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan.

On 29January 2020, in Dushanbe, in accordance with the long-term monitoring program, observers visited the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda of the Republic of Tajikistan, where they met with its Chairman Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda.

Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda informed the IPA CIS representatives on the activities of the Commission during the pre-election period that was carried out in accordance with the legislation and the Calendar of key events for the preparation and holding of the elections to the Majlisi namoyandagon of the Majlisi Oli of the Republic of Tajikistan, approved on 7December 2019. Observers were provided with information about the novelties of the electoral legislation of 2017–2019 adopted on the basis of the amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Tajikistan, which entered into force following the referendum on 22May 2016, as well as a number of changes aimed at improving the work of all institutions of the electoral system. In addition, the Chairman of the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda of the Republic of Tajikistan answered questions of the observers about the process of registration of candidates to the Majlisi namoyandagon and the compilation of electoral rolls.

During the meeting, the representatives of the IPA CIS got acquainted with the methodological and photo materials confirming the large-scale activities of the Commission on educating various categories of participants of the electoral process: experts of the Central Commission on Elections and Referenda; heads and members of district and local election commissions; representatives of local authorities responsible for the operation of polling stations; officials of law enforcement agencies, General Prosecutor's Office and courts of the Republic of Tajikistan for the prompt resolution of electoral disputes; women, youth, student and professional organizations of the Republic of Tajikistan and journalists of state and the non-state media. The members of the IIMDD IPA CIS expert group also confirmed that the texts of the ballot papers were prepared in compliance with the legislation and, will be printed in Tajik, Russian, Uzbek and Kyrgyz languages taking into account the ethnic composition of voters.

At the end of the meeting, the participants discussed the specific features of the organization of the upcoming elections resulting from the increase in the number of candidates in the single-mandate districts as well as those nominated by political parties of the Republic of Tajikistan for voting by party lists. They also exchanged views on the increasing use of the Internet by the candidates for election campaigning.