Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - Elections

Following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan, the OSCE/ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the 6 November 2006 presidential election.

The president is elected for a seven-year term of office. A candidate is elected if he or she receives at least 50 per cent of the votes cast, provided that more than 50 per cent of voters take part in the election. If no candidate receives an absolute majority, a second round between the two candidates with the most votes is held within one month but not earlier than 15 days after the first round.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM and the OSCE Centre in Dushanbe operate independently under separate mandates.

Long-Term Observation

The EOM, headed by Mr Onno van der Wind of the Netherlands, consisted of 12 international core staff based in Dushanbe, drawn from 8 OSCE participating States. Thirteen long-term observers arrived on 13 October and were deployed throughout the country.

The EOM assessed the presidential election for its compliance with principles for democratic electoral processes, including commitments agreed to by all OSCE participating States, as well as with national legislation. Observers closely monitored campaign activities, the work of the election administration and relevant governmental bodies, election-related legislation and its implementation, the media environment, and the resolution of election-related disputes.

Election Day

The OSCE/ODIHR requested 100 short-term observers who were deployed immediately prior to the 6 November election.

The OSCE/ODIHR long-term mission joined efforts with a separate delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, which was headed by Kimmo Kiljunen, whom the OSCE Chairman-in-Office designated as special co-ordinator for short-term observers.

The day after the election, the EOM issued a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions. A final report on the observation of the entire electoral process will be issued approximately eight weeks after the end of the observation mission.

Previous Elections

The OSCE/ODIHR previously observed the 2000 and 2005 parliamentary elections in Tajikistan.