Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights

Following an invitation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, the OSCE/ODIHR deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to observe the presidential election in the Kyrgyz Republic scheduled for 23 July 2009.

The date for the presidential election was set for 23 July by the Jogorku Kenesh (national parliament) of the Kyrgyz Republic after a Constitutional Court decision determining that the election should be held before the end of October. The President is elected for a five-year term. The election takes place under an election code which was amended in January 2009.

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

Long-Term Observation

The OSCE/ODIHR conducted a Needs Assessment Mission (NAM) from 23 to 25 April 2009 in order to assess conditions and preparations for the elections and to advise on the level of ODIHR involvement in the forthcoming elections. The NAM recommended that a standard election observation mission be deployed.

The OSCE/ODIHR EOM, headed by Ms Radmila Sekerinska, opened on 8 June. The mission consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Bishkek, and 24 long-term observers who will be deployed throughout the country on 16 June. Members of the core team and long-term observers are drawn from 21 OSCE participating States.

The EOM will assess 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 will closely monitor 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 will request the secondment of 300 short-term observers to arrive shortly before election day. The short-term observers will be deployed throughout the country in multinational teams of two to monitor the opening of polling stations, the voting, the counting of ballots, and the tabulation of results.

The day after the elections, the EOM will issue 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 observed parliamentary and presidential elections in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2000, 2005 and 2007.