Election-related Legal Opinions and Comments

This Joint Opinion was prepared jointly by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request by the Chairman of the Committee on the Honouring of Obligations and Commitments by Member States of the Council of Europe (Monitoring Committee) of the Parliamentary Assembly (PACE). The Joint Opinion was adopted by the Venice Commission at its 117th Plenary Session (14-15 December 2018).

This Joint Opinion is provided with the aim of assisting the authorities of Uzbekistan, political parties, and civil society in their efforts to bring the legal framework for elections into line with OSCE commitments, Council of Europe’s standards and other international obligations for democratic elections. It was prepared in response to a request from the Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan addressed to the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and of the Council of Europe’s Venice Commission in July 2018. The Joint Opinion was adopted by the Council for Democratic Elections at its 63rd meeting (Venice, 18 October 2018) and by the Venice Commission at its 116th Plenary Session (Venice, 19-20 October 2018).

This opinion was prepared jointly by the Council of Europe's Venice Commission and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights with the goal of assisting Armenia in its efforts to develop legislation that is in line with key international standards and obligations, as well as relevant OSCE commitments.