Representatives of the Parliament’s upper chamber worked as members of the observer missions of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
According to the monitoring, international observers of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly concluded that the referendum on the draft law of the Kyrgyz Republic about the Constitution of Kyrgyzstan held on 11 April complied with the national law, national commitments and international standards of holding democratic elections.
The statement was made by Farit Mukhametshin, Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and Russian Deputy Co-Chair of the Interparliamentary Commission on Cooperation between the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and the Jogorku Kenesh (Supreme Council) of the Kyrgyz Republic.
The Federation Council delegation led by Farit Mukhametshin monitored the referendum on the Kyrgyz Constitution. The delegation included Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Science, Education and Culture Natalia Kosykhina, member of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Vadim Dengin and member of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Olga Kovitidi. Representatives of the Russian Parliament’s upper chamber worked at the observer missions of the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Farit Mukhametshin presented the opinion of the international observer mission of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly at a press conference in Bishkek.
“The mission consisted of 54 deputies and senators from eight member states of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, organisation representatives and experts from the International Institute for Monitoring Democracy Development, Parliamentarianism and Suffrage Protection of Citizens. Representatives of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly visited 78 polling stations in Bishkek and localities in the Chuisky Region: they inspected the polling stations before they opened, in the course of voting and when their precinct election committees made the final protocols. The observers also took part in the monitoring of the voting process at 13 out of 48 foreign polling stations opened at the Kyrgyz missions abroad,” said the Senator.
According to him, the Central Election Committee of the Kyrgyz Republic on holding the referendum, territorial and precinct election commissions as well as the authorities took all the necessary organisational measures with due account of the epidemiological standards. “Public order was ensured, and the voting campaign went smoothly during the preparations for and holding of the referendum. Mass media had legal opportunities for covering campaign activities and preparations for the referendum. All this created the conditions for the peaceful and informed expression of the citizens’ will. The proper working conditions were in place for international observers and their monitoring efforts.”
Farit Mukhametshin noted the active work of the Russian senators at the international observer missions.
Olga Kovitidi presented the results from the observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. She said that “its international observers stated that the referendum in the Kyrgyz Republic was valid. We are hopeful that the amendments to the Constitution will promote stabilisation in the republic, create all the necessary conditions for its onward development and help strengthening Russian-Kyrgyz interstate ties,” said the Senator.
The SCO observer mission recognised the referendum as open, free and legitimate, according to Senator Natalia Kosykhina, who was a member of the SCO observer mission.
“The referendum was held in an atmosphere of openness and transparency. Kyrgyz citizens had an opportunity to make their informed and independent choice,” stressed the Senator.
She pointed out that a great number of young people worked as observers. “It’s a good sign that young people participate in important activities for their country. The referendum on the Constitution is a serious step along the way of further developing the democratic process. We can congratulate the people of Kyrgyzstan on the success of their referendum and wish them progress in following the course for the steady development of their country and its stronger independence and sovereignty.”
The referendum was held on the draft law On the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, which entails a transition to the presidential form of government. The main constitutional amendments concern six areas: changes to the powers of the President, Government and Parliament, the transformation of the judicial system, the holding of referendums and the establishment of a new body – the People’s Kurultai.