STATEMENT by the Observer Mission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation on Monitoring Preparations for and Conduct of Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Local Kengashes (Councils) on 27 October 2024

At the invitation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s (SCO) Observer Mission (Mission) monitored preparations for and the actual conduct of elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local Kengashes on 27 October 2024.

The Mission views the fact of inviting international observers as an effort by the Republic of Uzbekistan to ensure maximum openness, transparency, and underlying democratic nature of these parliamentary elections.

The Mission comprised 15 accredited observers, including representatives from the electoral and legislative bodies, diplomats from the SCO member states, and officials from the SCO Secretariat.

The Mission was led by SCO Deputy Secretary General Nurlan Yermekbayev.

The Mission included the following officials from the SCO member states:

- Yelena Baldovskaya, Secretary of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Belarus

- Tumanbek Aliyev, Chair of the Territorial Election Commission of the Abay District, Shymkent, Republic of Kazakhstan

- Chen Daiwen, Adviser to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

- Chen Jiahui, Third Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

- Meykimbek Abdaliyev, Member of the Central Election Commission of the Kyrgyz Republic

- Muhammad Ramzan, Deputy Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Uzbekistan

- Irina Rukavishnikova, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

- Gennady Semigin, Member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation

- Elmira Khaimurzina, Member of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation

- Abduchabbor Safarali Kodirzoda, Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan

- Makhfirat Umar Khidirzoda, Member of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Tajikistan.

And from the SCO Secretariat:

- Azamat Kospanov, Adviser

- Bekhruz Sodikov, Adviser

- Anastasia Zakharova, Adviser.

The Mission carried out its functions in accordance with the Guidelines for the SCO Observer Mission for Presidential and/or Parliamentary Elections and Referendums, strictly adhering to the principles of political neutrality, objectivity, and non-interference in the internal affairs of the state, and in full compliance with the national legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

In the days leading up to the election day and on the election day itself, Mission members inspected a number of polling stations in Tashkent, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Zaamin, and Samarkand to assess the level of readiness for the elections and to monitor the electoral process.

The Mission head and members held working meetings with representatives of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, political party leaders, observers from international organisations, members of the diplomatic community, and media members.

The host party has created the necessary conditions for monitoring the preparations and the actual conduct of the voting process. Comprehensive information about the elections, including informational materials, was made available to the Mission members.

The Mission’s findings and conclusions rely on personal observations of its members and on factual materials gathered before and on the day of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local Kengashes.

The Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Electoral Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan On Political Parties and On the Financing Political Parties, and other local legislative acts constitute legal framework for elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local Kengashes.

According to Article 128 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis and local Kengashes are held in the year their terms expire on the first Sunday after October 20.

With the terms of office of the deputies of the Oliy Majlis and local Kengashes expiring in 2024, the Central Election Commission resolved to hold elections on 27 October 2024, and to start the election campaign on 26 July 2024.

The Mission believes that the measures adopted by the Republic of Uzbekistan to improve the electoral process in the country are quite significant.

First, for the first time in the history of Uzbekistan, elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis were held based on a mixed electoral system, which combines majority and proportional systems. Seventy-five deputies were elected directly under the majority system, where voters cast their ballots for specific candidates, while the remaining 75 were elected under a proportional system by voting for political parties.

Second, the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan engaged with participants of the electoral process using digital elements, among other approaches.

Third, electoral legislation was improved in accordance with the best democratic standards. It was established that women should comprise at least 40 percent of the candidates nominated as deputies by political parties. In addition, it was resolved that a candidate only needs to secure a relative majority of votes to be elected. Thus, a candidate is considered elected if they receive more votes than other candidates in a respective electoral district, eliminating the need for a second ballot.

Fourth, the elections took place amid significantly stronger parliamentarism and expanded powers for representative bodies at the local level, as enshrined in the amended Constitution. Specifically, the number of absolute powers of the Legislative Chamber increased from the current 5 to 12, and the Senate from 12 to 18. The parliament’s oversight over the executive, judiciary, and law enforcement bodies, as well as special services has been expanded. The role of khokims (local heads of administration) in leading local Kengashes of people’s deputies has been abolished. To enhance the role of representative bodies in addressing important state matters, 33 powers previously held by khokims were transferred to local Kengashes.

The electoral process in the Republic of Uzbekistan has been improved through the implementation of modern information and communication technology.

Notably, the E-saylov information system was implemented as a technological innovation in conducting elections.

The E-saylov system was used to conduct fully digitally nearly 60 types of the electoral commissions’ interactions with political parties, candidates, observers, and the media.

Integrated with other digital platforms, this electronic system made it possible to conduct election procedures automatically without human intervention.

The system generated a large database (big data) of approximately 400,000 participants of the electoral process, including members of electoral commissions, parliamentary candidates, and observers. Communication with the users was established using 40 types of text messages.

The E-saylov system also provided voters with convenient access to election-related information. Specifically, it allowed users to access statistical data about voters and polling stations, as well as details about parliamentary candidates, including candidates’ biographies, through interactive maps during all types of elections.

The following political parties participated in the elections:

- Movement of Entrepreneurs and Business People – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan

- Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party

- Ecological Party of Uzbekistan

- People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan

- Adolat Social Democratic Party.

Election campaigning for parliamentary candidates and political parties began on 22 September 2024.

On 21 September 2024, a ceremony was held for political party leaders to sign a code of ethics concerning the conduct of election campaigning. This code was developed jointly with the Central Election Commission and aims to prevent the spread of false information during the election campaign, ensure compliance with the fundamental principles of elections, and enable voters to make a free choice.

A key element of ethical guidelines included strict compliance with the rules for using artificial intelligence (AI) in election campaigning through media and the internet. On 2 July 2024, the Central Election Commission issued Resolution No. 1345 approving regulations governing the use of AI for preparing and disseminating campaign materials for candidates to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and regional, district and municipal Kengashes, as well as for political parties. Political parties and candidates agreed to label campaign materials created using AI and to obtain prior consent from individuals when using their images and voices in campaign materials.

Under the ethical guidelines, political party representatives pledged to strictly adhere to the requirements of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Electoral Code, and other legislative acts during election campaigning. They also committed to respecting the privacy, honour, dignity, and reputation of political party representatives, refraining from disclosing any information contrary to public morals, and avoiding extortion, intimidation, and coercion, or any other improper influence or bribery.

During the period from 23 September to 25 October 2024, each political party was provided with 150 minutes of free airtime on regional television channels and the same amount of time on radio channels of the National Television and Radio Company of Uzbekistan. During this time, each party was allotted 2 minutes of airtime per day (a total of 66 minutes) on each local television and radio channel for broadcasting video and radio messages. In addition, political parties participating in the elections were given free print space in the newspapers such as Yangi O’zbekiston, Pravda Vostoka, Khalk So’zi, and Narodnoe Slovo throughout the election campaign.

Proper conditions and opportunities were created in Uzbekistan to ensure equal and free exercise of all constitutional rights for persons with disabilities. Specifically: blind voters were provided with ballots in Braille, and visually impaired voters were given magnifying glasses for filling out ballots independently.

Voting booths with access for wheelchair-bound users and individuals with mobility impairments, as well as ramps, were installed at polling stations.

Lists of people with physical impairments were compiled at polling stations in accordance with the Regulation on the Procedure Governing the Activities of Precinct Election Commissions for the Elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Regional, District, and Municipal Kengashes of People’s Deputies.

Members of the precinct election commissions ensured voting at the place of residence for voters who are unable to come to polling stations due to health conditions or for other reasons.

In the electoral districts, 11,028 polling stations were established, including 57 ballot stations in 40 foreign countries at Uzbekistan’s diplomatic and other missions abroad.

With the participation of over 115,000 people, precinct election commissions were formed, with more than 81 percent of members having prior experience of working in election commissions.

Special workshops were held to train members and staff of election commissions at all levels, taking into account the specifics of the current election campaign. These workshops were conducted in Uzbek, Karakalpak, and Russian.

Additionally, brochures and guidelines were published, and special video tutorials were put together demonstrating all phases of preparatory work by precinct election commissions and step-by-step instructions for voters.

The CEC International Press Centre ensured maximum openness and transparency of the elections, as well as broad and impartial coverage of the election campaign in the media.

To publish their campaign materials, the candidates used the political party websites, party publications, as well as regional and local media outlets.

According to the Guidelines on the Procedure for Establishing Polling Stations at Diplomatic Missions and Consular Offices of the Republic of Uzbekistan, citizens of Uzbekistan residing abroad could apply in writing to be included on the voter list at foreign precinct election commissions.

Uzbek citizens residing abroad also could vote in areas where they resided in significant numbers, including early voting.

On election day, 27 October 2024, Mission members arrived at polling stations at 8:00 am, observed their opening and closing, and were present during the preparation of the ballots for voting.

To gain a comprehensive understanding of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mission members visited 48 polling stations where observers from political parties, foreign countries, international organisations, and media representatives were present.

The international observers selected polling stations independently without any restrictions imposed on Mission members for visiting any particular station.

On election day, the Mission observed a strong sense of civic responsibility among voters and a high level of professional training among commission members.

The electoral commissions’ activities were highly qualified, open, transparent, and independent.

Polling stations were fully equipped with documentation, including reference materials, observer registration logs, guidelines, duty rosters, evacuation plans, and other documents.

Medical posts were available at each polling station.

The media covered extensively the preparation and voting process.

Voting at polling stations proceeded peacefully, following the established procedures and in the presence of local, public, and international observers, as well as media members.

No complaints or comments were made with regard to Mission members throughout the observation period.

The Mission notes that the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan were held in an atmosphere of openness and transparency, with active participation of representatives from civic society and youth, and favourable conditions for the voters to make informed and independent choices.

The Mission affirms that the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local Kengashes were held in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan and its international commitments.

The Mission recognises the elections in the Republic of Uzbekistan as open, free, and legitimate.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Observer Mission extends its gratitude to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, subordinate commissions, and other state bodies for their assistance in facilitating the activities of SCO observers as mandated.

The Mission congratulates the people of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the successful holding of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan and local Kengashes and wishes them further success in advancing their efforts towards strengthening independence, sovereignty, and sustainable socioeconomic development.