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    By Haldun Yavas Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections 21 December 2014 Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections21 December 2014 CASPIAN STRATEGY INSTITUTE REPORT15-22 December 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In line with its international commitments, the Republic of Uzbekistan invited elections observers across the globe to observe the 21 December parliamentary elections. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the 2012 constitutional law on periodic elections to representative bodies and of the president of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that the elections to the legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis, as well as to local and regional councils that took place on 21 December 2014. The elections were generally administered in a competent manner and according to schedule. In a positive step, several amendments were introduced to the parliamentary election law. Moreover, the actual practical implementation of these amendments and their effect and impact can be obviously observed. ( Haldun YAVAŞ ) Parliament adopted changes, initiated by President Karimov, giving the political party with the most seats in the lower house of parliament the right to nominate a prime minister, who must then be approved by the president. If two parties have the same number of seats, they jointly nominate a candidate.

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    By Haldun Yavas Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections 21 December 2014 Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections21 December 2014 CASPIAN STRATEGY INSTITUTE REPORT15-22 December 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In line with its international commitments, the Republic of Uzbekistan invited elections observers across the globe to observe the 21 December parliamentary elections. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the 2012 constitutional law on periodic elections to representative bodies and of the president of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that the elections to the legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis, as well as to local and regional councils that took place on 21 December 2014. The elections were generally administered in a competent manner and according to schedule. In a positive step, several amendments were introduced to the parliamentary election law. Moreover, the actual practical implementation of these amendments and their effect and impact can be obviously observed. ( Haldun YAVAŞ ) Parliament adopted changes, initiated by President Karimov, giving the political party with the most seats in the lower house of parliament the right to nominate a prime minister, who must then be approved by the president. If two parties have the same number of seats, they jointly nominate a candidate.

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    32 views13 pages

    Haldun Yavas - Republic of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections 21 December 2014

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    Haldun Yavas
    By Haldun Yavas Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections 21 December 2014 Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections21 December 2014 CASPIAN STRATEGY INSTITUTE REPORT15-22 December 2014 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In line with its international commitments, the Republic of Uzbekistan invited elections observers across the globe to observe the 21 December parliamentary elections. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the 2012 constitutional law on periodic elections to representative bodies and of the president of Uzbekistan, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced that the elections to the legislative chamber of the Oliy Majlis, as well as to local and regional councils that took place on 21 December 2014. The elections were generally administered in a competent manner and according to schedule. In a positive step, several amendments were introduced to the parliamentary election law. Moreover, the actual practical implementation of these amendments and their effect and impact can be obviously observed. ( Haldun YAVAŞ ) Parliament adopted changes, initiated by President Karimov, giving the political party with the most seats in the lower house of parliament the right to nominate a prime minister, who must then be approved by the president. If two parties have the same number of seats, they jointly nominate a candidate.

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    of 13

    HALDUN YAVA

    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY


    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    HALDUN YAVA
    www.haldunyavas.com

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    Republic Of Uzbekistan Parliamentary Elections 21 December 2014


    Republic Of UzbekistanParliamentary Elections
    21 December 2014
    CASPIAN STRATEGY INSTITUTE REPORT
    15-22 December 2014
    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
    Haldun YAVA

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    Inlinewithitsinternationalcommitments,theRepublicofUzbekistaninvitedelections
    observersacrosstheglobetoobservethe21Decemberparliamentaryelections.In
    accordancewiththeConstitutionoftheRepublicofUzbekistanandthe2012
    constitutionallawonperiodicelectionstorepresentativebodiesandofthepresidentof
    Uzbekistan,theCentralElectionCommission(CEC)announcedthattheelectionstothe
    legislativechamberoftheOliyMajlis,aswellastolocalandregionalcouncilsthattook
    placeon21December2014.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    Theelectionsweregenerallyadministeredinacompetentmannerandaccordingto
    schedule.Inapositivestep,severalamendmentswereintroducedtotheparliamentary
    electionlaw.Moreover,theactualpracticalimplementationoftheseamendmentsand
    theireffectandimpactcanbeobviouslyobserved.(Haldun YAVA)Parliamentadopted
    changes,initiatedbyPresidentKarimov,givingthepoliticalpartywiththemostseatsin
    thelowerhouseofparliamenttherighttonominateaprimeminister,whomustthenbe
    approvedbythepresident.Iftwopartieshavethesamenumberofseats,theyjointly
    nominateacandidate.

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    Theparliamentaryelectionswereadministeredbyathree-tieredelectionadministration,
    includingtheCEC,135DistrictElectionCommissions(DECs),andsome9,000Precinct
    ElectionCommissions(PECs).(Haldun YAVA)
    Citizenswhohavereached18yearsofagehavetherighttovote,unlesstheirrightshave
    beensuspendedbyacourtdecisionorareservingaprisonsentenceforanycrime.
    Positively,amendmentswereintroducedtothelegislationtofacilitatevotingbythosein
    pre-trialdetention.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    ELECTORAL SYSTEM and ELECTION ADMINISTRATION


    Uzbekistanhasabi-cameralparliament(OliyMajlis)comprisinga150-memberlower
    chamberanda100-memberSenate.Ofthe150membersofthelowerchamber,135are
    directlyelectedfromsingle-mandatemajoritariandistricts.Ifnocandidatereceivesa
    majorityofthevotescast,asecondroundbetweenthetwoleadingcandidatesisheld
    withinonemonth.Electionsarerepeatediflessthan33percentofthevotersonthe
    voterlistcasttheirballots.Thefourregisteredpoliticalpartieshavesubmittedtheir
    requireddocuments,includingatleast40,000supportingsignatures,andhavebeen
    allowedbytheCECtonominatecandidatesinthemajoritarianconstituencies.
    Candidatesneedtobeatleast25yearsofageandhavetopermanentlyresidein
    Uzbekistanforatleast5lastyears.Uzbekistansconstitutionenshrinesthefreedomof
    speech,religion,assembly,andparticipationbothinpoliticsandinpractice. (Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    Theparliamentaryelectionswereadministeredbyathree-tieredelectionadministration,
    includingtheCEC,135DistrictElectionCommissions(DECs),andsome9,000Precinct
    ElectionCommissions(PECs).(Haldun YAVA)
    Accordingtotheelectionlaw,PECsaretobeestablishedatleast40daysbeforeelection
    day.Theyconsistedof5-19members,includingachairperson,adeputyandasecretary.
    DECsformedPECsuponnominationsfromlocalauthorities.Inaddition,mahalla,a
    specificformofneighbourhoodinstitutioninUzbekistan,playedaprominentrolein
    assistingtheelectionadministrationatthelocallevel.Inlinewithlegalprovisions,
    mahallacommitteeswerealsoentitledtonominateDECandPECmembers.
    (Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    JUDICIAL FRAMEWORK
    TheelectionofthelegislativechamberoftheOliyMajlisisprimarilygovernedby
    constitutionalprovisionsandtheLawonElectionsoftheOliyMajlisoftheRepublic
    ofUzbekistan(electionlaw),whichwaslastamendedon25December2008.Other
    relevantlegislationincludesthelawOntheCentralElectionCommissionoftheRepublic
    ofUzbekistan(CEClaw),theLawonPoliticalParties(politicalpartylaw),theLawon
    FinancingofPoliticalParties,theConstitutionalLawonStrengtheningtheRoleof
    PoliticalPartiesintheRenewalandFurtherDemocratizationoftheStateGovernance
    andModernizationoftheCountry(lawonstrengtheningpoliticalparties)andtheLawon
    GuaranteeingCitizensSuffrage,aswellascertainprovisionsofthecriminalcodeand
    thecivilprocedurecode.Inaddition,theCentralElectionCommission(CEC)adopted
    decisionsandprocedures,whichgavefurtherdetailsonhowtheelectoralprocessshould
    beconducted.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    The major legislative improvements listed below;


    andidatenominationbypoliticalpartieswaspracticallymadeeasierbyreducingthetimerequired
    fornewpartiestoberegisteredpriortothestartofanelectioncampaignfromsixtofourmonths.The
    numberofnecessarysupportsignaturesforpartiestonominatecandidateswasreducedfrom50,000
    to40,000.However,nonewpoliticalpartieswereregisteredbeforetheDecember2009elections.
    Theinvolvementoftheelectionadministrationintheorganizationofcampaigneventswasreduced.
    Underthecurrentlegislation,campaigneventscannowbeorganizedbypoliticalpartiesthemselves.
    Theyneedtoco-ordinatewiththerespectivePEC/DECandeventsarenolongercentrallyorganized
    byelectioncommissionsaswasthecaseinpreviouselections.TheobligationofPECstoreadthe
    resultsprotocoloutloudandtodisplayacopyofitpubliclyforatleast48hoursrepresentawelcome
    movetowardsincreasedtransparency.Theparticipationofpoliticalpartyrepresentativesinthe
    verificationofsignaturelistsforcandidateregistrationwasintroduced.Finally,asregardscomplaints
    andappeals,thenewlyintroducedrightofcomplainantstoparticipateinthecourtproceedings,
    followinganappealagainstadecisionofanelectioncommissionoralowercourt,incorporatedsome
    basicdueprocessguarantees.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    ELECTION CAMPAIGN
    Theelectioncampaignhadaslowstart,gainingonlylimitedmomentumduringthelast
    week.Thefourregisteredpoliticalpartiesandtheircandidatescouldbegincampaigning
    assoonastheywereregisteredwiththeCEC.Candidatesmettheelectorateinevents
    organizedmainlyinpublicbuildings,inco-operationwiththelocalmahalla.Smallposters
    weredisplayedattheseevents.Leafletsandbrochureswerealsodistributedatvoter
    meetings,includingsmallcalendarswiththephotographofthecontestant.Intownsand
    cities,allpartiespostedbillboardsduringthelastweekofthecampaign.SeveraltalkshowswithcandidateswerebroadcastonTV,aswellasdebatesbetweencandidates
    fromdifferentparties.TheelectionlawtaskstheCECwithensuringequalconditionsfor
    candidatestoparticipateintheelectoralcampaign.Campaignfundsweretobe
    exclusivelychannelledthroughtheCEC.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    InlinewiththeLawonFinancingofPoliticalParties,theamountofstatefundingprovided
    fortheelectioncampaignwascalculatedbasedonthenumberofcandidatesnominated
    perparty.TheLawontheFinancingofPoliticalPartiesspecifiesthatpartiesthathavenot
    receivedatleastnineseats(thequorumtoformafaction)inparliamentmustreimburse
    allreceivedcampaignfunds.Politicalpartieshavetoreportannuallyontheirfinances.
    Privatedonationsweretheoreticallypossible,butwouldhaveneededtohavebeen
    channelledthroughtheCEC,whichwouldthenequallydistributethedonatedfundstoall
    parties.(Haldun YAVA)Theprovisionoffinancialpaymentsorgifts(i.e.goodsand
    services)tovotersduringcampaigneventsisprohibited.Thereisnosilenceperiod
    beforeelectionday.However,campaigningisnotallowedonelectiondayitself.

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    MEDIA ENVIRONMENT
    Despitethehighnumberofinternationalcriticismsofregisteredmediaoutlets,themedia
    environmentinUzbekistanischaracterizedbyapresenceofindependentandpluralistic
    media.Broadcastmediaarethemostimportantsourceofinformationaboutpolitics.The
    state-fundedNationalTVandRadioCompanyofUzbekistan(NTRC)isthemain
    broadcaster,comprisingfourTVstations(twowithnationwidecoverage:TVUzbekistan
    andTVYoshallar)andfourradiochannelsaswellas16regionalbroadcasters.Thethird
    TVchannelwithnationwidecoverageistheprivatebroadcasterNTT.Freedomofspeech
    andexpressionisenshrinedintheconstitution.However,Art.29oftheconstitution
    stipulatesthatlawscanlimitthisright(seealsosectionIVofthisreport).Similarly,a
    numberofmedialawsprohibitcensorship,whileArticle4oftheLawonGuaranteesof
    FreedomofInformationstatesthatthefreedomtoinformthepubliccanberestrictedto
    protectthemoralvaluesofsociety,nationalsecurity,andthecountrysspiritual,cultural
    andscientificpotential.(Haldun YAVA)

    HALDUN YAVA
    REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN PARLIAMENTARY
    ELECTIONS 21 DECEMBER 2014

    TheLawonMassMediafurtherlimitsthepublicationofinformationthatisconsidereda
    statesecret,broadlydefinedasanyrevealedinformationaimingatdestabilizingthe
    constitutionalorderorthatcouldthreatentheintegrityofthecountry,orthatviolatesthe
    honorordignityofcitizens.ThelawfurthermoredefinesInternetwebsitesasmedia
    outletsandincludesprovisionsholdingmediaaccountableforthetruthfulnessand
    objectivityofthepublishedinformation.Underthecriminalcode,defamationandlibelare
    punishablewithuptothreeyearsimprisonmentanduptofiveyearsincasesofinsultor
    libelregardingthepresident.
    Haldun YAVA

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