The Diplomat
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, was re-elected for a second term, with the majority support of 8 out of 10 voters, in presidential elections held on Sunday. Preliminary results were announced Monday at a briefing at the Central Election Commission’s press centre. Mirziyoyev, as the candidate of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal-Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, won a convincing victory with 80.1% of the vote and was elected President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
More than 80% of Uzbekistan’s voters took part in the elections, which the Central Election Commission (CEC) described as “a historic achievement for the country“, reports the Uzbek Embassy in a press release. The CEC reported that more than 19 million citizens registered to vote, and some 970 international observers and more than 1,000 media monitored the voting process.
According to most observers, the elections were conducted in accordance with international standards, national legislation and democratic principles, and were open and transparent. In this regard, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Mission noted in its report that the election authorities respected all procedural deadlines and on schedule.
Following meetings of ODIHR observers with representatives of civic organisations, NGOs and others, the report states that there were no complaints from citizens related to the election process. It states that no complaints were lodged with the CEC, the territorial election administration or the judiciary by the public.
According to the ODIHR, despite the problems related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CEC organised its activities in a professional, quality and efficient manner within the legal deadlines. In particular, for the first time, all CEC sessions were open to the general public and broadcast live, and its decisions were immediately published on the commission’s website. This contributed to the openness and transparency of the election process.
“These elections are an integral part of the consistent and dynamic reforms undertaken in the political, legal, social, economic, spiritual and educational spheres,” the Uzbek Embassy’s release adds that “the elections took place in a truly competitive atmosphere among the five political parties and their candidates, and were a testimony to the consolidation of freedom and the development of democracy in Uzbekistan”. The note concludes by stressing that “the elections once again demonstrated the growing political mentality, social activism and cultural level of the people of Uzbekistan”.
