The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE ODIHR), the most important election monitoring organization in the region, has warned that under Uzbekistan’s revised election code “restrictions on or an absence of guarantees of fundamental freedoms” remain unaddressed. The five registered parties in the election all operate within the political confines defined by the government and no independent or opposition parties have been allowed to participate.
“Uzbekistan has recently introduced important reforms so it’s a missed opportunity that this reform spirit did not extend to these parliamentary elections,” said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. “Tashkent should in future allow independent parties and candidates to run in such elections.”
The question and answer document reviews aspects of the elections from a human rights perspective, including media coverage and the increase in the number of women candidates. It also outlines key human rights developments in the country in recent years, regarding political prisoners, freedom of expression, civil society, forced labor and other issues.
