Uzbekistan, Tashkent, Dec. 28 / Trend D.Azizov /
The CIS observer mission said the Uzbek parliamentary elections Dec. 27, 2009 were held in accordance with the Uzbek Constitution and universally recognized democratic norms, CIS Executive Committee Chairman, CIS Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said at a news conference today.
"The mission recognizes the elections as free and open," he said. "The mission notes that the elections demonstrated the civil society's political maturity and free will of voters."
The mission commends the measures taken in the country to ensure free elections. The country has improved the national electoral legislation, he added.
The 84-people observation mission was in Uzbekistan for days, he said. As part of their monitoring, the mission held meetings with representatives of Uzbek authorities and exchanged views on the electoral process with political parties and OSCE/ODIHR missions.
According to the mission, the country has created equal opportunities for political parties to campaign. The media fully covered the election campaign and the voting process, Lebedev added.
The observer mission monitored the voting process in the Karakalpakstan Republic and all of Tashkent Dec. 27, and visited 787 polling stations in 98 districts.
Lebedev said he did not notice negative ratings in the voting process.
About 270 representatives from 36 states and four international organizations, including the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) - 13 observers, CIS Executive Committee - 84, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization - five and Organization of Islamic Conference - 7, monitored the Uzbek elections.
Voters elected 135 deputies from 506 candidates from four political parties, including the Uzbek People's Democratic party, the Uzbek Liberal-Democratic party, Milliy Tiklanish and Adolat.
According to preliminary data, the voter turnout in the elections hit 87.8 percent.
Preliminary election results will be released on Monday.
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