News

Legal ambiguity allows Uzbek president to stay on for extra year, International Herald Tribune (2007)

This article touches upon the legal confusion between the constitution and election law of Uzbekistan, which allowed president Karimov to stay one extra year as a president.

Узбекистан, Оппозиционер поневоле. Частная история предпринимателя Баходира Чориева, Фергана.ру (2009)

Баходир Чориев, узбекский эмигрант в США, решил выступить оппозиционным движением в парламентских выборах декабря сего года в Узбекистане.

В Узбекистане стартовала кампания по имитации выборного процесса, Фергана.Ру (2009)

Власти Узбекистана в очередной раз начали производить хорошо отлаженные действия по имитации, а точнее сказать, симуляции выборного процесса. 22 сентября в стране официально стартовала избирательная кампания по выборам в Законодательную (нижнюю) палату Олий Мажлиса (парламента), а также в областные, районные и городские Кенгаши (советы) народных депутатов.

Parliamentary election campaign underway in Uzbekistan, 2009 (ISCIP)

Parliamentary election campaign underway in Uzbekistan In his Independence Day address this year, Uzbekistan’s President Islom Karimov once again emphasized that his government is in the process of building a democracy and is continuing to take steps in pursuit of this lofty and yet elusive goal. Fortunately, before the year comes to an end, President Karimov’s administration will have a golden opportunity to demonstrate, in a very concrete way, just how much progress has been made toward introducing a more democratic process to his country’s political system.

Uzbekistan dashes independents’ parliamentary hopes, 2009 (Uznews)

The Uzbek Central Electoral Commission has issued a resolution that bans candidates nominated by initiative groups from standing in the forthcoming parliamentary election on 27 December, thus killing the last hope for any kind of competition during the campaign.

Does Uzbekistan really need parliamentary election?, 2009 (Uznet)

Uzbekistan launched a parliamentary and local election campaign on 22 September but this is useless because the presidential administration will decide as who will become deputies, political analyst Tashpulat Yuldashev thinks. The only thing people who protest against this election circus, Yuldashev thinks, could do is to boycott the election and prevent their relatives and friends from voting.

Uzbekistan, CEC Seminar in for District Electoral Chiefs, 2009 (CEC Uzbekistan)

The Central Election Commission hosted a conference for chairmen of district electoral commissions set for elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Uzbek Opposition Leader Reportedly Freed, 2009 (RFE/RL)

Uzbek opposition leader Sanjar Umarov has been freed after four years in jail, a pro-opposition website reported on November 8, in a move that could help the Central Asian state further improve ties with the West.

Experts fail to identify potential successor for Uzbek president, 2009 (Uznews)

Experts, both foreign and Uzbek, tried to answer questions about development prospects for Uzbekistan after President Islam Karimov’s 20-year-long rule in the country at a meeting in Amsterdam on 7 November. Answers given mainly concerned the president, his entourage and family and his first name – Islam.

Excluded Aspirant Criticizes Uzbek Election Process, RFE/RL (2009)

The article includes critical comments of a member of pro-presidential Liberal Democratic Party in Uzbekistan towards her party chairman and the election process after she was not allowed to run in the upcoming parliamentary elections. She speaks about high level of political corruption and mentions that she is going to file a lawsuit against her party chairman.

European election watchdog deploys limited mission in Uzbekistan, Uznews (2009)

The article reports that OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has opened its limited assessment mission in Tashkent to assess a parliamentary election in Uzbekistan on 27 December, but it will not monitor the election. The experts will analyse the legal framework for the election, the political campaign, and the work of the election administration at central and district levels, as well as the complaints and appeals process. The mission will also assess the media environment and media coverage of the elections.

Uzbekistan Cracks Down Ahead Of Elections, RFERL (2009)

The articles reports about increasing human rights violations in Uzbekistan ahead of 27 December parliamentary elections. Human Rights Watch States states increase in attempts to intimidate activists.

Uzbekistan: The opposition leader Bakhodir Choriev is expelled from Uzbekistan, Ferghana.ru (2009)

Ferghana news service reports that Bakhodir Choriev, the emigrant and the leader of Birdamlik (Solidarity) Uzbek opposition movement, which had recently returned home, was sent back to USA. Earlier, the opposition leader had tried organising pre-election meetings with voters, but his attempts were blocked by the police.

Uzbek parliamentary elections: heated interparty debates, UzReport (2009)

The article reports about heated debates between the four parties which are running for Decemebr 27 Parliamentary Elections in Uzbekistan. They accuse each other of giving false promises to the voters. Main issues discussed in the campaigns are creating jobs for the youth, education, healthcare, increase in the social buget of the country, etc.

Uzbekistan holds election as West watches, Reuters (2009)

The article writes about upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan, scheduled this Sunday, 27 December 2009. It mentions that despite Uzbekistan has been classified as one of the most repressive regimes in the world, West remains silent few days before elections. The author believes that Sunday vote will ensure all seats in the lower house of the parliament to the party of President Karimov.

West silent as Uzbekistan votes in 'sham' election, Financial Times (2009)

The article analyses the upcoming parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan in the context of geopolitical interests of the West. It mentions that Western countries are expected to hold their tongue when Uzbeks go to the polls in a tightly controlled parliamentary vote this weekend, to help secure Tashkent's help for the war in Afghanistan.

Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan expected to bring little change, Deutsche Welle (2009)

The articles writes about Uzbekistan poll on Sunday, 27 December, 2009, to vote in parliamentary elections. Elections were widely regarded as neither free nor fair, and voters had to choose between four parties that back the country's authoritarian regime. Six hours after the start of polls, it was reported that 57% of the voters have already cast their ballot.

Uzbek strongman can rely on cooperative parliament, Deutsche Welle (2009)

The article analyses that after 20 years in office, Uzbekistan's president, Islam Karimov, can expect to continue to rule unopposed by his country's parliament. Parliamentary elections were held in Uzbekistan on 27 December, 2009, and all 150 seats are guaranteed to be filled by pro-government politicians.

Uzbek parliamentary election over, RIA Novosti (2009)

The article reports that parliamentary election polls are over, and the voter turnout was reported 88%. Uzbekistan's election commission declared elections valid. Representatives of Human Rights Watch described the election campaign in Uzbekistan as oppressed by the government.

Uzbek Elections Mean Little, But More Entertaining This Time, RFE/RL (2009)

The article writes about parliamentary election polls in Uzbekistan, 27 December 2009. Uzbekistan has held parliamentary elections three times since gaining independence in 1991; none have been seen by observers as meeting Western democratic standards. All indicators show that with no opposition candidates - these elections will not fare any better than its predecessors.

Uzbekistan: Tashkent holds parliamentary elections, EurasiaNet (2009)

The article writes about December 27 Parliamentary elections in Uzbekistant and mentions that 4 parties have participated in elections and threshold was reported more than 88%. US diplomats and OSCE observers have assessed elections netiher free nor fair and mentioned that the voters were deprived of freedom of choice. On the other hand, observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) marked that elections demonstrated political maturity.

Uzbek president suggests constitutional amendments, Uznews.net (2010)

The article reports that Uzbekistan's president Karimov has suggested amending the coutry's constitution to increase powers of the parliament.

New social-democratic party emerges in Uzbekistan, Uznews (2010)

The article reports about establishment of a new political party in Uzbekistan, Tashkent region. The new party, "People's Interest" was initiated by a group of civic activists, workers and farmers. According to its initiators, the party should become an alternative to the existing parties that were set up on orders from top down.

CEC: Uzbekistan ready for parliamentary elections, UzDaily (2014)