Opposition calls to boycott elections dismissed

The Uzbek authorities have dismissed opposition calls for a boycott of parliamentary elections due in December over alleged violations of electoral laws and the creation of obstacles in the way of opposition candidates, describing such claims as groundless. The Uzbek Central Election Commission (CEC) has also disagreed with the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Needs Assessment Mission Report which raised similar concerns. Earlier this week the unregistered Ozod Dehkonlar (Free Farmers) party declared a boycott of the elections. Other opposition groups warned the CEC to take immediate measures to eliminate obstacles facing independent candidates in the regional election commissions. "It is up to individuals and organisations to boycott elections. We are talking about initiative groups here, not about parties, as we are a neutral body and all registered political parties in the country are allowed to run in the elections," Sherzod Kudratkhodjaev, a CEC spokesman, told IRIN. "Regarding the individual cases of independent candidates, according to our information they have themselves not acted in accordance with election law," he added. However, observes say five officially registered pro-government political parties have no serious political commitments and don't even call themselves opposition parties. Two main opposition groups, Erk (Freedom) and Birlik (Unity), have been refused permission to register as political parties. "Prevented from participating in parliamentary elections, these parties had a chance to register initiative groups to nominate their independent candidates," Iskandar Khudoyberganov, director of the rights group, Centre for Democratic Initiatives, told IRIN. "But now this opportunity is fading as the laws on elections don't meet democratic norms and furthermore they are seriously violated. Local election commissions are blocking the registration of initiative groups," he added. On 26 December, 14.5 million voters, out of a total population of 26 million, will be able to vote for 120 parliamentary deputies and for members of regional and district councils. A 100-seat upper chamber - the Senate - will be created next January. Thirty percent of candidates in the elections for the lower house of parliament must be women, electoral commission officials said. But according to Khudoyberganov, if the situation remains unchanged, the future parliament would be unable to function in accordance with democratic norms as it would not represent a wide spectrum of political views. "In a civil society one can delegate one's authority to a member of parliament. But there is no delegate here who could win my trust, my authority. It means that thousands of people like me, who think differently, cannot participate in governing issues," he said. "No wonder the Free Farmers party boycotted the election and others might join it later," Khudoyberganov continued. "There is no choice other than to boycott the elections if opposition members are not allowed to run in the election." But other analysts doubt that opposition calls to boycott election will reach people and get wider support. "Because there is no basic freedom - freedom of speech - that could deliver the message to the people. It affects all democratic initiatives in the country," an analyst, who didn't want to be named, told IRIN. The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), giving details of its Needs Assessment Mission Report conducted between 20-22 September, said its recommendations to the authorities over improvements in the legal framework for the elections have been largely disregarded. "The lack of registered opposition parties and obstacles for independent candidates seriously marginalises the possibilities for meaningful political competition," the OSCE/ODIHR report said. It also raised concerns over limitations on civil and political rights, the lack of pluralism in election commissions and opportunities for citizens to receive independent viewpoints through broadcast or print media. The CEC official termed the OSCE report biased and based on groundless claims which are inaccurate and unchecked. "It is a pity that such claims come from such a serious organisation and we are worried that it might damage the reputation of our country," the official told IRIN.