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KABUL (TCA) — Senior Afghan officials have praised voters who cast ballots in weekend parliamentary elections that were plagued by violence and organizational problems, saying the turnout shows that Afghans are rejecting the ideology of Taliban militants, RFE/RL's Radio Free Afghanistan reported. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) in the Kyrgyz Republic, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), completed the first Election Schools held in the country. During the month of August, a total of 140 youth aged between 18 and 28 participated in a series of activities designed to increase civic responsibility and community involvement among young citizens. The Election Schools were held in every oblast of the country, the US Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — On June 14, the State Registration Service of Kyrgyzstan with the support of the UNDP, the Government of Switzerland and OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek opened the training centre with the aim to capacitate the staff of the SRS and the Central Election Committee (CEC) in preparations of elections in the Kyrgyz Republic. The Centre will become a platform for professional growth of the staff involved in the election and updating their skills and knowledge on digital innovations, the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic reported. Continue reading
ASHGABAT (TCA) — On March 25, voters in Turkmenistan cast their ballots in parliamentary elections. Turkmen could choose from three political parties and some independents, although all the candidates are ultimately loyal to President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, RFE/RL reported. Continue reading
DUSHANBE (TCA) — The lower chamber of Tajikistan's parliament has approved amendments to the laws on presidential and parliamentary elections — lowering the eligibility age from 35 to 30 for the presidency and legislative posts in parliament's upper chamber, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. The bill was approved on February 7 in accordance with the results of a May 2016 national referendum. The idea to lower the age of eligibility for presidential candidates is seen as a change that could position President Emomali Rahmon’s 30-year-old son, Rustam Emomali, for an early succession. Tajikistan's next presidential election is scheduled for 2020. The legislative amendments also ban presidential and parliamentary candidates from receiving financial support from abroad, or from foreign citizens and organizations. According to the amendments, formally registered presidential candidates can be detained or arrested on approval by the Central Election Commission. The bill must be approved by the parliament's upper chamber before it can be signed into law by Rahmon. Rahmon, who has ruled Tajikistan for close to a quarter of a century, enjoys special rights adopted under the May 2016 referendum, including the right to seek as many terms in office as he wants. Rahmon has been criticized by international human rights group in recent years over increasing disregard for religious freedoms, civil society, and political pluralism in Tajikistan.
BISHKEK (TCA) — The new President of Kyrgyzstan, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, has awarded his predecessor Almazbek Atambayev with the title of a National Hero. Continue reading
