Elections - The Times Of Central Asia

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Tajikistan Announces Preliminary Parliamentary Election Results; OSCE Absent

Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda, the chairman of Tajikistan's Central Commission for Elections and Referenda (CCER), has announced the preliminary results of the March 2 parliamentary elections to the Assembly of Representatives. According to Khudoyorzoda, 4.71 million of the 5.52 million registered voters participated in the election, representing an 85.3% turnout. The election results for party-list voting were as follows: The People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan secured the most support, receiving 2,435,541 votes (51.9%). The Agrarian Party of Tajikistan garnered 986,887 votes (21%). The Economic Reform Party of Tajikistan received 595,281 votes (12.7%). The Socialist Party of Tajikistan obtained 248,064 votes (5.3%). The Democratic Party of Tajikistan received 237,536 votes (5.1%). The Communist Party of Tajikistan received 89,738 votes (1.9%), failing to meet the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation. Additionally, 50,895 voters chose the "against all" option. As a result of the party-list vote count, the 22 parliamentary seats allocated through the national proportional system were distributed as follows: People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan - 12 seats Agrarian Party of Tajikistan - 5 seats Economic Reform Party of Tajikistan - 3 seats Socialist Party of Tajikistan - 1 seat Democratic Party of Tajikistan - 1 seat The Communist Party of Tajikistan did not secure any seats. In total, five of the six registered parties gained representation in the Majlisi Oli, Tajikistan’s parliament. The remaining parliamentary seats were allocated through single-mandate districts. On February 6, 2025, the OSCE/ODIHR canceled a planned election observer mission, stating that the Tajik authorities' failure to accredit the observers had "denied the people of Tajikistan an impartial and independent assessment of the elections." A mission from the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, meanwhile, characterized the election as "transparent, credible and democratic." In the latest presidential elections, held in 2020, incumbent Emomali Rahmon won a fifth consecutive term, securing a purported 92.08% of the vote. Rahmon has been president since 1994, having previously led the country as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly from 1992 to 1994. TCA has previously reported on long prison sentences for Tajik opposition figures. Elections to the National Assembly will be held on March 28, 2025.

Emomali Rahmon Opposition OSCE Mass Media Elections

Citing Restrictions, OSCE Withdraws Observer Mission Ahead of Tajikistan’s Elections

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has canceled plans to observe parliamentary elections in Tajikistan in March, saying the authorities have not provided assurances that its mission observers will be accredited for the event. The Dushanbe-based election experts of the OSCE haven’t been able to start working since their observation mission opened on Jan. 22, according to the group’s office for democratic institutions and human rights. The office had concluded that it needed 20 long-term observers and 150 short-term observers to monitor concerns about the impartiality of Tajik election officials, the lack of independence of the judiciary and law enforcement and a deterioration in the rights of expression and assembly. The OSCE office said on Tuesday that it “deploys election observation missions at the invitation of states, and host governments need to provide the necessary conditions for their effective and unrestricted operation. Prolonged uncertainty surrounding accreditation undermines the integrity of this process.” Tajikistan has a presidential system of power and longtime President Emomali Rahmon had said that elections to the lower parliamentary chamber, the 63-member Majlisi Oli, would be held on March 2. Elections to the upper chamber, the Majlisi Milli, will be held on March 28. Rahmon’s eldest son, Rustam Emomali, is chairman of the upper chamber, positioning him as a possible successor to his father, and some of the chamber’s 33 members are appointed by the president. International concerns are growing about the harsh environment for government opponents and journalists not affiliated with the state in Tajikistan, some of whom have been imprisoned. The government often casts critics as a threat to stability in a country that endured a civil war in the 1990s and – with its long border with Afghanistan - points to Islamic extremism as a perpetual threat. The biggest opposition party, the Islamic Renaissance Party of Tajikistan, was labeled a terrorist group and banned in 2015. Rahmon leads the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Tajikistan and there are half a dozen other parties with small numbers of seats. In a speech to parliament in late December, Rahmon said “national security and sustainable economic development” were among the key goals of his administration. Despite criticism that he is authoritarian, he used the language of democracy in a brief reference to the elections. “The upcoming elections should be held in a transparent, free, and high-level manner in accordance with the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Tajikistan, and voters should choose their worthy candidates,” said Rahmon, who has been in power since 1994. Observers from the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a group of post-Soviet states, will monitor Tajikistan’s elections.

Parliament Corruption Crime Court Cases Elections

Kyrgyz Politician Irina Karamushkina Detained on Suspicion of Offering Cash for Votes

Irina Karamushkina, a senior member of the Social Democrats party and a former deputy of Kyrgyzstan's Parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, has been detained in Bishkek on suspicion of buying votes ahead of local elections on November 17. The Social Democrats are one of about 20 parties whose candidates are registered in the elections. According to the press service of the city's police department, on November 13 an audio recording surfaced on social media in Kyrgyzstan, in which the chief of staff of the Social Democrats party, identified as "I.K.", allegedly discussed vote buying with a person named "D.C." ahead of Sunday's elections. In response, Bishkek police investigators launched a criminal case under Article 196 of the Kyrgyz Criminal Code, addressing election bribery. Later, the police distributed an audio recording allegedly capturing a conversation between Karamushkina and Daniyar Cholponbaev -- the party's candidate for deputy -- where they appear to discuss offering bribes for votes. The investigation found that "T.R.", a trustee of the Social Democrats, and "I.K." were involved in voter bribery, offering 1,000 Kyrgyz som ($12) per vote. During a search of the party headquarters, authorities seized lists indicating payments of 15,000 to 30,000 som ($175 to $350) to over 40 individuals, along with 28,300 som ($330) in cash, believed to be intended for offering bribes to voters. "T.R." and "I.K." were detained as suspects and are being held in a temporary detention facility. The investigation is ongoing. On November 13, police and special forces raided the Social Democrats’ headquarters, evacuating everyone from the premises. Party leader Temirlan Sultanbekov was taken in for questioning, and Karamushkina’s residence was also searched as part of the investigation.

Elections Democratization Reforms

How Can Central Asian Countries Advance Democratization Efforts Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty?

On October 27, Uzbekistan held parliamentary elections, which, along with the referendum in Kazakhstan and upcoming local council elections in Kyrgyzstan, contributed to a global election year. In the elections in Uzbekistan, the ruling Liberal Democratic Party emerged victorious, participating for the first time in elections held under a mixed majoritarian-proportional system. As a result of the vote, the Liberal Democratic Party received 42,7% of the votes, securing 64 out of 150 seats in parliament. Voter turnout was 74.72%, and observers noted the organization and conduct of the elections. Leaders in Central Asia frequently cite the region’s volatile geopolitical landscape as a basis for more cautious internal reforms. This reflects a need to maintain stability in the face of external pressures. Historically and currently, Central Asian countries do not represent homogeneous societies. Additionally, increasing political divisions within society and among political elites are observed in almost all five countries of the region. Against this backdrop, escalating geopolitical conflicts on the global stage may further hinder the realization of major political reforms. Political Reforms and an Unstable World Order It's challenging to definitively assess political reforms in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as either negative or positive, as both perspectives exist. European and American leaders often note the countries' aspirations for reforms and express readiness to support them. Therefore, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan effectively act as locomotives of political reforms in Central Asia at this stage. Under the leadership of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kazakhstan has undertaken political reforms aimed at modernizing the political system and strengthening democratic institutions. A significant step was limiting presidential powers by introducing a single seven-year presidential term without the right to re-election, which should promote regular changes in political leadership. Kazakh authorities argue that the role of parliament has also been strengthened to increase its influence and accountability to the government, providing a more balanced system of checks and balances. Liberalization of the party system included simplifying the registration of political parties and introducing elections based on single-member districts, which should foster political pluralism. Steps were taken to increase citizen participation in governance, including the introduction of direct elections for village and district mayors and creating mechanisms for open citizen feedback. Additionally, a 30% quota for women, youth, and people with disabilities was introduced in party lists, contributing to strengthening gender equality. Under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is also conducting significant reforms aimed at democratizing the political system. These elections were noteworthy for the introduction of a mixed electoral system, representing a significant departure from past practices. Under this system, 150 seats in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis should be filled by two methods: 75 seats were elected through single-member districts (majoritarian system), and the remaining 75 were allocated proportionally based on party results (proportional system). This approach aims to enhance political pluralism by allowing both individual candidates and political parties to gain representation. The majoritarian component allows voters to directly elect representatives from their constituencies, fostering a closer connection between elected officials and their constituents....

Election Elections Oily Majilis

Uzbekistan’s Path to Reform: Navigating the 2024 Elections with a New Electoral System

Uzbekistan’s upcoming parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 27, 2024, mark an important step in the country’s political evolution. These elections will fill 150 seats in the Legislative Chamber, the lower house of the Oliy Majlis, and determine the composition of various regional, district, and city councils. In addition, 65 members of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan will also be elected. These elections are notable not only because of their timing — shifting from December to October under a 2021 reform — but also due to the adoption of a mixed electoral system that was introduced in December 2023. This shift represents an important evolution from the previous majority-based system, introducing a balance between majority and proportional representation, which will shape the composition of Uzbekistan’s Legislative Chamber. The new system reflects a broader attempt at political reform and modernization. Of the 150 seats, 75 will be decided through single-mandate districts, where the candidate with the most votes will win, while the remaining 75 will be allocated proportionally based on party results. Uzbekistan’s political landscape, however, remains limited, with only five officially registered parties. In the 2019 elections, the Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDeP), which is closely linked to the presidency, won the most seats. While this mixed system represents a potential step forward, challenges persist in terms of political pluralism and genuine competition. Uzbekistan, in its journey toward stronger democratic practices, can find inspiration in the electoral processes of other established democracies, particularly India — the world’s largest democracy. India’s electoral system, honed over decades, has become a model for managing elections in a complex and diverse society. The parallels between Uzbekistan’s emerging political landscape and India’s robust democratic traditions offer an opportunity for learning and adaptation.