"Taza Shailoo" Association and the "EGL" Public Foundation on the situation surrounding the CEC
BISHKEK, October 22, 2020 - the Common Cause Public Foundation, the "Taza Shailoo" Association and the "EGL" Public Foundation express their concern about the events that occurred on October 21, 2020 in the building of the Central Election Commission for Elections and Referendums after the appointment of repeat parliamentary elections on December 20, 2020. At 16:30 at the meeting with journalists, the Chairman of the CEC KR Shaildabekova N.K. reported that "the criminal investigator of the Criminal Militia Service arrived to the CEC, showed an investigative order of the investigative department on ensuring the appearance of all CEC members in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the KR to testify in the case over mass riots that occurred on October 5-6, 2020".
The Central Election Commission for Elections and Referendums of the Kyrgyz Republic must maintain its independence despite all political processes in the country. Any obstacles created are a violation of the Constitution, because according to Article 106 of the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Central Election Commission for Elections and Referendums is a constitutional body that "ensures preparation and holding of elections and referendums in the Kyrgyz Republic".
In today's difficult political environment, we must do everything possible to guarantee that CEC conducts its activities on the basis of the Constitution and laws regulating the conduct of elections. State and local self-government bodies, as well as their officials, are obliged to assist the Central Election Commission in the exercise of its powers, but not to hinder them or put pressure on its activities.
In accordance with Part 2 of Article 3 of the Law of the Kyrgyz Republic "On election commissions for holding elections and referendums of the Kyrgyz Republic" "interference in the activities of the Central Election Commission by state bodies, local self-government bodies, non-profit organizations, including political parties, other legal entities and individuals is not allowed".
We call on all stakeholders to respect the principle of independence of the CEC as a constitutional body and to facilitate its smooth operation in the run-up to the elections.
