The Central Commission on Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic (the CEC of the KR) is conducting a series of online meetings with the representatives of the Kyrgyz diasporas abroad in the framework of preparation and participation in the elections to the Jogorku Kenesh to be held on October 4, 2020.

This opportunity was made available thanks to the Electoral Assistance Program in the Kyrgyz Republic, implemented by the UNDP in cooperation with the CEC and the International Organization for Migration.

These meetings are aimed at discussing and exchanging the views on preparations for parliamentary elections, informing on current procedures as well as legal and technical aspects of participation in the elections for voters living abroad.

One of the meetings was held today, on August 5, 2020, with the participation of the Chairperson of the CEC Ms. Nurzhan K. Shayldabekova, Mr. Tilek Orunbayev and Ms. Yulia Shipilova, the representatives of the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Development Program and the Kyrgyz diaspora in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

As the Chairperson of the CEC Ms. Nurzhan Shayldabekova said,

“The Central Electoral Commission prepared a platform on voter lists, where each citizen can specify his or her precinct and check his or her data on the list: www.tizme.gov.kg. In addition, a separate platform www.talapker.shailoo.gov.kg will be opened, where one can find complete information on the registered parties”.

During the meeting, the representatives of diasporas expressed their concern over a number of issues, in particular the difficulties in registering online, as the consulates are currently closed due to the quarantine; the insufficient number of polling stations and security measures to be observed during the pandemic. The Chairperson of the CEC reported that online registration was launched and a special video will be provided in which all the procedures are described. She asked voters to register, as the issue of opening polling stations directly depends on the number of registered persons and a special algorithm for security at each stage of the election campaign was developed. On the voting day a full set of measures to protect the citizens, observers and members of the precinct electoral commission will be ensured, including the temperature control, the disinfection of premises and surfaces, provision of disposable gloves and masks.

The meeting lasted for three hours, given the largest number of Kyrgyz diasporas in the Russian Federation, which makes 600,000 people. Since a large number of received requests were dealing with the biometric and consular registration, video clips were produced and links to them were sent during the meeting in the Kyrgyz and Russian languages. Also, since the end of July, a hotline was launched for the Russian Federation (8 800 3018 318) and the Republic of Kazakhstan (8 10 800 0000 5727), where questions related to the elections can be asked. Calls from these two countries are free. 

The Electoral Assistance Program in the Kyrgyz Republic in 2020-2021 is implemented by the UNDP in Kyrgyzstan in cooperation with the CEC with the financial support from Japan, Germany and Switzerland. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is also a responsible party for the Program, it implements a component of the program to ensure the electoral rights of migrants, mainly those in the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.