Text of report by the Kyrgyz news agency Kabar on 9th February

Bishkek, 9th February: The mission of the [OSCE] Office for Democratic
Institutions and Human Rights for the observation of the elections in
Kyrgyzstan is concerned about the fact that the party list of the
Democratic Movement of Kyrgyzstan Party has been denied registration to
stand in the parliamentary elections on 20th February 2000.

The mission's concern has risen also because of the fact that in previous
weeks a number of political parties and prominent candidates were prevented
from participation in the election campaign on a fair basis by denying them
registration and instituting legal proceedings against them. As a result,
voters' freedom of choice is being restricted.

In a press release, the mission says that as an OSCE member the Kyrgyz
Republic has committed "to respect citizens' right to seek political
office, individually or as representatives of political parties, without
any discrimination", as well as "the right of individuals and groups to
establish in full freedom their own political parties and to provide them
with the necessary legal guarantee to enable them to compete with each
other on a basis of equal treatment before the law."

Source: Kabar news agency, Bishkek, in Russian 1005 gmt 09 Feb 00
BBC Mon CAU 090200/** BB/MK