Forged ballot papers found in Kyrgyz capital, other irregularites reported

Kyrgyz Central Electoral Commission Chairman Sulayman Imanbayev said that the commission had registered a series of violations at polling stations during Sunday's voting.

"A very serious incident occurred in a polling station no.1145 in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital," Imanbayev said on Kyrgyz TV.

"Seven hundred and one ballot papers were found in a ballot box, put there by someone early in the morning. We have sent the material to the office of the public prosecutor general. The chairman of the electoral district has been sacked. An inquiry into this incident is under way at the moment."

He said that there were a total of 1,700 registered voters in that electoral district and the incident with the 700 ballot papers was "most likely an intentional provocation".

He also said that the commission had received complaints of irregularities at various district electoral commissions.

"We received complaints that district electoral commissions prevented NGOs and their observers from entering polling stations on time in some electoral districts. But we intervened and the observers are now carrying out their mission without any obstacles," Imanbayev said.

Source: Kyrgyz Television first channel, Bishkek, in Kyrgyz 0900 gmt 29 Oct 00

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Posted October 24, 2000 © Eurasianet
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