Kyrgyz electoral chief denies serious poll irregularities

The chairman of the Kyrgyz Central Electoral Commission, Sulayman Imanbayev, denied on Monday that the irregularities during Sunday's presidential elections had created a serious impact on the outcome.

"There were complaints. A total of 124 complaints and appeals were received on the day of elections throughout all Regional and Bishkek City electoral commissions," Imanbayev said, speaking at a news conference broadcast by Kyrgyz radio.

"One hundred of them have already been resolved. However, in all except one case, the complaints were not very serious and were resolved, for the most part, on the spot."

Commenting on the irregularities, Imanbayev said: "At the moment, we cannot single out particular ones. They were mainly complaints from the coalition, the so-called NGO coalition for Civil Society and Democracy.

"When they were visiting [polling stations], some of them who had warrants from the coalition were refused entry. Some of them, without mentioning that they were representatives of public associations, presented themselves as representatives of the coalition. For this reason they were refused entry.

"Nevertheless, thing were sorted out quickly there and they all attended the voting," Imanbayev said at the news conference.

Source: Kyrgyz Radio first programme, Bishkek, in Russian 1400 gmt 30 Oct 00

BBC Mon CAU 301000/** tm/ma

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Posted October 31, 2000 © Eurasianet
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