Elections "conducted with fierce violations"

Today on 29 October 2000 the election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic are conducted with fierce violations. Since the morning independent observers of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights and the NGOs Coalition for Democracy and Civil Society and observers of "Ar-Namys" party were not admitted in any way to observe over election by election commission people all around the country. Observers of opposition candidates of Tekebaev, Eshimkanov and Atambaev were not admitted to observe over the election in most places. Chairman of Oktiabrski District election commission Damir Vladimirovich Lisovski personally by means of force pushed out independent observers of the voting station. The only one, which had the right to observe, is the association of NGOs headed by T. Umetaliev that was created on the eve of the presidential election by the Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. Moreover observers of this association interfered in the work of election commission and put pressure on their chairpersons and members. As a matter of fact they dictated their will in all voting stations. It was also found out that in all voting station there were representatives of Government, local authorities surrounded by law enforcement officers, who intimidated voters to vote for Kiev only. Because of such treatment activity of voters was not that active. Local authorities were campaigning for Akaev and voters were brought to voting station by buses. That’s exactly what happened in Kara-Buura and other districts of the country. District administration heads specifically instructed not to admit independent observers. For instance the head of administration of the Suzak district Toktomatov personally got about the place and instructed. Therefore many independent observers were busy before lunch proving legality of their actions also by means of appealing to courts. Students of higher educational institutions were strictly controlled as to their participation in election and their voting for Akaev. That’s what took place in voting station #1200 (Bishkek Humanities University), Jalal-Abad State University and almost in all the rest educational institutions. Reason for that fierce interference became clear when ballots were found to have been put stealthily in ballot box at the voting station 1145, on which the information below is provided.

Everywhere there were cases of putting stealthily ballot papers in favour of the existing president Akaev. That’s why independent observers of the KCHR and the NGOs Coalition and those of opposition were not admitted. For instance at the voting station No. 1145 located in Pervomai district of Bishkek 701 ballot papers in favour of Akaev were taken out before the voting started. Below is the act:

ACT

Bishkek, 29.10.2000

We, undersigned, the members of the Central Election Commission with the right of the deliberative vote U. Sovetov, chairman of Pervomai District Election Commission P. A. Sakharov, Osmonova B. Sh. Secretary have made this act that on 29 October 2000 at 8:45 a.m.

701 (Seven hundred and one) ballot papers were taken away at the voting station 1145 of the pervomai district of Bishkek. The ballot papers were found in a stationary box in the morning before the voting started in the presence of observers working for candidate for presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic O. Ch. Tekebaev, Janybek Aidaraliev, observers of A. Atambaev, Alishen Borobaevich Duyshembiev. Out of these ballot papers 700 (seven hundred) were marked as voted for the candidate for the presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic A. Akaev and 1 (one) for T. Akunov.

Member of the Central Election Commission

Chairman of the Pervomai District Election Commission

P. A. Sak,harov

B. Sh. Osmonova,

Secretary of the Pervomai District Election Commission

Observers: J. J. Aidaraliev, A. B. Duyshembiev,

Chairman of the voting station 1145

V. A. Tsoi

The Joint Statement of pre-election campaign staffs of candidates for presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic A. Atambaev and O. Tekebaev

Bishkek, 29 October 2000, 8:00 p.m.

Today on 29 October 2000, at the voting station 1145 of Pervomai district of Bishkek at 7:00 a.m. before that voting started and during the inspection of ballot boxes Chairman of Election Commission V. A. Tsoi in the presence of observers of candidates for presidency A. Akaev – Valeriy Petrovich Kovalev, A. Atambaev – Alitek Borobaevich Duyshembiev and O. Tekebaev – Janybek Aidaraliev found in a ballot box 701 ballot papers, 700 of which were marked as in favour of the candidate A. Akaev (the existing president) and one in favour of the candidate A. Akunov.

At 8:45 a.m. this fact was documented. The ballots were taken out by the Chairman of District Election Commission P. A. Sakharov and the secretary of District Commission B. Sh. Osmonova in the presence of the member of Central Election Commission with the right of deliberative vote U. Sovetov.

At 14:00 p.m S. Imanbaev Chairman of Central Election Commission declared that the even happened was a provocation.

At 18:00 S. Imanbaev has stated it more specifically and actually accused observers candidates A. Atambaev and O. Tekebaev of the provocations.

This is a groundless and pure lie, which is misleading the public in order to hide strong violations committed by Central Election Commission.

At present Central Election Commission and the Government look for somebody to blame in a frantic haste. Regardless of the secrecy of investigation prosecutor of Bishkek T. Albanov has made testimonies of V. Tsoi publicly available. According to our information Chairperson of District Election Commission V. Tsoi is in the Ministry of National Security and gives his testimonies as instructed by officers of special services. Otherwise it is impossible at all to explain discrepancies between testimonies given by V. Tsoi in the morning at the moment when the ballot papers were found and in the evening by 6:00 a.m. As this statement was being prepared we learnt that observers Alitek Duyshembiev and Janybek Aidaraliev give their uthorized representative of the

Candidate for presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic

A. Atambaev

G. Kulishov

Authorized representative of the Candidate for presidency of the Kyrgyz Republic

O. Tekebaev

V. Iskakov

After this it becomes possible to draw a conclusion that similar doings were undertaken in other locations as well, being the reason for independent observers to be not admitted to observe over elections. The Central Election Commission now happens to have worked for the existing president, which can be proved by the statement made S. Imanbaev as to the voting station 1145. Another example: in the village of Min-Kush (Jumgal district, Naryn region) authorized representatives of O. Tekebaev were not allowed to be present at the voting station Bekbolotova Taalygul having demanded that the observer should get registered in District election commission. This fact was immediately communicated to the Central Election Commission. General Division manager of Central Election Commission refused to accept a fax message. Then N. P. Mukhina was verbally by phone informed of that. However no measures were undertaken for Mukhina to regain her rights. Jumgal district election commission denied Bekbolotova who was then forced to leave the commission whereas the police threatened her with harassment. The police undertook illegal actions all over the place. For instance in Kok-Say village in a voting station #23, a junior lieutenant of police stopped a trusted person of Mr. Tekebaev. – Marat Salymbekov and took him to a police unit, deprived him of some personal effects as a pocket lamp, a notebook, a pen, a certificate of trusted person, threw it on the floor and started to trample it down with his feet and finally beat Salymbekov. There are numerous cases of violations of voters’ rights committed by authorities. These are the circumstances under which presidential election in Kyrgyzstan was conducted. The chairman of CEC S. Imanbaev said he would announce preliminary results at 12:00 a.m. on 30 of October In this way the Government is hurrying to declare the victory of the existing president A.Akaev.

New arrests of Tekebaev’s supporters are revealed. In the Nijni-chuisk village of Sokuluk district at 19:00 on 28 October trusted persons of Tekebaev Aralbai Karataev and his brother Atestimonies in prosecutor’s office.

It is quite possible that special services might even find a "person" who happened to allegedly be making calls in the night toV. Tsoi – Chairman of Election Commission.

In response to the statement of Central Election Commission pre-election staffs of the candidates A.Atambaev and O. Tekebaev responsibly declare that we have a video record which documented the fact of finding of 701 ballot papers before the voting started, preliminary explanations of V. A. Tsoi – Chairman of Election Commission and other materials as to actions relative to this incident. We are ready at any time to make them available to all interested people to do analysis of the situation.

We also appeal to law enforcement institutions of the Kyrgyz Republic with a demand to stop this outrage relative to observers exercising their authorities as provided for by election legislation and to act in strict compliance with the existing legislation.

Amanjan were arrested. At present both of them are in a Sokuluk detention facility. According to policemen they were arrested by instruction of head of the state district administration for actively campaigning for Tekebaev. Government officials acted according to earlier Special Services designed pattern and PR people of Akaev’s election staff members.

Sincerely

R. Dyryldaev
Chairman of the Kyrgyz Committee for Human Rights in exile
c/o IHF
Austria, Vienna
A- 1080 Wickenburgg. 14/7
tel: 43 1 408 88 22; 43 1 956 58 94; Fax+43 1 408 88 22-50

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Posted November 1, 2000 © Eurasianet
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