While the Election Code is generally conducive to the conduct of democratic elections, following amendments of March 2008, it contains a number of provisions which fall short of OSCE Commitments and Council of Europe standards.[3] Although previous recommendations of the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR have been taken into account, a number of recommendations remain unaddressed, with areas of possible improvement. Some provisions of the Election Code have the potential to limit civil and political rights, and will require improvement to fully meet international commitments and standards for democratic elections. In addition, the Election Code is not well-organised and continues to include gaps, inconsistencies, and ambiguities which have resulted in uncertainties and varying interpretations among stakeholders, thus impeding effective implementation of the law. All of these concerns should be addressed in order to improve the legal framework for democratic elections.
