I. Participation of national minorities

The OSCE/ODIHR noted in its election report on the 2011 presidential election that national minority issues and inter-ethnic relations did not feature prominently in the election campaign. However, it was noted there were some areas where national minorities had a significant population and they were underrepresented in Territorial Election Commissions (TECs).[1] The OSCE/ODIHR has previously made the following recommendations in regard to the participation of national minorities in elections: (1) representation of national minorities in the election administration should be ensured, especially in areas compactly populated by national minorities; and (2) voter information and election material should be made available in minority languages, especially in the areas populated by those minorities. The draft law does not address these recommendations.

[1] OSCE/ODIHR Final Report on the Kyrgyz Republic presidential election 23 July 2009 (Warsaw, 22 October 2009), at page 14.