On Tuesday 26 October, the spokesperson for the European External Action Service welcomed the “calm and peaceful manner, with a high turnout and no evidence of serious tensions” at the 24 October presidential elections in Uzbekistan.
However, it highlighted a number of shortcomings, based on the preliminary findings of the OSCE/ODIHR international election observation mission. According to the spokesperson, there was no real electoral competition. “Independent opposition parties were excluded from the registration process contrary to international standards and OSCE commitments”, he said. The spokesperson also highlighted instances of intimidation against the media and civil society, including restrictions on the use of social media, “which reduce the space for open and engaged political discourse”. In addition, “significant procedural irregularities were noted by international observers on election day itself” he regretted.
The spokesperson warned that further progress was needed to complete the process of democratisation if elections aim to achieve full legitimacy.
President Shavkat Mirzioev was re-elected with 80.1% of the vote in an election with no real competition. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)