Important institute of democratic reforms, main form of direct participation

By Abdurakhmanov Khasan Adilovich
Head of the Organizational and Methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Necessary conditions for the implementation of the suffrage by the citizens have been created in the Republic of Uzbekistan after the declaration of her independence. Elections turned into an important institute of democratic reforms and they are one of the main forms of direct participation of the people in the management of the public affairs.
The national electoral system which has been created showed in practice that it became the reliable mechanism of open and public elections, bright result of the democratic renovations realized in our country. The combination in a national electoral system of the best practices of the developed countries and national traditions provides for the manifestation of free and open wishes of the people.
All acts adopted in Uzbekistan in this sphere are directed on strict observance of electoral rights of the citizens on the basis of democratic principles of justice, publicity, openness and transparency, creation to voters of necessary conditions for free participation in elections, and the political parties proposed by them to candidates --ample and equal opportunities during the election campaign.
The most important feature of the national electoral system is the system of independent election commissions which provide the organization and elections according to the requirements of the law and submit only to the law. Attempts of intervention in their activity by the power structures and public associations are forbidden. The legislation conferred special powers on the preparation of elections to the Central Election Commission. This status allows providing legality during elective process that is the most important condition of free will of the voters.
Full attention is paid to ensuring the openness, publicity and transparency of the elections. Taking into account the international experience and national practice in laws on elections participation of observers from political parties, members of the media, and also observers from other countries, the international organizations and movements at all stages of electoral process is fixed.
More and more significant role is played by the institutes of the civil society in the Republic of Uzbekistan. It is confirmed by the fact of granting to the ecological movement of Uzbekistan a quota of 15 deputy positions in the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament.1 Such norm was entered proceeding from the huge importance of questions of environmental protection, fight for the improvement of ecological situation, and human health, where decision of all the sectors of the society is involved.
Uzbekistan achieved in recent years huge successes which are recognized by the world community, and takes a worthy place on the international scene during implementation of complex large-scale reforms. First of all, it is necessary to refer strengthening peace in the country, tranquility and civil consent to our main achievements, steady growth rates of economy --steadily more than 8 percent a year in recent years, continuous increase of welfare, level and quality of life of the population, and also growth of his civil consciousness, political and legal culture. Great success in formation of market economy, modernization of all spheres, and construction of strong civil society is achieved. The large-scale reforms realized on the way of construction of the democratic constitutional state in which the person and his interests are considered as the supreme value find recognition around the world.2

It is known that there is no universal model of an electoral system which has to take root equally in all states. Each system will yield the good results if it is introduced taking into account interests, culture, traditions and customs of certain people, geographical and historical conditions of the country. The electoral system of Uzbekistan combines the international standards, the best practices of the democratic states, and also traditions and values of the Uzbek people. The key, conventional democratic principles in the world fixed in the Universal declaration of the human rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, other international legal acts ratified by Uzbekistan are the basis for electoral laws of our country. 3
Huge value for vitality, effectiveness of the laws on elections adopted in the country has that the international democratic standards were included in them not automatically, and are implemented taking into account culture, traditions of our people and the national experience of construction of the democratic constitutional state and society which is saved up for years of independence. All acts adopted in Uzbekistan in this sphere are directed on strict observance of electoral rights of citizens on the basis of the principles of justice, publicity, openness and transparency, creation to voters of necessary conditions for free participation in elections.
Within realization of reform the changes and additions directed on fuller implementation of the principle of choice freedom, increasing of efficiency of providing equal conditions to candidates, political parties during pre-election campaign, improvement of legal mechanisms of ensuring transparency during elections were made to electoral laws.
So, the concept of pre-election campaign, types, forms and methods of its carrying out was defined. It is established that pre-election campaign isn't allowed on the election day and the day before the beginning of vote.4 Besides that, laws on elections to representative bodies of the power included norm that within three days about one voting day, and also in the voting day publication (publication) of results of polls, forecasts of results of elections, other researches connected with the held elections, including their placement in public information and telecommunication networks including the Internet isn't allowed. It strengthens guarantees of ensuring free will of voters. Observers were granted the right to be present at conference of the Ecological movement of Uzbekistan on elections of deputies of Legislative chamber that will promote further strengthening of the principles of openness and transparency of electoral process in our country.
A number of the amendments directed on further improvement of an electoral system are introduced in the Constitution of the country. So, article 117 assigned the status of the constitutional body which provides preparation and elections without any intervention of other authorities to Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It became one more major guarantee of comprehensive ensuring democratic character, openness and publicity of elections. In 2014 the Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan about administrative responsibility was added by the new chapter providing responsibility for violations in the field of the organization and elections and a referendum.5

The elections which were held in 20146 and 20157 became bright confirmation of the increased level of political activity, legal and political culture of the population. Their results showed commitment of the people to business of construction of the democratic state where ensuring interests, the rights and freedoms of the person, rule of law, equality before the all citizens of the country becomes a main goal. Carrying out election campaign was provided the Central, 135 district and 9 035 precinct election commissions, including 44 abroad.
In electoral laws of our country it is fixed that mass media light the course of preparation and elections. In the order of mass media established by the law provide the broadcasting time and the printing area for performances of candidates, representatives of political parties during pre-election campaign with observance of the principle of equal conditions and opportunities. Besides, as one of institutes of civil society they carry out also function of public control during electoral process.
During election campaigns of last years, including parliamentary elections of 2014, the wide experience of cooperation of the Central Electoral Commission and mass media in broad informing the domestic and foreign public on all stages of preparation and elections is saved up. For the purpose of comprehensive and unbiased interpretation of election campaign of 2015 on the election of the President of our country by the Central Electoral Commission concluded bilateral agreements with National broadcasting company of Uzbekistan, National news agency of Uzbekistan and “Jahon” news agency. Agreements also provide a wide explanation among the population of the national legislation regulating electoral process. The increasing activity according to electoral process is shown by the non-state mass media first of all entering into NAESMI association, and information and analytical Internet editions.8
According to the program of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan9 for organizers of elections who are the members of district and precinct election commissions, and also representatives of institutes of civil society, journalists, thematic seminars are held. It increases their knowledge in the last changes in national electoral laws facing election commission’s tasks, including of ensuring openness and publicity of electoral process with participation of mass media.
Thus, process of updating of an electoral system led to modernization and democratization of institute of elections, improvement of an order of their organization and carrying out. The elections which passed in 2014-2015 allowed to create democratically electoral public authorities and really to guarantee protection of electoral rights of citizens.
They showed correctness of words of the head of our state, told in 2010: "The principles of a freedom of choice and will and, first of all, a constitutional right of everyone to choose and be elected in representative bodies of the government are the basis for model of our national statehood. Elections are a major issue of democratic character of the precepts of law existing in the country, the integral attribute of the democratic constitutional state, the main form of will of the people, participation of citizens in administration of the state and society?
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1. Collection of the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2008, No. 52, Art. 510
2. Newspaper "The national word", 2015 on October 20, No. 201 (6384)
3. "Electoral laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan: international experience and practice". T-2009, page 8-22.
4. Collection of the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2012, No. 51, Art. 574
5. Collection of the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 2014, No. 36, Art. 452; 2015, No. 34, Art. 451
6.
http://elections.uz/ru/events/curent_topics/4016/?sphrase_id=45616
7.
http://elections.uz/ru/events/current_topics/5533/?sphrase_id=45616
8.
http://elections.uz/ru/events/current_topics/4482/?sphrase_id=45617
9. See: The program of actions for preparation and elections in Oly Mazhlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, regional and city Kengasha of People's Deputies in 2014 - T., "Uzbekiston", 2014. - 56 pages.
10. Karimov I.A. The Concept of further deepening of democratic reforms and formation of civil society in the country. The report at a joint meeting of Legislative chamber and Senate Oly Mazhlisa of the Republic of Uzbekistan on November 12, 2010. - National word, 2010, on November 13.

Curriculum vitae of Abdurakhmanov Khasan Adilovich:
From September 19, 2014: Head of the Organizational and methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Date of birth: 03. 04. 1982.
Place of birth: Tashkent
Nationality: Uzbek
Political party membership: Nil
Education: University.
Graduated from: 2003 Tashkent Economic State University (bachelor’s degree). 2005 Tashkent Economic State University (master’s degree). 2009 Tashkent State Institute of Law
Specialty: Economist, international economic relations, lawyer
Science status: Master’s degree
Languages: Uzbek, Russian, English
Is he a Public deputy, the Republic, region, city or district deputy or the member of other electoral bodies: No.

Work activity:
1999-2003 years: Student of Tashkent Economic State University
2003-2005: Student of magistracy of Tashkent Economic State University
2004-2004: Head of the external economic relations Department of “Tashkent-Tibtekhnika”
2004-2005: First category specialist at Uzbekistan President Office.
2005-2005: Operator of Press Service of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2005-2008: Referent of the Organizational and methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2008-2010: Senior referent of the Organizational and methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2010-2014: Assistant of the chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan
2014-2014: Head of the Organizational and methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan (fulfilling the duties of the head of the Department)
2014 to date: Head of the Organizational and methodical Department of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

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