Uzbekistan: Voters overwhelmingly favored sweeping reforms
Tashkent, The Gulf Observer: In Uzbekistan’s constitutional referendum on Sunday, voters overwhelmingly favored sweeping reforms that promised to strengthen individual rights.
At a briefing at the Press Center of the Central Election Commission here in Tashkent the preliminary results of the referendum were announced.
90.21% of voters answered “Yes” to the question in the ballot for the referendum
The Central Election Commission Chairman Zayniddin Nizamkhodjayev noted that referendum was a vivid manifestation of the high thinking and wisdom of the people of Uzbekistan.
16,673,189 voters out of the 19,722,809 voters included in the lists, took part in the referendum on the draft Constitutional Law, including compatriots who voted abroad. This is 84.54% of the total number of voters.
611,320 voters took advantage of the opportunity to vote early from April 19 to 26 this year. In particular, Uzbek citizens abroad took advantage of this opportunity, where 55 referendum sites were created in 39 countries.
According to preliminary data, 90.21% of voters answered “Yes” to the question in the ballot for the referendum “Do you accept the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan?”, 9.35% filled in the “No” column and 0.49% of ballots are considered invalid.
The active participation of Uzbekistan citizens in the referendum showed that they are not indifferent to the political process taking place in the country
According to observers, the referendum was held freely, openly, and in accordance with the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan and international standards. There were no violations during the voting.
The active participation of Uzbekistan citizens in the referendum showed that they are not indifferent to the political process taking place in the country. On election day, citizens from various states of the United States arrived at the Embassy to exercise their constitutional rights.
According to Uzbekistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs an international observer from Kuwait noted that the nationwide vote was held at a high level, in accordance with national legislation and international standards, especially mentioning the activity of Uzbekistan citizens during the referendum.
OISCA Vice President Yunoshin Kuroda, who was in Uzbekistan to observe the referendum, and has extensive experience in holding elections and referendums in Japan.
Yunoshin Kuroda noted that the referendum in Uzbekistan practically did not differ from those held in Japan.
“Everything was well organized, the population observed the established rules when voting”, Mr. Yunoshin Kuroda said. – There was no pressure on residents and restrictions on their rights. This is my first time in Uzbekistan. Tashkent is a very modern and beautiful city. In Japan, I taught Uzbek students, and many of my students have achieved success in their country.
Representative of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Aleksandr Danchenko said that the organizational work was carried out at a high level. Therefore, citizens actively visited the polling stations and freely expressed their will. I am a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus. I am very glad that I was included in the group of observers of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. All necessary conditions had been created for observers. The Central Election Commission provided all the information we requested.
Most importantly, people participated in the referendum with a deep understanding that their future will be even better.
Meanwhile in Pakistan more than hundred voters were registered in Karachi, Lahore, Abbottabad, Quetta, Peshawar, Murree and Islamabad. All of them used their voting right comfortably as the Embassy undertook excellent arrangements.
All the compatriots were in high spirits to vote in the referendum which in turn will surely accelerate country’s development and prosperity. They fully supported New Uzbekistan and New Constitution.
