Dear participants of press-conference!

Ladies and gentlemen!

Yesterday, December 27, 2009 in Uzbekistan held an election to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies.
Elections to the representative bodies of state authority have become an essential step in deepening the reforms on democratic renewal and modernization of the country.

Elections, in the words of President Islam Karimov, is a real assertion of freedom of speech and freedom of choice. Meanwhile, this political institution is considered to be an essential attribute of a democratic state with a strong civil society, the basic form of freedom of expression of the people, citizens' participation in the management of state affairs. As the result of consistent and gradual modernization of political, public, legal system of the country established an electoral system consistent with the highest principles of universal democratic election system. Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other legal documents related to the elections can serve as a clear confirmation.
Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan «On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, “On guarantees of citizens’ suffrage”, other legislative acts serve as guarantees of holding election in accordance with the democratic principles of openness, transparency and fairness.

National election legislation has been improving step by step. Changes and amendments made to the election legislation in recent years provided all the necessary organizational and legal conditions for free and active participation of citizens and political parties in the election processes.
In order to increase the representation of citizens and political parties, as well as raising the efficiency of law making process the number of seats in Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis has been increased from 120 to 150.
Strengthening the role and influence of political parties, the introduction of institute of an authorized representative of a political party, providing them with the new rights and powers during the elections, new changes and developments extending the rights of voters have made an enormous contribution to further improvement of the electoral system.
The main peculiarity of this election was to enhance the political and social activeness of voters, civil liability of people, and their active involvement in the events surrounding them.

Significantly expanded and strengthened the role and place of the Parliament and the representative bodies of local authorities in the process of further democratization of the society.

Constitutional Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “on strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country” adopted on the initiative of President Islam Karimov has had an enormous impact on the development and consolidation of a multiparty system, strengthening the role of political parties in the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament, representative bodies of local authorities. Significantly increased the political activeness of parties and the level of competition between them.
In the elections held on an alternative basis, participated 506 candidates to the deputies from the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat”, the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish”, the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen - Liberal Democratic Party Uzbekistan and the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan. Moreover, in the elections to the local representative bodies candidates from citizens’ self-governing bodies also participated.
In accordance with national electoral legislation, political parties and their candidates to the deputies have been given equal rights and opportunities in conducting pre-election campaigns, meeting with voters, bringing to the public the main provisions of their election programs, as well as equal opportunities for media usage.

In accordance with acting legislation, only the Central Electoral Commission was the main organizing body of commence of the election campaigns. As during the previous elections, no one, especially governing bodies at central and local levels, was permitted to interfere in the electoral processes and violate the provisions of acting legislation (Except granting some privileges and preferences for any of the participants of the election campaign).
In order to hold the 2009 elections in full conformity with the requirements of election legislation and in a higher democratic level, the Central Electoral Commission adopted the Concept of preparation and holding of elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies, which yielded positive results.

Defined by the Law and the Concept of rules and requirements of electoral legislation and procedures of preparation and holding of elections that were compulsory and equal for all, had been fully met during the elections.
In the regions have been organized trainings and seminars for the members of local electoral commissions, numerous meetings with constituents to improve their legal literacy.

Most importantly, the work of local and foreign observers contributed to the transparency and openness of the election process. Elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan have been monitored by more than 270 observers from 36 countries and missions of four international organizations - the OSCE/ODIHR, the Executive Committee of CIS, SCO and the OIC, as well as over 60.000 observers from political parties.
To facilitate their effective work was created a Press Center under the Central Electoral Commission, which had at its disposal all the necessary tools – computers, internet, communication technologies, halls for press conferences, briefings, seminars and other events.
Concrete and organized work of the electoral district commissions and polling stations based on the principles of legality, transparency, independence and fairness contributed to the democratic elections and respect for the acting electoral legislation.

As a result, yesterday people of Uzbekistan voted for the most preferred candidates who, in their opinion, will make a significant contribution to the future development of our country and that they wanted to see as their representatives in the representative bodies of state authority.
In the elections of deputies to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, regional, district and city Kengashes of people’s deputies attended 15.108.950 million voters who constitute 87.8% of the total number of voters.
In the first stage of the elections had been elected 94 deputies among the candidates to the deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the political parties (e.g. deputies elected in 94 electoral districts out of 135). This means 69.7% of the total number of deputies elected by direct vote.

According to preliminary results of the elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Parliament, 14 deputies elected from of the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat”, 24 from the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliy Tiklanish”, 34 from the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen - Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and 22 deputies from the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.
In accordance with the national legislation, in determining the outcome of the elections, deputies who have received more than 50 percent of the votes are considered to be elected.

Due to the fact that none of the persons nominated as candidates to the deputies of Legislative Chamber gained sufficient amount of votes from 41 electoral districts are considered to be not elected.

Moreover, in accordance with the legislation, in December 27 was held a Conference of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan at which delegates from all regions of the country elected 15 deputies to the Legislative Chamber from Ecomovement through a secret ballot.
In accordance with the Article 45 of the Law “On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan” if in the electoral district more than two candidates to the deputies participated and none of them has been elected, the commission of that electoral district makes a decision to hold a repeated voting in the respective electoral district between the two candidates obtaining the largest number of votes. The candidate who gains the largest number of votes during the repeated voting will be considered to be elected.

In accordance with the Law “On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, in the day of elections at the Conference of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan were elected 15 members of the Movement from the administrative-territorial units of Uzbekistan by secret ballot.
Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan has already presented Central Electoral Commission the list of elected deputies.
Currently, the CEC is considering protocols and other documents provided by the electoral districts and the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan. In accordance with the Law “On elections to the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, all of the documents, and if necessary – documents of some local electoral commissions would be thoroughly checked by the CEC. Only after that the Central Electoral Commission will make its decision on the outcome of the elections.
In accordance with the national electoral legislation the results of the election and a list of elected deputies of the Legislative Chamber are published by the Central Electoral Commission no later than 10 days after the elections, that is, until January 6, 2010.

It was noted that there were no complaints and/or allegations of violations of electoral legislation received by the Central Electoral Commission during the elections.
It was stressed that the elections to the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan took place at the highest organizational level, in full accordance with the national electoral legislation and enshrined in them international democratic principles of universality, transparency and openness.
The elections have demonstrated the increased activeness of the electorate, political and legal maturity of citizens of Uzbekistan who are aware of the fact that their choices would certainly affect the future of the country.

December 27, our people voted for the further development of Uzbekistan in the building of a democratic state, rule o f law and strong civil society, for the deepening of economic reforms aimed at improving the welfare and prosperity of our homeland.

Thank you for your attention!