Speech of the Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Bakhrom Kuchkarov, at the briefing

CEC press center

April 30, 2023

Time: 18:00

Dear conference participants!

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen!

Throughout the day, we will provide you with information about the voting process and citizen participation. We now draw your attention to the following information.

According to data from the referendum precincts by 17:00, 15 million 802 thousand 95 people, i.e. 81.39 percent of the 19 million 414 thousand 914 citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan eligible to vote, had participated in the referendum.

Voting has now been completed in referendum precincts in Vladivostok, Tokyo, Seoul, Gwangju, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Voting and counting of ballots has begun in these referendum precincts.

In the U.S. referendum precincts in Washington DC and New York, voting began at 5:00 p.m. Tashkent time.

Voting continues at referendum precincts established abroad.

We would like to remind you that 307,895 citizens with the right to vote at referendum precincts in foreign countries have been included in the lists of eligible citizens with the right to vote.

The Central Election Commission has identified shortcomings in the preparation and holding of the referendum in the Republic of Uzbekistan, which do not affect the outcome of the referendum.

In particular, in some referendum precincts, the lists of voters were not posted for public scrutiny in a timely manner or were not signed and stamped by the Chairperson and Secretary of the Commission, there were instances of a blind citizen not being provided a Braille stencil in a timely manner for voting, and there were also cases of attempts to enter the secret voting booth accompanied by family members.

At the same time, information about the shortcomings of the referendum process circulated today on the Internet and in some social media.

Among them, unfortunately, was also unfounded information.

For example, a photograph was circulated showing a woman voting twice in referendum precinct 129 of the 14th referendum district in Tashkent. When the members of the Commission investigated this fact, including by reviewing camera footage, it turned out that this was not true.

We therefore appeal to everyone, especially the media, to be impartial and objective when disseminating information.

Dear participants in the referendum process: observers and media representatives, organizers of the referendum.

Just under 2 hours later, at 8:00 p.m., voting by citizens in all 10,758 referendum precincts throughout our country will be completed and the determination of results will begin.

Every vote of our citizens must be counted in this open and transparent referendum.

The most effective way to ensure the credibility of the results of the referendum is public scrutiny.

We therefore ask all those involved in the referendum process to adhere strictly to the legal requirements when counting the votes.

Thank you for your attention!