"The 4 December presidential election underscored the need of comprehensive reform to address long-standing systemic shortcomings. The legal framework is not conducive to holding democratic elections… The dominant position of state actors and limits on fundamental freedoms undermine political pluralism and led to a campaign devoid of genuine competition," ODIHR election observation mission said in a press release.
According to the ODIHR mission, even though the election commission took measures to improve transparency of the elections, many other recommendations were not addressed. In particular, media coverage of the elections campaigns was rather restricted.
The elections took place on December 4. Four candidates ran for presidency, including acting head of state Shavkat Mirziyoyev from the Liberal Democratic Party, Deputy Parliament Speaker Hotamzhon Ketmonov from the People's Democratic Party, economist Sarwar Otamuratov from the Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party, and Narimon Umarov, the head of the Justice Social Democratic Party.
Earlier on Monday, country’s electoral commission announced that acting Mirziyoyev won presidential elections in the country with 88.61 percent of the votes.
Early presidential elections were scheduled in Uzbekistan after President Islam Karimov, who ruled the country for 25 years, died on September 2.
