A session of the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan has taken place in Tashkent. In the session, which was conducted by the chairman of the commission, M.Abdusalomov, representatives of political parties and mass media took part.

In accordance with Article 241 of the law "On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan" and Article 5 of the law "On the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan", the Central Electoral Commission examined political parties' applications and other documents submitted for participation in the presidential elections of the year 2016, and adopted a decision to allow the following parties to participate in the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan: the Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the movement of entrepreneurs and businessmen - the Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, the People's Democratic Party of Uzbekistan and the Adolat Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan.

The Central Electoral Commission gave the authorised representatives of the political parties registration certificates and standard blank forms for lists of signatures.

The session also looked at the issues of forming district electoral commissions for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and approving their composition.

The commission's members also discussed other issues relating to the preparation and conduct of the elections.

Appropriate resolutions were adopted on all the considered issues.

On the same day, a briefing took place for representatives of domestic and foreign media on the preparation and conduct of the electoral campaign for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, M.Abdusalomov, noted that preparations for the elections were being made in strict conformity with the requirements of legislation and the main events programme for the preparation and conduct of the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The electoral campaign is gathering pace. The political parties taking part in the elections have been identified, and they have been given blank forms for lists of signatures. The political parties have the right to collect voters' signatures in support of candidates for President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at places of work, service, residence and at pre-election events.

In line with changes made on December 29, 2015 to the law "On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan" the number of signatures that lists from political parties should contain was lowered from 5 per cent to 1 per cent of the overall number of voters in the Republic of Uzbekistan, and it is 214 thousand 350 voters' signatures.

These must be the signatures of voters of not fewer than 8 administrative-territorial units. At the same time, in one administrative-territorial unit political parties can collect not more than 8 per cent of all the signatures required.

During the briefing, journalists were informed about the formation of district electoral commissions for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Of the members of the district electoral commissions, 56.6 percent are members of the public who have practical experience of participation in the preparation and conduct of elections, 36.8 percent or 56 members of the commissions are women, and 12 of them are in the management of the electoral commissions.

The entire electoral campaign is based on principles of openness and transparency. For these purposes, bilateral agreements were signed between the Central Electoral Commission and the National Tele-radio Company of Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan National News Agency, the Jahon and Uzreport news agencies and the National Association of Electronic Mass Media.

The Republican press centre is working. The Central Electoral Commission has already accredited about 400 representatives of foreign and domestic media.

"Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan has accumulated a great experience of interaction with the media. The country has already approved the relevant laws and regulations governing the transparency of the electoral process and ensuring guarantees of electoral rights of citizens", - the author writes.

Providing equal opportunities to candidates for the use of the media in the election campaign, bringing to the voters and the public of their programs, positions on further socio-political and economic advancement of Uzbekistan are indicated as the key factors in ensuring the transparency of the elections.

The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan held its meeting October 13, 2016, in the format of videoconference, at the Republican Press Center for the coverage of presidential elections. The event was chaired by the head of the Commission Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov.

Members of district electoral commissions for elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, representatives of political parties participating in the elections, as well as mass media took part in the meeting.

The occasion participants discussed issues related to preparations for the forthcoming presidential ballot. Commission members deliberated on the plan of activities on the effective organization of the work of precinct election commissions for the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the meeting it was noted that the task of preparing for the elections and their proper conduct places greater responsibility on precinct electoral commissions. Therefore, the Central Election Commission, district electoral commissions and the Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of Civil Society intend to arrange training seminars aimed at bolstering the legal knowledge of the members of precinct electoral commissions and boost their skills in the effective organization of commission activities.

Events are projected to be held in the format of national online seminar and as regional training workshops with the participation of members of precinct electoral commissions. Particular attention will be paid to such important aspects as the legal bases of activity of precinct election commissions, equipment of polling stations, register of voters and the procedure for making amendments and addenda to the organization of the process of early voting and casting ballot on the election day, the importance of the institution of observers, the role of the media to ensure openness and transparency of the electoral process.

During the meeting the participants also deliberated on other issues relating to the competences of the Central Election Commission. Respective resolutions of the CEC have been passed on the issues discussed.