CSTO PA Experience in Protecting Electoral Sovereignty Presented at the Forum in Cholpon-Ata

On June 26, Issyk-Kul Electoral Forum "Modern Approaches to Electoral Engagement: from Theory to Practice" started in Cholpon-Ata. The forum is attended by heads and representatives of electoral bodies of Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Belarus and other countries. Sadyr Japarov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic, addressed the participants of the event via video call.

The topic of the plenary session is "Adaptation of international electoral practices in the national context." A round table on the best methods of training election organizers is also a part of the agenda.

On the first day of the forum, Sergei Pospelov, Executive Secretary of the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, gave a welcoming speech via video call.

In his speech, he underlined the importance of electoral processes for ensuring national security. Sergei Pospelov pointed out that the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly is stepping up measures to participate in international observation of elections and referendums in the Organization's Member States. According to him, it's becoming an important tool for strengthening electoral sovereignty and political stability in the face of attempts of external interference in electoral processes.

Sergei Pospelov mentioned that on July 1, 2021, the CSTO PA Council adopted a statement regarding the inadmissibility of foreign interference in the electoral processes, and spoke about the adoption of the Regulations on the Assembly's participation in international election observation. The Regulations secured the Assembly's competence to assist in ensuring the legitimacy of electoral processes.

The CSTO PA Executive Secretary paid special attention to the development and implementation of Recommendations on improving legislation in the field of protection of electoral processes and sovereignty. According to Sergei Pospelov, these Recommendations have already been incorporated in the national documents of Belarus and Russia, and are actively used in Central Asian countries as well.

 "Considering the importance of electoral processes in ensuring national security, the CSTO PA is stepping up measures to participate in international observation missions in presidential and parliamentary elections and referendums held in the Organization's Member States and interested states. This has become an essential tool for ensuring electoral sovereignty and political stability in the CSTO Member States since the attempts of external actors to use elections to destabilize the political situation are on the rise," the CSTO PA Executive Secretary stressed.

The forum participants will also discuss how to adapt international experience in conducting elections in the national context, the most effective methods of training election organizers and the ways to more actively involve young people in electoral processes.