On 9 January 2021 in Bishkek, Foreign Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Ruslan Kazakbaev met with members of the SCO Observer Mission that has been monitoring the pre-term presidential election in Kyrgyzstan and the referendum on the form of the government in the republic.
During the meeting, Foreign Minister Kazakbaev thanked the Mission for participating in the election and referendum monitoring. He also informed the members about the efforts being taken by the country's leaders to hold the election based on the principles of democracy and in conformity with the national law and international obligations.
Speaking about the cooperation within the SCO, Ruslan Kazakbaev noted that the republic's involvement in the SCO is a priority of the country's foreign policy. He also stressed that, despite the challenges related to the pandemic, the SCO has continued its proactive work in key areas of cooperation. Thanks to close collaboration, the SCO summit and the SCO Heads of Government Council Meeting were successfully organised in 2020 via videoconference.
On his part, Alexei Chepa, Coordinator of the SCO Observer Mission and Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs, reported on the mission's work to monitor the preparations for the Kyrgyz presidential election and the referendum. He also expressed confidence in the fact that the upcoming pre-term presidential election and the referendum will be as transparent and as well-organised as possible.
As part of the monitoring process, the members of the SCO Observer Mission also visited the Central Election Commission and met with its chair, Nurzhan Shaildabekova, who gave an outline of the preparations for the pre-term election and the referendum, recent changes in the election law and the implementation of modern information and public platforms.
Members of the Mission also visited several polling stations.