Institute for Studying Civil Society hosted a roundtable “Main principles and tasks of organization of preparation and holding elections of chairpersons of the citizens’ gatherings and their advisors”, which was attended by MPs, experts, NGOs and government bodies.

Institute for Studying Civil Society, Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Mahalla Foundation and mass media organized the event.

Akmal Rakhmanov, MP of Legislative Chamber, said: “I want to note that upcoming 2011 elections of chairpersons (aksakals) of citizens’ gatherings and their advisors will be held in new quality public-political and social-economic conditions.”

In particular, he said that the main goal of the upcoming elections is to ensure constitutional rights of voters and to be elected, participate in democratic formation of mahalla bodies.

Akmal Rakhmanov also said that the elections will be held in line with commonly adopted modern democratic principles and standards, as well as clauses of national legislation – forming self-government bodies based on democracy, equal election rights, publicity and openness of election process, etc.

Hayrullo Ruzmetov, MP of Legislative Chamber, underlined that during the elections, requirements of current legislation will be fully implemented. He said that conditions were created for effective explanation work among population.

Ruzmetov said that citizens will have opportunities to familiarize with the candidates, their business and moral qualities, receive information about election process, and others. MP said that it is planned to create all necessary conditions for attracting youth and women to election process and raising their social-economic activity and legal culture. Overall, the roundtable was held in constructive spirit and it was fruitful and useful for experts and specialists. It is planned that such events will be also held in regions. Currently, over 10,000 mahallas, which are independent self-governing bodies, operate in Uzbekistan. The chairpersons of mahallas are elected each 2.5 years.