VZCZCXRO8031
RR RUEHDBU
DE RUEHNT #2292/01 3641312
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 301311Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1685
RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT
INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT 0121
RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE 0081
RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK 0137
RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA 0121

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TASHKENT 002292 
 
SIPDIS 
DEPT FOR SCA/PPD, SCA/CEN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV PREL SCUL KPAO UZ
SUBJECT: Uzbekistan: Media Reports on Parliamentary Elections 
 
REF: 09 TASHKENT 1651 
 
¶1.  (U) Summary: In the run up to the elections, minor differences 
among parties were covered by both state and independent media to 
an extent never seen before. Coverage of the election results 
dominated media reports following the elections. State media 
highlighted high turnout among voters, while independent media 
questioned the accuracy of such reports. State media carried 
numerous reports on international observers' positive assessment of 
the elections, while independent media declared the U.S. criticism 
of the election weak. Independent media described the elections as 
"theater" and some reported that the results were predetermined. 
President Karimov's public comments on the elections reflect his 
belief that Uzbekistan is the right model of gradual democratic 
reform. 
 
Parties Publicly Criticize One Another in Lead-Up to Elections 
 
¶2. (U) Media reports prior to the parliamentary election discussed 
differences between the four pro-government parties (Adolat, 
Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, Milliy Tiklanish, and the 
National Democratic Party). Through the media, parties criticized 
each other's platforms. Such criticism was seen in both state and 
independent media sources. The scope of the criticism was limited 
mainly to social issues, and did not include any criticism of 
executive branch policies. Nonetheless, such criticism is 
noteworthy; in no previous elections have parties offered such 
explicit public criticism of each other. 
 
Extensive, If Not Incisive, Coverage of Election Results 
 
¶3. (U) News of the elections saturated media markets on the day of 
the elections and the two days following the elections. Uzbek 
Television First Channel (the country's most prominent television 
channel and part of the Uzbek State Television and Radio Company) 
devoted significant airtime to the elections. It broadcast a live 
news briefing by the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission 
(CEC), interviews with foreign observers, footage of President 
Karimov addressing journalists from a polling station, a 60 minute 
speech by President Karimov regarding the elections, and a special 
program devoted to the elections. Newspaper, radio, and internet 
media covered the elections in a similarly extensive manner. 
 
High Turnout Emphasized by State Media, Questioned by Independent 
Media 
 
¶4. (U) State media reported prominently on the alleged high turnout 
among voters. Uzbek Television First Channel carried coverage of 
the CEC chairman's assertion that the turnout was close to 88%. 
Uzbekistan National New Agency (UzA) also highlighted the high 
turnout. (Note: The high turnout was questioned by Embassy 
personnel who observed the elections. Reftel.) Independent media 
were skeptical of the high turnout. According to Uzmetronom.com, an 
independent website blocked in Uzbekistan, only 14% of people 
surveyed in Tashkent three days prior to the election said 
definitively that they would vote. Voice of America in Uzbek 
reported that voters whom they interviewed submitted ballots on 
behalf of family members, thus inflating election turnout. It also 
reported that human rights activists who visited polling stating in 
Jizzakh region found identical signatures on ballot lists, 
signifying that one person had signed to collect ballots for 
multiple people. (Note: This reporting corresponds to the 
observations made by Embassy personnel.) 
 
State Media Highlights International Observers' Positive Appraisal 
of Elections 
 
¶5. (U) State media outlets reported extensively on international 
observers' reactions to the elections. Not surprisingly, the 
reactions selected for inclusion in the reports all positively 
assessed the elections. UzA carried comments made by observers from 
the Commonwealth of Independent States, the United Kingdom, 
Pakistan, Egypt, Japan, India, and the EU. Many of the comments 
which UzA included hailed Uzbekistan's "progress" and 
"development." An Uzbek Television First Channel report featured 
interviews with international observers, including two Americans: 
Boris Pincus and Julia Khersonsky. Mr. Pincus was quoted as saying 
that under the direction of its president, Uzbekistan would soon be 
a world leader. Ms. Khersonsky was quoted as saying that she had "a 
very good impression" of the early voting. State media did not 
request nor report on the official U.S. reaction to the election, 
despite the inclusion of Embassy personnel among election 
observers. 
 
TASHKENT 00002292  002 OF 002 
 
 
Independent Journalists Question International Appraisal of 
Election 
 
¶6. (U) Independent journalists' assessment of the international 
response to the elections was quite different from their state 
counterparts'. Many online articles from independent media included 
sections of PAS guidance on the elections. In particular, it was 
noted that the U.S. believes that for elections to be truly 
democratic, they need to include parties beyond those which reflect 
the government's viewpoint. It was noted that the U.S. did not 
believe Uzbekistan met that standard in this election. Despite 
including such comments, most independent journalists suggested 
that the U.S. criticism of the elections was much weaker than it 
should have been. RFE/RL's Ozodlik declared that the U.S. only 
cautiously criticized the elections as it needs Uzbekistan's 
assistance for its efforts in Afghanistan.  The Voice of America in 
Uzbek also stated that other strategic interests influenced the 
U.S. response to the elections. Uzmetronom.com declared that the 
international community's "positive assessment" of the elections 
was due to the global political situation. 
 
Elections as Act for International Community 
 
¶7. (U) PAS hosted its end-of-the-year Press Gap on the day 
following the first round of elections. (PAS hosts monthly 
gatherings during which local media can meet with American speakers 
in an informal setting.) During this event, journalists expressed 
their private views on the elections. Many expressed their 
skepticism of the electoral process, suggesting the election was 
nothing but an "act" for the international community. Such comments 
were reflected in the reporting of Voice of America and Ozodlik, 
both of which compared the elections to a "play" designed to 
convince others that Uzbekistan was a democracy. 
 
Reports of Predetermined Results 
 
¶8. (U) Implying that the election results were predetermined, 
independent website Harakat.net reported that some candidates began 
celebrating their electoral victories prior to the CEC's 
announcement of the results. The article also stated that some 
candidates who had been told they would become deputies were later 
informed that the list of deputies had been changed at the last 
minute. The Voice of America also reported that election results 
were predetermined, and that voting was irrelevant as everybody 
already knew who would be elected. (Note: Evidence to support such 
findings were not found during Embassy teams' observations at 
polling stations.) 
 
Uzbekistan's Gradual Reforms as Model for Others 
 
¶9. (U) In his remarks to the press, President Karimov said that 
Uzbekistan's experience developing its parliamentary system could 
serve as a model to be followed by other countries. According to 
media reports, President Karimov believes international experts are 
studying Uzbekistan's electoral experience because of the way in 
which the Uzbekistani system has developed "gradually." Karimov 
conceded that the 2009 elections were only "first steps" but said 
he was confident the next parliament would take more confident 
steps and be among those parliaments that function in line with 
democratic principles. Likely drawing on such statements, Interfax 
(Moscow) reported that President Karimov envisions a path of 
"evolutionary development" for Uzbekistan. 
 
Norland 
NORLAND