DUSHANBE, 26 February 2010 - The international election observation mission for the parliamentary elections in Tajikistan will present its preliminary post-election statement at a news conference on Monday, 1 March, in Dushanbe.

The mission is a joint undertaking of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA), and the European Parliament (EP).

The preliminary statement will be delivered by Pia Christmas-Møller, OSCE PA Vice-President and Special Co-ordinator of the OSCE short-term observers, followed by Elisabeth Jeggle, Head of the EP delegation, and Artis Pabriks, Head of the OSCE/ODIHR long-term election observation mission.

The international election observation mission comprises a total of 261 observers from 42 countries, including 200 long-term and short-term observers deployed by the OSCE/ODIHR, as well as 49 parliamentarians and staff from the OSCE PA, and 12 from the EP.

Journalists are invited to attend the news conference at 14:30 on Monday, 1 March at Hotel Hyatt Regency in Dushanbe.

No advance accreditation is required.

For further information contact:

Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer, OSCE/ODIHR, +992 98561 8112 or +48603683122, [email protected]

Andreas Baker, OSCE PA, +992 98561 8107 or +4560108030, [email protected]

Pietro Ducci, EP, +992 985638 371 or +32 498983366