The Central Election Commission (CEC) issued a statement regarding the reorganization process initiated within the institution.

“This step is directly aligned with the next phase of institutional development and aims to enhance management efficiency. Over time, and particularly following recent legislative amendments, the evolving needs of election administration necessitate structural and personnel changes.

On December 17 at 12:00, a CEC session was held during which the new staff list was approved. In response to the aforementioned needs, the number of staff positions in the CEC apparatus was reduced from 118 to 103. In full compliance with the legislation, the affected employees were promptly notified in writing about the dismissal.

Due to our high level of accountability, it is important for us to accurately inform the public about this process, as the next stage of the modernization of election administration should not be interpreted or linked in a biased way to the views of the dismissed employees.

We emphasize that the reorganization is driven by the institution"s needs. In the hiring process, the CEC is solely guided by the competencies and professionalism of potential staff, as evidenced by the large team of employees who have served in the administration for many decades. However, it is also clear that, when necessary, updates and adaptations are required to address the challenges faced by election administration before and after each election.

It is clear that the CEC, as a public institution, consistently follows a path of development, embracing modern trends and tools (such as information and electoral technologies, electronic services, and new mechanisms to enhance voter services). The 2024 parliamentary election day was effectively administered, according to observation missions from various international organizations, including OSCE/ODIHR.

We have reasonable concerns that certain parties may attempt to politicize current or future personnel matters for their own purposes. To ensure accurate and objective public information, we urge the media and electoral stakeholders not to exploit the aforementioned trends, which distort the true purpose of the institutional reorganization, in ways that could damage the reputation of the election administration”, - reads the statement.