05/08/2016
The Venice Commission learned that Constitutional amendments are being prepared currently in the Kyrgyz Republic and that a referendum for their adoption is going to be called.
The proposed amendments seem, inter alia, to affect the position of the Constitutional Chamber. In 2015, the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR prepared a Joint Opinion on draft constitutional amendments, which also affected the Constitutional Chamber (CDL-AD(2015)014). This Opinion may be relevant to the current amendments as well as to the procedure for amending the Constitution.
Such amendments deserve serious consideration and a thorough public debate. As the Kyrgyz Republic is a full member of the Venice Commission, the Commission stands ready to provide the Kyrgyz authorities with an opinion on these draft amendments, should they make such a request.
Gianni Buquicchio
President of the Venice Commission