CSTO recognizes elections in Kazakhstan as in line with international standards

The holding of elections to the Majilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament) and maslikhats (regional parliaments) was in line with the legislation of the republic and international standards. About it says in a statement by observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO PA).

“Following the results of the observation, observers from the CSTO PA state that the early parliamentary elections of the Republic of Kazakhstan have taken place, and their preparation and conduct are organized in accordance with the electoral legislation of the state and international electoral standards,” the conclusion says.

It is noted that the polling stations worked at the set time, they were equipped with CCTV cameras, provided with all the necessary documents, and also equipped with means for the access of citizens with disabilities. There were no complaints about the quality of preparation of voter lists, the procedure for issuing ballots and the voting procedure.

At the start of the elections, 12,032,550 voters were registered. In total, more than 10,200 polling stations worked in Kazakhstan, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the republic opened 77 more polling stations in 62 countries.

The SCO observers also recognized the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan as “transparent, reliable and democratic”, informed Deputy Secretary General of the organization Grigory Logvinov.

Mazhilis consists of 98 deputies. Voting takes place according to a mixed system: 69 of them are elected from party lists, and 29 from single-member districts, one from each. Elections to the Majilis of the republic were held ahead of schedule as part of the reforms carried out by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. January 19, 2023 he dissolved the lower house of parliament and terminated the powers of maslikhats at all levels. By data CEC, preliminary turnout was 54.19% (6.5 million people).