Weekly news on elections

Official Statements

Nazarbayev prohibits authorities from interfering in election process

President Nursultan Nazarbayev, also chairman of the Nur Otan party, has prohibited central and local authorities from interfering in the election process and has ordered the Prosecutor General's Office to supervise the observance of the electoral legislation and promptly react to complaints that may arise during the elections. "We have to ensure strict observance of the current legislation in the period of the election campaign. All public bodies, especially the executive authorities, should only do their job and should not interfere in the election campaign," President Nazarbayev said at an intercom meeting held at the Nur Otan election headquarters in Astana on 16 December. (21.12.11 – Interfax)

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Nazarbayev calls on Kazakh opposition to give realistic promises

President Nazarbayev has called on the opposition not to engage in manipulation by promising to increase wages and pensions. "Of course, people who are unhappy normally ask a lot of questions before elections. We have such people. We know that we have not made 100% of the population happy. There is no such a country in the world" (21.12.11 - Interfax)

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Kazakhstan will not cancel elections because of Zhanaozen events

Commenting on a statement by co-chairman of the opposition Azat Party Zharmakhan Tuyakbay about the unacceptability of holding the parliamentary elections on 15 January, President's adviser Yermukamet Yertysbayev said that the riots in western Kazakhstan will not affect the plants to hold parliamentary elections. (22.12.11 - TCA, Trend)

Election campaigns

Parliamentary election campaign begins in Kazakhstan

The 8 political parties that are taking part in the elections of the Majilis began their election campaigns on December 16. According to the calendar plan of the election campaign, election campaigning begins at the moment the registration of the party lists is completed and will end at midnight on January 13, 2012. Among the 386 registered candidates for the Majilis, there are representatives of 12 ethnicities, and 21%of them are women. (20.12.11 – Interfax)

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Election campaigns to be limited in Zhanaozen

The parliamentary elections in Zhanaozen will be held as usual according to the previously defined terms, but campaigning will be limited, Central Election Commission Chairman Turgankulov said. "The restrictions do not apply to the "absolute" rights and freedoms, but only constrict the range of ways of campaigning. All the political parties and candidates will be in equal conditions," Turgankulov said. (22.12.11 - Election.kz; Newskaz.ru)

Political Parties

OSPD asks the CEC to pay for the work of their representatives in election commissions

National Social Democratic Party (OSPD-Azat) requested the CEC to pay the political parties representatives operating in the composition of electoral commissions as members of an advisory vote, along with other members of election commissions. As the result, it was decided on 21 December to send letters to organizations whose employees are members of political parties in election commissions, to preserve their average monthly wage before and during the election campaign. (22.12.11 - Election.kz. Newskaz.ru)

Maslikhats

More than 10 thousand nominees registered as candidates for the election of Maslikhats

According to the head of the CEC Kuandyk Turgankulov, the CEC has registered 9165 candidates out of more than 10,000 nominees for the election of Maslikhats. The registration ended on 20 December. Among the registered candidates, 3446 are from "Nur Otan" party, 264 from "Ak Zhol", 99 from the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan, 57 from the Democratic Party "Adilet", 50 from "Auyl", 22 from "Rukhaniyat", 11 from the Party of Patriots of Kazakhstan and 12 from OSDP-Azat. (22.12.11 - Election.kz, Newskaz.ru)

CEC

About 10 million ballots will be made to the Majilis elections - CEC

On 21 December, the CEC approved the text of the ballot for voting for political parties in the early elections of deputies of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. 9398154 ballots will be produced and delivered to the polling stations for the early elections of deputies of the Majilis, and 17,423,313 for the elections of deputies of Maslikhats. (22.12.11 - Newskaz.ru)

Local and International Observation

More than 60 international observers accredited in Kazakhstan for the elections on January 15

14 more international observers have been accredited on 21December by the CEC. Out of 61 observers already accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are 46 representatives of the OSCE / ODIHR, 11 CIS Observers, and 4 observers from foreign states. (22.12.11 - Election.kz, Newskaz.ru)

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Foreign observers will have access to Zhanaozen for elections

Observers from foreign countries and international organizations will be allowed to enter Zhanaozen and monitor elections without any restrictions, according to the head of the Central Election Commission. He said that all the observers and experts, including observers from foreign countries and organisations will be provided with access to this region. (23.12.11 - Tengrinews)