OSCE/ODIHR observers note professional preparation and conduct of Kurultai elections

A total of 777 accredited international observers monitored the Kurultai elections in Kazakhstan, with over 300 representing the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The experts assessed the conduct of the electoral campaign, the work of election commissions, the conditions provided for political parties, and media coverage. Based on their observations, they noted the timely technical preparations for the elections and effective efforts to keep voters informed. They also positively assessed the accessibility of polling stations. Particular attention was paid to the CEC’s public activities, the financial reporting of political parties, and the work of national and international observers. All these areas were viewed as important components of transparency in the electoral process.

«For PACE election observation is not merely a technical exercise. We assess whether the electoral process provides genuine competition, equal conditions for participants and the effective exercise of political rights within a transparent and credible framework. I would also like to express our sincere gratitude to the people of Kazakhstan who have been very warm and welcoming throughout our stay,» noted Sevilay Çelenk, Head of the observer delegation of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Türkiye.

«Our observations suggest that the election commission at central, regional and local levels prepared the election professionally and within the legal deadlines. The election commission carried out a massive training or exercise for the 74,000 staff and there was also a large voter information campaign. The election commission also paid attention to the accessibility of polling stations for persons with disabilities,» said Vincent Piket, Head of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Election Observation Mission, the Netherlands.

Web-editor: Арайлым Серқанова