Kazakhstan expects hundreds of foreign observers for its parliament election

The election to the Kurultai, Kazakhstan’s new parliament, will be monitored by 777 foreign observers representing 42 countries and 13 international organizations, the Central Election Commission (CEC) announced at its session.

Countries represented by foreign observers

The accredited observers include 138 lawmakers from 41 countries. Accreditation applications closed on Aug. 17.

Central Election Commission Secretary Mukhtar Yerman said that at the final stage, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs submitted another 121 observers from 18 countries and five international organizations for accreditation.

«The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has submitted to the Central Election Commission for accreditation the nominations of 121 observers from 18 foreign countries and five international organizations. These include eight people from the CIS Observation Mission, four nominees from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, seven observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election observation mission, six nominees from the SCO Observer Mission and three observers from the Turkic Academy. There are also 93 observers from countries including China, the U.S., Thailand, the U.K., Turkey, Mongolia, India, Indonesia, France, Iraq, Slovakia, Uzbekistan, the Philippines, Japan, Belgium, Jordan, Serbia and Turkmenistan,» Yerman said.

The CEC believes the number of foreign observers demonstrates a high level of international interest in the upcoming election. Along with representatives of international missions and parliaments, officials from the central election bodies of 22 countries will arrive in Kazakhstan, including 11 heads of foreign election commissions.

Central Election Commission Chairman Nurlan Abdirov said that the presence of foreign observers should ensure transparency in the election.

«The number of international observers demonstrates high international interest in the Kurultai election. Their presence contributes to the openness and transparency of the campaign, proving our commitment to international obligations and the continuation of close cooperation with international organizations and foreign countries in the electoral sphere. I would also like to highlight the participation of our colleagues from the central election bodies of other countries and thank them for their continued interest in the elections held in Kazakhstan. Representatives of the central election bodies of 22 countries, including 11 chairpersons of election commissions, will take part in observing the Kurultai election,» Abdirov said.

Read also: Nomad roots, modern laws: Visualizing Kazakhstan’s new Kurultai