On 21 August 2008 regular session of the Central Election Commission took place. At the session new member of the South-Kazakhstan oblast election commission was nominated instead of retired one and expense standards to candidates for deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan to be covered from the republican budget funds were adopted.
According to the electoral legislation each candidate for deputy of the Senate shall be allocated with KZT 250,145 from the republican budget funds to conduct pre-election campaign and to cover transport costs. This sum is 37.7 per cent more than the sum allocated to candidates in 2005 Senate elections.
Of this amount:
• KZT 78,000 allocated to cover costs to 15-minute television broadcasting.
• KZT 26,965 – for 10-minute radio broadcasting;
• KZT 75,180 – for publication of two articles in press of no more than 0,1 printed sheet;
• KZT 15,000 – for public pre-election activities;
• KZT 20,000 – on the issue of campaign materials;
• KZT 35,000 – to cover transport costs.
At the same time candidate is not eligible to use funds allocated for TV or radio broadcasting for other purposes such as the production of printed campaign materials or to hold public events, and vice versa.
Under the traditional briefing, Chairman of the CEC also noted that pre-election campaign by candidates for deputies of the Senate could be financed from the candidates’ electoral funds, comprising from the own funds of candidates, the total sum of which should not exceed KZT 2,405,000, as well as from donations of citizens and organizations of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the total sum of which should not exceed KZT 6,012,500.
Accordingly the total sum of candidate’s electoral funds should not exceed KZT 8,417,500.
Chairman of the CEC also informed journalists about the progress in nomination and registration of candidates to deputies of the Senate. As on 20 August 2008 63 candidates for deputies of the Senate were nominated. Of them:
2 persons were nominated in Akmola oblast;
6 persons - in Aktobe oblast;
2 persons – in Almaty oblast;
4 persons – in Atyrau oblast;
2 persons – in East-Kazakhstan oblast;
5 persons – in Zhambyl oblast;
2 persons – in East-Kazakhstan oblast;
6 persons – in Karaganda oblast;
3 persons – in Kyzylorda oblast;
2 persons – in Kostanay oblast;
5 persons – in Mangistau oblast;
2 persons – in Pavlodar oblast;
4 persons – in North-Kazakhsan oblast;
10 persons – in South-Kazakhstan oblast;
7 persons – in the city of Almaty;
1 person – in the city of Astana.
Of nominated candidates 14 persons were nominated by maslikhats and 49 candidates took advantage of the right to be self-nominated. There are 6 women among nominated candidates.
7 nominated candidates are acting deputies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
21 candidates are members of PDP “Nur Otan”; 1 candidate is a member of DPK “AK ZHOL”, 25 candidates are not members of political parties and 15 candidates did not specified their party affiliation.
Four (4) candidates were registered as candidates for deputies to the Senate.
3 persons withdrew their candidacies on their own statement after the nomination.
As a whole election campaign is taking place in a calm atmosphere. Appeals and complaints on violation of electoral legislation to oblast, Astana and Almaty cities election commissions as well as to the CEC have not been submitted.

Press – service
of the Central election commission
of the Republic of Kazakhstan
t. 75-21-32, 75-28-44, 75-28-43