On accreditation of international observers and registration of party 

lists

On February 13, two meetings of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan were held under the chairmanship of Nurlan Abdirov within the elections, at which the following issues were considered:

1. on certain issues of accreditation of observers of foreign states and international organisations at the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023;

2. on registration of the party list of the National Social Democratic Party Republican Public Association;

3. on registration of the party list of the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Public Association.

Chairpersons and members of territorial election commissions of regions, Astana, Almaty and Shymkent, senior officials of the Prosecutor General’s Office, ministries of justice, internal affairs, and finance participated in the meetings via videoconference.

The leaders of the National Social Democratic Party Republican Public Association and the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Public Association were invited to the meetings. Representatives of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission and the media also took part. The meetings were broadcast through the CEC website and Youtube, with sign language translation.

Opening the first meeting, Nurlan Abdirov noted that the Central Election Commission continues the procedure for accrediting foreign observers at the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on proposals received from international organisations and foreign states within the election campaign.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the norms of the Constitutional Act on Elections, accreditation of an observer of a foreign state, an international organisation may be withdrawn by the Central Election Commission upon the recommendation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the basis of an application from a foreign state, an international organisation.

On the first issue of the agenda, Secretary of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman made a report. Institution of International Observation accredited 62 observers from 3 foreign states and 2 international organisations.

Today, 12 observers from 3 foreign states and 2 international organisations are nominated for accreditation:

- from the Republic of Korea, the Kyrgyz Republic and the Kingdom of Thailand – by 1 candidate each,

- from the Observer Mission from the Commonwealth of Independent States – 7 candidates,

- from the ODIHR Election Observation Mission – 2 candidates.

Thereat, in connection with the receipt of a note from the OSCE/ODIHR about a change in the composition of the Mission of this organisation, the corresponding changes were made for two observers.

Turning to the second issue of the meeting, Nurlan Abdirov stressed that all 7 political parties registered in Kazakhstan were admitted to participate in the elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament.

On February 6 this year, the National Social Democratic Party submitted to the Central Election Commission documents on the nomination of a party list for the election of Mazhilis members to the Parliament.

In this regard, the Central Election Commission carried out appropriate procedures to determine the compliance of candidates with the requirements of the Constitution and the Constitutional Act on Elections. The Central Election Commission, within its competence, registered the party list nominated by political parties in the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament.

Anastassiya Schegortsova, member of the Central Election Commission, made a presentation on this issue.

She informed that the party list of the National Social Democratic Party includes 19 people, 6 candidates of which are women, youth and persons with disabilities, which is 31.6 percent in total.

All persons included in the party list comply with the requirements of the Constitution and the Constitutional Act on Elections.

Anastassiya Schegortsova emphasised that the National Social Democratic Party did not participate in the previous parliamentary elections. Therefore, in accordance with Article 88 of the Constitutional Act on Elections, to register the list, a party shall pay an election fee to the account of the Central Election Commission. The amount of the contribution is fifteen times the minimum wage for each person included in the party list.

The National Social Democratic Party paid the electoral fee in full.

After signing the relevant protocols on establishing the conformity of candidates and registering the party list, the CEC members adopted a resolution on registration of the party list of the National Social Democratic Party at the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023.

Opening the next meeting of the Central Election Commission that day, Nurlan Abdirov noted that on February 6, the Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan submitted documents to the Central Election Commission on the nomination of a party list for the election of Mazhilis members to the Parliament. In this regard, the Central Election Commission carried out appropriate procedures to determine the compliance of candidates with the requirements of the Constitution and the Constitutional Act on Elections.

Member of the Central Election Commission Assylbek Smagulov made a report on this issue.

He informed that Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan presented a party list of 54 people. 18 people on the list are women, youth and persons with disabilities, which together make up 33.3 percent of the total number included. All persons included in the party list comply with the requirements of the legislation.

Assylbek Smagulov also said that in the elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament, held in January 2021, Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan received 10.95 percent of the vote. In this regard, the party is exempted from paying an electoral fee.

After signing the protocols on determining the eligibility of candidates and on registering the party list, the CEC members adopted a resolution on registration of the party list of Ak Zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan Public Association at the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023.

Now both parties, having received the corresponding certificates of their candidates, have started opening special temporary accounts for the formation of the electoral fund.

After the meetings, representatives of the National Social Democratic Party and the Ak Zhol party answered questions from the media during traditional briefings.