ASTANA, Kazakhstan, August 23. Kazakhstan has demonstrated its ability to organize and conduct elections, and many countries could learn from its experience, international observer from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly Kazbek Taysaev told journalists, Trend’s special correspondent reports from Astana.
“I am not attending elections in Kazakhstan for the first time. Kazakhstan knows how to conduct elections. Many countries have much to learn from your Central Election Commission and Kazakhstan on how elections should be organized and conducted,” he said.
Taysaev said observers visited a polling station early in the morning and were present for its opening.
“You know, the attitude at the polling station impressed me. Some 15 to 20 people had already arrived before the polling station opened and were standing in line. The opening began with the national anthem of Kazakhstan. To be honest, I was impressed by the respect and love with which people sang their anthem. There were also many young people. For young people to get up and come to vote at 7:00 in the morning is really significant,” the observer said.
According to Taysaev, the active participation of young people demonstrates their interest in the changes taking place in the country.
“This is also a merit of your leadership, the President and his entire team, because fundamental changes are currently taking place in Kazakhstan. Constitutional reforms are very serious; we went through this in Russia. I am very pleased that the young people we spoke with knew what changes had been introduced into the Constitution. They are waiting for changes, they are waiting for a decent life, and they are ready to stand alongside the people and advance the new changes set out in the Constitution,” he said.
Taysaev also recalled that international observers had previously visited Kazakhstan during the constitutional referendum.
“There was also a large number of observers at that time, and support for the constitutional reforms was very strong. The voting is still underway, but it seems to me that the results will be worthy. All parties were represented at the polling stations. Before the elections, we met with representatives and leaders of all the parties. The CIS IPA mission had this opportunity. And it is encouraging that none of them had any complaints about the course of the election campaign,” he said.
The observer emphasized that, according to the party leaders with whom the mission met, all election participants had equal opportunities to present their positions to voters.
“They all had equal and accessible opportunities, at least that is what the party leaders we met with told us. It is very good when there is an opportunity to convey your position to voters. And the fact that people are coming to polling stations and voting calmly and normally is, of course, a great achievement. I repeat once again: for the Central Election Commission to prepare such a large team of heads and members of polling commissions is a major effort,” Taysaev said.
He added that observers had held detailed discussions with members and chairpersons of polling commissions.
“They managed to do it. We asked questions and spoke at length with members and chairpersons of polling commissions. And the hospitality with which they welcomed people was noticeable. People feel it, they come calmly and normally, and everyone votes for the party they choose. Nobody imposes anything on anyone. I liked your elections. You are doing a great job,” Taysaev said.
According to the international observer, more than 60 people are participating in election observation as part of the CIS mission.
“More than 60 people are involved in observation today alone. My colleagues have already mentioned that our representatives will have visited virtually all polling stations. The CIS mission is also operating abroad. So we can already say that, thank God, everything is going well so far,” he said.
