SCO observers assess Qurultay elections after visiting 102 polling stations
The elections to Kazakhstan’s new unicameral Qurultay were transparent, well organized and conducted in line with national electoral legislation and international commitments, T.R. Midhun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), said at a briefing at the Center for Assistance to International Observers in Astana, Qazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
The SCO mission included observers from six SCO member states representing legislative, executive and electoral bodies.
On election day, members of the mission visited 102 polling stations in Astana and Akmola Region. Midhun stressed that the polling stations were selected independently by the observers and that the visits were carried out without prior coordination with electoral or executive authorities.
According to the mission, polling stations provided the necessary conditions for voters and observers, while election commission members interacted with citizens and observers in a professional and welcoming manner.
“The activities of the commissions were qualified, open, transparent and independent,” Midhun said.
The mission also highlighted the active participation of women and young people in the voting process. According to the observers, voting proceeded calmly and in an orderly manner, with established procedures being fully observed.
Members of the SCO mission also observed the closing of polling stations, the counting of ballots and the signing of protocols on the election results.
Midhun said that no complaints or remarks were received by the mission during election day.
“The mission found that the elections of deputies to the Qurultay of the Republic of Kazakhstan complied with the requirements of Kazakhstan’s electoral legislation and its international commitments,” he said.
The SCO mission further concluded that it had not identified violations of national legislation that could have called into question the legitimacy of the elections or affected their results. Based on its observations, the mission described the election results as transparent, reliable and democratic.
Midhun emphasized that the elections represented an important step toward the further development of democratic processes in Kazakhstan.
Earlier, Qazinform News Agency reported that the Central Election Commission announced preliminary Qurultay election results.