NURLAN ABDIROV MET WITH THE HEAD OF THE

 OSCE/ODIHR ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION FOR THE

 ELECTION OF DEPUTIES OF THE KURULTAI

Today, members of the Central Election Commission, headed by Chairman Nurlan Abdirov, met with members of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission for the election of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by Vincent Piket.

Welcoming the Head of the Mission and its members, Nurlan Abdirov provided a detailed overview of the preparations for the first election of deputies of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The Chairman of the CEC RK also briefed the Mission members on the main provisions of the constitutional reform, the new model for forming the country’s supreme representative body, the key innovations introduced by the updated electoral legislation, the current stages of the electoral campaign, and the CEC’s work to implement them.

“On 15 March 2026, the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan was adopted in a referendum, establishing a new model for the legislative branch of government. As Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted, the Constitution adopted through a nationwide referendum is a historic document and the Fundamental Law of our state for many decades to come. The constitutional reform introduced a transition from a bicameral Parliament to a unicameral Kurultai based on a proportional representation system. The establishment of the new electoral system for the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan represents a profound transformation of the country’s state and legal model. The legal starting point of the constitutional reform was 1 July of this year, when all regulatory legal acts adopted to implement it entered into force,” Nurlan Abdirov emphasized.

Particular attention was paid to the organizational aspects of the elections. The CEC Chairman informed the Mission representatives about the progress of preparations for the elections, the organization of the work of election commissions, the system for training their members, measures to ensure transparency and voter information, and the participation of domestic and international observers.

At the same time, Nurlan Abdirov emphasized the importance of the Central Election Commission’s longstanding cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR and noted that consistent follow-up on the Mission’s recommendations remains an important component of this engagement.

“We highly value our longstanding cooperation with the OSCE/ODIHR, which has always been based on the principles of open dialogue, professional understanding and mutual respect. I am confident that our interaction during the current electoral campaign will remain equally constructive. For its part, the Central Election Commission will, as always, provide international observers with all the necessary conditions to carry out their activities in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and our country’s international commitments. It is important to note that we work systematically with the recommendations contained in the OSCE/ODIHR final reports. This approach ensures their comprehensive analysis and contributes to the further development of the electoral system,” Nurlan Abdirov stated.

For his part, Head of Mission Vincent Piket noted the importance of the constitutional reform being carried out in the Republic and emphasized Kazakhstan’s role within the OSCE.

“Kazakhstan is a very important and significant partner within the OSCE. We are grateful for the invitation extended to the OSCE/ODIHR Mission to observe the first election of deputies of the Kurultai in the country’s history. As you noted, Kazakhstan is currently undergoing an important stage of institutional and legislative transformation. This is precisely why it is especially important for our Mission to observe these elections. We highly value our partnership with Kazakhstan and the well-established open dialogue with the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” Vincent Piket concluded.

At the conclusion of the meeting, it was emphasized that the Central Election Commission would ensure that the election campaign is conducted in strict accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, while providing equal conditions for all participants in the electoral process.