KAZAKHSTAN DELEGATION TOOK PART IN OBSERVING THE 

ELECTIONS TO THE STATE DUMA OF RUSSIA

Thirty-two representatives from Kazakhstan, acting as international observers, took part in observing the elections to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation, held from 18 to 20 September this year.

Members of the delegation arrived in Russia at the invitation of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation and as part of the CIS and SCO observer missions. They worked in Moscow, the Moscow Region, St. Petersburg, Kazan and Yekaterinburg.

On 18 September, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Abdirov met in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Ella Pamfilova. The parties discussed the importance of further strengthening cooperation between the electoral authorities. Nurlan Abdirov also thanked Ella Pamfilova for her participation as an international observer in the elections to the Kurultai of Kazakhstan and for the high assessment of the organisation of the electoral process given by observers from the Russian Federation following the elections.

As part of the international observation of the elections to the State Duma of the Russian Federation, on the same day Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nurlan Abdirov and CEC member Assel Zhanabilova visited polling stations No. 1390, 3478, and 1640 in Moscow, where they familiarised themselves with the organisation of the electoral process, the specifics of electronic voting, and the operation of the remote electronic voting system.

Also on that day, Nurlan Abdirov took part in the international conference "Elections in a Period of Turbulence", organized by the Central Election Commission of Russia, where he delivered a presentation entitled "Electoral Campaigns in Kazakhstan in 2026 in the Context of Constitutional Reform". Heads of delegations from dozens of countries, including CIS countries and states in Asia, Africa and Latin America, also participated in the conference. The key topic was the importance of ensuring the stability of the electoral process against the backdrop of external factors and hacker attacks.

The Chairman of the CEC RK briefed conference participants on the constitutional reform being implemented in Kazakhstan, within the framework of which a vote on the new Constitution and elections to the Kurultai were held this year. Nurlan Abdirov emphasised that the referendum on the new Basic Law and the elections to the country's highest representative body were not two separate campaigns, but successive stages of a single constitutional process.

"The voter is the primary focus of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, and the entire system of electoral bodies works for the voter. This year, we took another important step. Legislative amendments made it possible, for the first time, to establish polling stations directly at organisations with continuously operating production and in rotational work settlements. A person should not have to choose between a work shift and a constitutional right. If it is difficult for a voter to come to the elections, then, where permitted by law, the elections should come to the voter. Openness of the electoral process remains another priority for us. In addition to national observers, international observers also showed strong interest in the referendum and the elections to the Kurultai. Our foreign colleagues noted the high organisational standard of their conduct, the clarity of procedures, digital solutions and comfortable conditions created for voters. We are grateful to everyone for their professionalism and objectivity," - Nurlan Abdirov emphasised.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission also held a bilateral meeting with Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Belarus Igor Karpenko.

On the second day of voting, 19 September, Nurlan Abdirov continued visiting polling stations in Moscow and familiarised himself with the activities of the Public Headquarters for Election Observation. The Chairman CEC RK held a bilateral meeting with Chief Election Commissioner of Pakistan Sikandar Sultan Raja. The parties discussed the results of the historic elections to the Kurultai, in which Sikandar Sultan Raja had participated as an international observer. They also considered issues related to further deepening bilateral relations and signing a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding.

Nurlan Abdirov also discussed prospects for further strengthening cooperation during meetings with Chairman of the Independent Election Commission of Jordan Musa Habes Al Maaytah and President of the Elections Commission of the Maldives Mohamed Shakeel. The Head of the CEC of Kazakhstan thanked his counterparts for the active participation of representatives of their countries in observing the elections to the Kurultai held in August this year.

Following all bilateral meetings, Nurlan Abdirov presented his counterparts with the second edition of the book "Elections in Kazakhstan: Concise and to the Point". In addition, with a view to expanding information and academic cooperation, copies of this book, as well as the second edition of the Commentary on the updated Constitutional Law "On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan", were donated to the libraries of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Russian State Library.

On the final day of voting, 20 September, the Chairman of the Central Election Commission visited Polling Stations No. 2808 and 4064 in the town of Khotkovo in the Moscow Region, Polling Station No. 2762 in Sergiyev Posad, and Polling Station No. 839 in Moscow.

Following the elections, on 21 September Nurlan Abdirov participated in a briefing of heads of central electoral authorities of foreign states. In his statement, he highlighted the high level of organisation of the electoral process and noted that no violations had been identified at the polling stations he had visited. The Head of the CEC of Kazakhstan also drew attention to the significant involvement of young people - both first-time voters and volunteers involved in organising the elections - as well as the large number of citizens queuing at polling stations to cast their votes. According to Nurlan Abdirov, this demonstrates a high level of civic responsibility among voters.

It should be noted that during the voting days, Deputy Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Yerman worked in Kazan as an international observer as part of the CIS Observer Mission, while CEC member Mikhail Bortnik worked in Moscow. Secretary of the Central Election Commission Shavkhat Utemissov also observed the elections in Moscow as part of the SCO Observer Mission. In addition, staff members of the CEC Office, as well as chairpersons of a number of territorial election commissions of Kazakhstan, participated in monitoring the electoral process in St. Petersburg.

Participation in international election observation is important for observers from Kazakhstan, including from the perspective of studying the experience of other countries and analysing methods and tools used around the world to promote citizens' electoral culture and create the most comfortable possible conditions for voters to exercise their constitutional rights.

For reference:

In the elections of deputies to the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation of the ninth convocation, 450 deputies were elected for a five-year term under a mixed electoral system. Of these, 225 mandates are allocated through federal party lists, while another 225 are contested in single-member constituencies. Thirty-three regions participated in online voting. At the same time, electoral campaigns at various levels were held, including elections of heads of constituent entities and regional parliaments.