CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION OF KAZAKHSTAN 

STRENGTHENS COOPERATION WITH THE CENTRAL 

ELECTION COMMISSIONS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES

Kazakhstan and Belarus are expanding their professional cooperation in the electoral sphere. Today, in Astana, the heads of the Central Election Commissions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Belarus signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

The ceremony took place as part of the visit of the Belarusian delegation to Kazakhstan to observe the elections of deputies of the Kurultai and a meeting between Nurlan Abdirov and Igor Karpenko, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Belarus.

The Memorandum is aimed at developing professional cooperation and exchanging experience in the organization and conduct of elections and referendums. The parties intend to cooperate on improving electoral legislation, safeguarding citizens’ electoral rights, enhancing legal awareness and the professional training of election organizers, as well as applying modern electoral technologies.

The document also provides for the exchange of methodological, analytical, and informational materials; the organization of seminars, conferences, and other joint events; as well as working visits by representatives of electoral bodies to exchange practical experience.

“I am confident that the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding will significantly strengthen our interaction and cooperation,” Nurlan Abdirov noted.

Meetings between the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan and his counterparts continued throughout the day. Earlier in the day, he held talks with Ella Pamfilova, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Russian Federation.

Nurlan Abdirov also met with Angelica Caraman, Chairperson of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Moldova. One of the topics discussed was recent innovations in Kazakhstan’s electoral legislation that allow polling stations to be established at organizations with continuous production processes and in rotational work settlements.

Nurlan Abdirov also answered a number of topical questions from Zayniddin Nizamkhodjaev, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 

Nurlan Abdirov spoke to Bakhtiyor Khudoyorzoda, Chairman of the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Republic of Tajikistan, about various channels for informing citizens about the upcoming elections, as well as the use of innovative methods.

During his meeting with Serdar Mutta, Chairman of the Supreme Election Council of the Republic of Türkiye, Nurlan Abdirov provided a detailed briefing on the key provisions of Kazakhstan’s electoral legislation.

An important topic of the meeting between the Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan and Giorgi Kalandarishvili, Chairman of the Central Election Commission of Georgia, was ensuring all necessary conditions for voters with disabilities to exercise their right to vote.

In addition, the Chairman and members of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan held a briefing for the central electoral bodies of foreign countries, providing a detailed overview of Kazakhstan’s ongoing constitutional reform and the significance of the country’s first historic elections to the Kurultai.

CEC Secretary Shavkhat Utemissov briefed Amangeldy Gandymov, Deputy Chairman of the Central Commission for Holding Elections and Referendums in Turkmenistan, in detail on the work carried out in preparation for the upcoming elections.

The meeting between Shavkhat Utemissov, Secretary of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, and Mikhali Bortnik, a member of the Commission, with Abdul Rahman Rasheed, Deputy Chairman of the Election Commission of the Maldives, was substantive. The Secretary of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission placed particular emphasis on the ongoing training of election commission members through both online and in-person formats.

Also in the second half of the day, CEC member Mikhail Bortnik held talks with a delegation from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.

At the same time, international observers were presented with Kazakhstan’s significant achievements and potential in the field of AI. During their visit to the international artificial intelligence center alem.ai, they learned about the startups being developed and the capabilities of Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s advances in building an AI-based public administration ecosystem, as well as the projects Tomorrow School and Tumo Astana.

That same day, the Central Election Commission held a briefing for representatives of foreign media outlets. A total of 31 media representatives from 26 countries arrived in Kazakhstan to cover the elections to the Kurultai. Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman and Commission member Lyazzat Suyindik provided foreign journalists with detailed information on the reforms being carried out in Kazakhstan, the adoption of the new Constitution, as well as key aspects of the organization of the Kurultai elections.