On admission of political parties to elections in connection with the 

registration of their branches and accreditation of international observers

On February 2, 2023, a meeting of the Central Election Commission was held on the admission of public associations Baitaq Kazakhstan Green Party and Respublica Party to the elections of maslikhat members of the Republic of Kazakhstan in connection with the registration of their branches, as well as on issues of accreditation of international observers for the upcoming elections.

The meeting was attended by chairpersons of territorial election commissions of the regions (via videoconference), representatives of political parties, and the media. The meeting was also attended by Director of the Department of Registration Service and Organisation of the Legal Service of the Ministry of Justice Alan Tlenchiyev.

The meeting was broadcast through the website and Youtube, with sign language translation.

Opening the meeting, CEC Chairman Nurlan Abdirov congratulated the participants on the Global Elections Day, which is celebrated annually on the first Thursday of February.

Nurlan Abdirov noted that on this day in 2005 the heads of state of a number of countries signed many important international agreements on elections. The purpose of establishing the Global Elections Day was to ensure the electoral rights of citizens and improve electoral processes.

On the first issue – On certain issues of admission of public associations Baitaq Kazakhstan Green Party and Respublica Party to participate in the early elections of maslikhat members of the Republic of Kazakhstan, elected on party lists, scheduled for March 19, 2023 – a report was made by member of the Central Election Commission Shavkhat Utemissov.

He informed that the Baitaq Kazakh Green Party by resolutions dated January 21 and 27, 2023 was admitted to the election of maslikhat members in 15 regions. Currently, branches of the party have been established in a number of other regions (Abay, Akmola, Zhetysu, North Kazakhstan, Ulytau regions).

The Respublica Party, by resolutions dated January 21 and 27, 2023, was admitted to the elections of maslikhat members in 19 regions. Currently, a branch of the party has been established in the Atyrau region.

Thus, taking into account the previously adopted resolutions, the Baitaq Kazakhstan Green Party and the Respublica Party were allowed to participate in the elections of maslikhat members elected on party lists in all regions of the republic.

Turning to the second issue of the agenda of the meeting – On accreditation of observers of a foreign state and international organisations for the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023, Nurlan Abdirov emphasised that on January 20 this year at the first meeting of the election campaign, the Central Election Commission opened the Institution for International Election Observation. To date, applications for accreditation have been received from one foreign state and two international organisations.

Secretary of the Central Election Commission Mukhtar Yerman made a report on the second issue.

He said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent invitations to international and inter-parliamentary organisations, as well as the diplomatic corps in Kazakhstan to participate in election observation.

Moreover, the Central Election Commission sent invitations to 34 central election bodies of foreign states.

To date, applications from 25 observers from one foreign state and two international organisations have been submitted to the Central Election Commission for accreditation, including 1 observer from Palestine, 11 observers from the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly and 13 observers from the Mission of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights.

Following the meeting, the members of the Central Election Commission adopted a resolution On accreditation of observers of a foreign state and international organisations at the early elections of Mazhilis members to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, scheduled for March 19, 2023.

Mukhtar Yerman also noted that the data on observers will be updated as the submissions for accreditation will be received.

After the meeting, a media briefing was held, at which members of the Central Election Commission answered all the questions from journalists.