PRESS RELEASE

on the participation of the CEC of Kazakhstan delegation

 in the Issyk-Kul Electoral Forum

On June 26-27, 2025, the Issyk-Kul Electoral Forum was held in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyz Republic, organized by the Central Commission for Elections and Referenda of the Kyrgyz Republic. The delegation of the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, headed by Chairman Nurlan Abdirov, took part in the event. President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov addressed the participants with an opening speech.

The forum was held under the theme “Modern Approaches to Voter Engagement: from Theory to Practice” and brought together heads of election management bodies from 12 countries, as well as representatives of international organizations such as the CIS, OTS, SCO, IPA CIS, TURKPA, CSTO PA, A-WEB, and other experts in the electoral field.

During the plenary session “Adapting International Electoral Practices in the National Context”, Chairman of the CEC RK Nurlan Abdirov presented Kazakhstan’s vision on key directions of electoral system development, emphasizing commitment to institutional openness, inclusiveness, and strengthening independent national observation. He stressed that the CEC of Kazakhstan consistently pursues a policy of building public trust in elections, fostering open dialogue with civil society, and taking international standards into account while adapting them to the national context.

As part of the forum, two round tables were also held: “Best Training Practices for Election Organizers” and “Youth Participation in Electoral Processes”.

Secretary of the CEC RK Shavkhat Utemissov delivered a presentation outlining Kazakhstan’s experience in electoral training. He noted that the country has established a systemic, multi-level model of electoral education covering all participants of the electoral process. Training is organized on a regulatory basis, implemented through a cascade model, and combines both in-person and online formats. It is practice-oriented and aimed at developing both professional and personal skills. The CEC of Kazakhstan actively cooperates with government agencies, universities, media, and political parties, and supports youth initiatives, including the work of the Young Voters’ Club.

“Kazakhstan’s experience demonstrates that systemic and multi-level electoral education can serve as a tool for sustainable development of the electoral system,” he concluded.

On the second day, the Kazakhstan delegation took part in the 5th meeting of the Advisory Council of Heads of Election Bodies of CIS Member States. Discussions focused on youth electoral policy, reviews of national campaigns, and further development of the Council’s activities.

The meeting supported the initiative to establish a Working Group on Youth Policy in the electoral sphere, which will enhance youth engagement in elections across CIS countries. Two representatives from Kazakhstan were included in this Working Group: Amirlan Nurgazin, junior researcher at the Maqsut Narikbayev Institute for Network and Development, and Gulzira Atabayeva, Chair of the RPA Trade Union of Small and Medium Business Employees “YNTYMAQ,” deputy of the 8th convocation of the Pavlodar City Maslikhat, and member of the Presidential Council on Youth Policy.

In his remarks, Nurlan Abdirov highlighted that “one of the most important directions of the fundamental transformation of Kazakhstan’s electoral system, carried out as part of the constitutional reform initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and supported by the people of Kazakhstan at the National referendum on June 5, 2022, has been the transition from the appointment of heads of local executive bodies to their election. This democratic trend, so important for society, has become a major step in developing local self-governance and strengthening people’s democracy.”

He also informed Council members that there are 2,340 rural akims in Kazakhstan, and that today more than 90% of them have already been directly elected by residents of their respective villages.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the chairmanship of the Advisory Council was transferred from the Republic of Belarus to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Chairman of the CEC RK Nurlan Abdirov proposed holding the 6th meeting of the Advisory Council at the end of September this year. Within the framework of the upcoming session, Kazakhstan suggested organizing a roundtable on the development of electoral culture among all participants of the electoral process, as well as an exhibition of methodological and thematic publications, concepts, and plans in this field. The vision of the CEC of Kazakhstan was supported by other members of the Advisory Council.