ASTANA, January 15 (Itar-Tass) —— CIS election observers did not expose any serious violations in the early parliamentary election in Kazakhstan on Sunday, election observation mission member Vladimir Garkun said.
He described the election campaign as “calm and businesslike” and lauded professionalism of electoral commissions.
The CIS mission has 262 members, who have visited more than 1,800 polling stations in all regions of Kazakhstan (a fifth of the total number of polling stations). Garkun noted that he was presenting his first impression from the ballot.
“Observers or authorized representatives of political parties stayed at all the polling stations. They did not make any claims or complaints to our observers. That is very important,” he said.
Garkun welcomed the legislative amendment, which broadened political representation in the parliament. The amendment said that no less than two parties must have seats in the parliament.
The CIS mission will make its first election report on Monday, January 16, Garkun said. “We will draft the report through the night. It may note some shortcomings,” he added.