ASTANA, April 26. /TASS/. The early presidential elections will be held in Kazakhstan on Sunday. They will be the sixth in the recent history of this Central Asian republic with a population of more than 17.4 million people.

The initiative to hold snap elections was put forward in February by the Council of the People’s Assembly of Kazakhstan. Its address noted that "amid the growing global economic crisis and complex international situation the initiative to hold elections was the imperative of our time." President Nursultan Nazarbayev should be given a new nationwide trust mandate to ensure the country’s successful performance in the period of global trials."

None of the candidates, with the exception of Nazarbayev, has an experience of participation in the presidential race.

The election platform of the incumbent head of state who has been at the helm of the republic for more than 25 years, is based on the implementation of reforms in public management, economy and public consent. He also advocates the expansion of access of Kazakhstan’s entrepreneurs to big regional markets, including the Eurasian Economic Union. Nazarbayev has traditionally supported further development of cooperation of Russia, both bilateral and through participation in international organizations and projects, above all, efforts aimed at achieving stronger Eurasian integration.