Azerbaijani observers will monitor Kazakh presidential elections within CIS mission

Representatives of the Azerbaijani parliament will also observe the presidential elections in Kazakhstan  within the missions of the CIS and the CSTO, the Kazakh parliament reported with reference to Secretary General of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, Representative of the CIS IPA Observers' Mission Mikhail Krotov.

Krotov said MPs from Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Armenia will be included in the missions of the CIS IPA and CSTO PA.

These missions will hold short-term monitoring of early elections to be held in April. Structure of the Azerbaijani observation group is still under discussion.

12 international observers have been accredited from the CIS IPA and CSTO PA to date. 40 more observers, including the representatives of both chambers of Russia's Federal Assembly are expected to be accredited soon, the parliament’s statement reads.

"Our experts operate in Shymkent and Taraz, and visit the electoral headquarters functioning in Almaty and Astana cities," Krotov said after the meeting with Kazakh Parliamentary Speaker Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.

Krotov said the observers plan to visit the polling stations in several border regions.

"Kazakhstan has created favorable conditions for international observers and the assistance centers operate in the country," he added.

The first stage of the presidential campaign - candidate registration was closed on March 2. Election campaign, which will end two days before the election day, was launched on March 3.

Four candidates passed registration at the Kazakh Central Election Commission (CEC) and will continue to struggle in the early presidential elections scheduled for April 3. The candidates are Nursultan Nazarbayev, Communist Zhambyl Ahmetbekov, and Leader of the Patriots Party, Senator Gani Kasimov and Tabiyat Ecological Union leader Mels Eleusizov.

Presidential candidates in Kazakhstan have already published their political platforms in official press.

Experts believe Nazarbayev will easily win the election. Nazarbayev, who is in power for over 20 years, is supported by about 90% of the population.


/Trend/