More reforms demanded in Kazakhstan after elections despite progress

After Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections, international election observers praised progress but also criticized shortcomings.

“Restrictions on the exercise of fundamental freedoms remain,” the responsible office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Monday in Astana, the capital of the Central Asian country. Freedom of the press was cited as an example.

“Further changes to the legal framework are necessary to provide a sufficient basis for holding democratic elections”, the statement said. Kazakh observers drew attention to suspected election fraud on social networks. The official results of the vote put forward by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev were not initially available. Various polling stations saw the ruling party Amanat ahead by more than 53 percent.

That would be a significantly lower result for Amanat than before – but the other five parties, which according to the polls will enter parliament, are also loyal to the president, according to independent experts. Critics had already accused the 69-year-old Tokayev of mainly wanting to consolidate his power by admitting more parties and candidates – but hardly any real opposition.

Tokayev ordered the elections about a year ago in response to heavy protests. At the time, demonstrations against high prices and social injustice degenerated into power struggles. Tokayev used violence against the demonstrators, also with the help of Russian troops. More than 200 people were killed. Ten months later, Tokayev was confirmed in office in a presidential election that was also brought forward.

(yam/sda/dpa)