ASTANA, Kazakhstan,
August 23. Kazakhstan has demonstrated its ability
to organize and conduct elections, and many countries could learn
from its experience, international observer from the CIS
Interparliamentary Assembly Kazbek Taysaev told journalists,
Trend’s special
correspondent reports from Astana.


“I am not attending elections in Kazakhstan for the first time.
Kazakhstan knows how to conduct elections. Many countries have much
to learn from your Central Election Commission and Kazakhstan on
how elections should be organized and conducted,” he said.


Taysaev said observers visited a polling station early in the
morning and were present for its opening.


“You know, the attitude at the polling station impressed me.
Some 15 to 20 people had already arrived before the polling station
opened and were standing in line. The opening began with the
national anthem of Kazakhstan. To be honest, I was impressed by the
respect and love with which people sang their anthem. There were
also many young people. For young people to get up and come to vote
at 7:00 in the morning is really significant,” the observer
said.


According to Taysaev, the active participation of young people
demonstrates their interest in the changes taking place in the
country.


“This is also a merit of your leadership, the President and his
entire team, because fundamental changes are currently taking place
in Kazakhstan. Constitutional reforms are very serious; we went
through this in Russia. I am very pleased that the young people we
spoke with knew what changes had been introduced into the
Constitution. They are waiting for changes, they are waiting for a
decent life, and they are ready to stand alongside the people and
advance the new changes set out in the Constitution,” he said.


Taysaev also recalled that international observers had
previously visited Kazakhstan during the constitutional
referendum.


“There was also a large number of observers at that time, and
support for the constitutional reforms was very strong. The voting
is still underway, but it seems to me that the results will be
worthy. All parties were represented at the polling stations.
Before the elections, we met with representatives and leaders of
all the parties. The CIS IPA mission had this opportunity. And it
is encouraging that none of them had any complaints about the
course of the election campaign,” he said.







The observer emphasized that, according to the party leaders
with whom the mission met, all election participants had equal
opportunities to present their positions to voters.


“They all had equal and accessible opportunities, at least that
is what the party leaders we met with told us. It is very good when
there is an opportunity to convey your position to voters. And the
fact that people are coming to polling stations and voting calmly
and normally is, of course, a great achievement. I repeat once
again: for the Central Election Commission to prepare such a large
team of heads and members of polling commissions is a major
effort,” Taysaev said.


He added that observers had held detailed discussions with
members and chairpersons of polling commissions.


“They managed to do it. We asked questions and spoke at length
with members and chairpersons of polling commissions. And the
hospitality with which they welcomed people was noticeable. People
feel it, they come calmly and normally, and everyone votes for the
party they choose. Nobody imposes anything on anyone. I liked your
elections. You are doing a great job,” Taysaev said.


According to the international observer, more than 60 people are
participating in election observation as part of the CIS
mission.


“More than 60 people are involved in observation today alone. My
colleagues have already mentioned that our representatives will
have visited virtually all polling stations. The CIS mission is
also operating abroad. So we can already say that, thank God,
everything is going well so far,” he said.