Russian MPs observed the referendum on behalf of the CIS IPA, CSTO PA and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
The referendum in Kazakhstan was organised and conducted in full conformity with the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, reported the parliamentarians from Russia that visited as observers.
The Federation Council delegation, headed by First Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Constitutional Legislation and State Building Vladimir Poletayev, visited Kazakhstan to observe the referendum process.
Vladimir Poletayev and Oleg Tzepkin, a member of the same committee, were observers from the CIS IPA (Inter-Parliamentary Assembly). A group of observers from the CSTO PA (Parliamentary Assembly) included Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs Bair Zhamsuyev, and Irek Yalalov, a member of the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy, represented the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
The national referendum on introducing amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan took place on 5 June 2022.
According to Vladimir Poletayev, the referendum in Kazakhstan was transparent and democratic and conformed to the country’s laws.
Bair Zhamsuyev noted that international observers from the CSTO PA worked at polling stations in Nur-Sultan and Almaty from the opening to the final counting of the ballots. There was a polling station in each residential area in Kazakhstan. The total number of stations exceeded 10,000.
Zhamsuyev said conditions had been created to let people express their true attitude towards the subject of the referendum. Observers from political parties and public organisations watched the voting in most polling stations, which points to the open and transparent character of the referendum. Regarding the results of the referendum, Bair Zhamsuyev said the referendum took place as planned and the majority of people supported the proposed reforms. The MP noted the importance of the growing role of the national parliament, both the Senate and the Majilis.
He reported that a group of international observers from the CSTO PA met with the leadership of the Central Election Committee of Kazakhstan, the Parliament’s Senate and Majilis, the Defence Ministry and the Trade Union Federation.
Member of the SCO observer mission, Irek Yalalov said he visited 12 polling stations and shared his impressions of the referendum.
“According to the SCO mission, the referendum was held in line with the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The mission did not identify any violations that could have affected the results of the voting. We consider the results of the referendum legitimate and in compliance with national and international law,” the MP said.
Irek Yalalov also visited the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, the Russian Embassy in Kazakhstan and the republican parliament.
Amendments to the Constitution will be made to 33 articles or one third of the current Constitution. The key goals are as follows: to limit the authority of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan; to enhance the competitive ability and efficiency of parliamentary parties; to preserve the strong position of the President in lawmaking while raising the level of his accountability to the public; to increase the involvement of local administrations in the state government system; and to expand the powers of the Commissioner for Human Rights. Capital punishment will be banned without reservation.
There are plans to establish a Constitutional Court and a Supreme Audit Chamber (SAC) of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which will be accountable to the parliament. The SAC will receive maximum authority to control the spending of public money.
The referendum was attended by 272 international observers from 27 countries and 11 international organisations.