OTS Assesses Kazakhstan’s Kurultai Elections as Transparent and Fair
World
The Organization of Turkic States (OTS) International Election Observation Mission has completed its monitoring of Kazakhstan’s first elections to the Kurultai. In its assessment, the mission said the elections were organized in a transparent and fair manner and that no serious violations of electoral legislation were observed.
The mission operated in Kazakhstan from August 20 to 24, 2026, at the invitation of the Kazakh government. It was headed by Nuru Guliyev, Deputy Secretary General of the OTS, and included officials from the OTS Secretariat and observers from member states other than Kazakhstan.
Ahead of election day, the mission held meetings with Arman Issagaliyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Nurlan Abdirov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission. Discussions covered the legal and organizational aspects of the electoral process, arrangements for citizens voting from abroad and the accreditation of international observers.
The mission also met with candidates and representatives of other international observation missions to review the election campaign and preparations for voting.
On election day, observers worked in two groups and visited 33 polling stations in Astana. The mission reported that the necessary administrative measures had been taken to ensure the free expression of voters’ will. No cases of administrative interference or serious violations were recorded.
The mission also highlighted the scale of international observation. A total of 777 international observers from 42 countries and 13 organizations, along with around 200 media representatives, participated in monitoring the elections. Accessibility arrangements for voters with disabilities were also positively assessed.
Following its observation, the OTS mission recognized Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections as transparent and fair, describing them as an important step toward strengthening democratic governance in the region.
Ahead of election day, the mission held meetings with Arman Issagaliyev, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, and Nurlan Abdirov, Chairman of the Central Election Commission. Discussions covered the legal and organizational aspects of the electoral process, arrangements for citizens voting from abroad and the accreditation of international observers.
The mission also met with candidates and representatives of other international observation missions to review the election campaign and preparations for voting.
On election day, observers worked in two groups and visited 33 polling stations in Astana. The mission reported that the necessary administrative measures had been taken to ensure the free expression of voters’ will. No cases of administrative interference or serious violations were recorded.
The mission also highlighted the scale of international observation. A total of 777 international observers from 42 countries and 13 organizations, along with around 200 media representatives, participated in monitoring the elections. Accessibility arrangements for voters with disabilities were also positively assessed.
Following its observation, the OTS mission recognized Kazakhstan’s Kurultai elections as transparent and fair, describing them as an important step toward strengthening democratic governance in the region.
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