Almaty: Election observers from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have raised concerns about the recent parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, citing an undue advantage for the Adilet party, which secured 71.17 percent of the vote. This result, announced on August 24, marks an increase in President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev’s hold on power, which has been met with criticism.
According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, the OSCE reported that the elections, held on August 23, were technically well-prepared but lacked political pluralism. The lack of distinct political alternatives and the support of all contesting parties for the incumbent President’s policies reduced political choice. The OSCE statement highlighted the misuse of public resources and the mobilization of public-sector employees to attend campaign events, which blurred the line between state and party, giving Adilet an undue advantage.
The OSCE also noted the exclusion of independent candidates, limiting political part
icipation and electoral competitiveness. Observers questioned the integrity of the voter turnout reporting and the counting process, citing discrepancies between observed polling station activities and official turnout data.
The OSCE’s criticisms echo those made in previous elections in Kazakhstan since its independence in 1991, highlighting a consistent lack of genuine political competition in a nation historically dominated by Nursultan Nazarbaev and his successor, Toqaev. Adilet, formed in April by absorbing the ruling party from the Nazarbaev era, aims to implement Toqaev’s policies and now controls Kazakhstan’s new unicameral parliament, the Kurultai, with a vote share more than eleven times that of its nearest rival.
The election, the first since constitutional changes by Toqaev earlier this year, took place amid reports of pressure on independent activists and media. Civil activist Asset Abishev reported interference with his right to vote, while activist Nurbol Arterkhan faced repeated requirements
to report to probation officials on election day.
The Committee to Protect Journalists reported the jailing or conviction of five journalists since mid-July, with criminal cases against two others and several barred from practicing journalism. The OSCE’s assessment highlighted media freedom as a major concern, noting arrests and pressure on independent journalists that lead to self-censorship.
Sevilay Celenk, leading a team from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), emphasized the impact of a non-inclusive media environment on political participation and representation during elections.