ODIHR opens election observation mission in Kazakhstan

ASTANA, 8 February 2023 – The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) today opened an election observation mission for the 19 March early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, following an official invitation from the national authorities and in accordance with its mandate.

The mission is headed by Eoghan Murphy and consists of a core team of 11 international experts based in Astana and 32 long-term observers, who will be deployed throughout the country from 17 February. ODIHR also plans to request 300 short-term observers, to arrive several days before election day.

The mission will assess the conduct of the elections for its compliance with OSCE commitments and other international obligations and standards for democratic elections, as well as with national legislation.

Observers will closely monitor all aspects of the elections such as the conduct of the campaign including on social networks, the work of the election administration at all levels, election- related legislation and its implementation, respect for fundamental freedoms, media coverage and election dispute resolution. They will also assess the implementation of previous ODIHR election recommendations.

Meetings with representatives of state authorities and political parties, civil society, the media and the international community form an integral part of the observation.

On election day, the ODIHR mission will join efforts with the delegation from the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE PA) to observe the opening of polling stations, voting, the counting of ballots and the tabulation of results.

An interim report will be published two weeks prior to the elections to update the public and the media on the observation mission’s activities. The day after the elections, a statement of preliminary findings and conclusions will be presented at a press conference. A final report with an assessment of the entire election process and containing recommendations will be published some months after the elections.

The ODIHR election observation mission and the OSCE Programme Office in Astana operate independently under their separate mandates. For further information on ODIHR’s election observation activities in the country, please visit: https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/kazakhstan

Media contacts:

Egor Tilpunov, Media Analyst: [email protected] or +7 702 2193658

Katya Andrusz, ODIHR Spokesperson: +48 609 522 266 (Warsaw mobile), or [email protected].