Kazakhstan’s Early Parliamentary Elections

A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Astana, Kazakhstan, Sunday, March 19, 2023. (AP Photo)

Kazakhstan’s Early Parliamentary Elections 

As delivered by Political Counselor Elisabeth Rosenstock-Siller  
to the Permanent Council, Vienna  
March 30, 2023

Thank you to the Permanent Representative from Kazakhstan for raising your March 19 early parliamentary elections. 

The United States welcomes the OSCE’s preliminary findings that legal amendments introduced by the government addressed several prior ODIHR recommendations and increased choice for voters. We are also encouraged by the stated commitment of the Kazakh Permanent Representative to work with ODIHR, and the United States urges Kazakhstan to fully implement all OSCE election recommendations, and particularly those related to fundamental freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression, and the media.     

The United States looks forward to working with the newly elected members of the Mazhilis as they work to fulfill their important role as the elected representatives of the Kazakh people and make their contribution to reforms that foster accountable government. 

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