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2007 Assessment

Kazakhstan: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

Kazakhstan: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Voting & Citizen Participation
Indicators		Score
14	Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?	100
15	Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?	75
16	Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?	60

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Is there a legal framework guaranteeing the right to vote?

14a: In law, universal and equal adult suffrage is guaranteed to all citizens.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, article 3 [ LINK ]

14b: In law, there is a legal framework requiring that elections be held at regular intervals.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Article 51 [ LINK ]

Can all citizens exercise their right to vote?

15a: In practice, all adult citizens can vote.

Score:

100

Comments: People are very apathic in the electoral period and are politically passive. There are different explanations for that and one of them is the constant fraud in previous elections as well. Some political parties were calling for boycotting the last parliamentary elections in 2007.

References: Statment. O Zhumabekov Address to Central Elections Committee of the Repubic of Kazakshtan Nov. 26, 2005 [ LINK ];

Editorial To the Elections As to The Celebration. Aug. 8, 2007 [ LINK ] (in Russian)

Peer Review Comments: While all adults can vote, the system of coercion and choice differs little now from the practices in the Soviet days.

Peer Review Comments: There are always cases where people are denied the right to vote, sometimes legitimately, sometimes illegally.

15b: In practice, ballots are secret or equivalently protected.

Score:

100

Comments: Ballots are secret, but before the 2007 elections almost every time fraud was reported, including fake or spoiled ballots.

References: Monitoring report. Headquaters of the electoral team of Zharmahan Tuyakbai. Dec. 4, 2005. Monitoring of violations [ LINK ] (in Russian);

Statement. International Observers' Mission Republic of Kazakhstan Parliamentary Elections, Sept. 19, 2004 Sept. 19, 2004 [ LINK ]

15c: In practice, elections are held according to a regular schedule.

Score:

100

Comments: Elections were held several times before the official deadlines, and every time the legal aspect was resolved or jusitified by the Constitutional Council. This Council is not directly controlled by the citizens.

References: Report. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. April 2001 REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN REVIEW OF THE ELECTION LEGISLATION FOR ELECTION DISPUTES, APPEALS AND PENALTIES [ LINK ];

News report. Ria Novosti Nazarbayev Dissolved the Parliament June 20, 2007 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The elections are not held strictly in accordance with a fixed schedule, but the terms are roughly set.

Are citizens able to participate equally in the political process?

16a: In law, all citizens have a right to form political parties.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution, Article 23 [ LINK ])=en&L1=L1&L2=L1-9

Peer Review Comments:

16b: In law, all citizens have a right to run for political office.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, article 33, [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: There are a number of barriers, formal and informal, that limit participation in politics.

Peer Review Comments: Check the law on political parties and the law on political participation, if there is one.

16c: In practice, all citizens are able to form political parties.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: While there is no guarantee of electoral success, political parties can form freely without opposition. <p>50 Score Criteria: Some barriers to formation are present, such as burdensome registration requirements that may not be fairly applied. Some parties\' political viewpoints may draw pressure from the government, such as surveillance or intimidation. Some political parties or organizations may have extra barriers to getting on a ballot. <p>0 Score Criteria: Some political parties are effectively barred from forming through some manner of official or unofficial pressure. This may include threats, arrest, or violence from competing parties or other groups.$

Comments: There is a threshold of 50,000 members for the party to be registered, and also it is necessary to have regional representative offices. Some parties could not re-register after the new law on political parties came into force in 2002. Political party Alga has not been able to get a registration till this moment.

References: Dosier of the country. Team of Eurasian Home. Party and Political System. [ LINK ];

Article. Majilis press office. How Many Parties in Kazakhstan? April 10, 2003 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The Kazakhstan political system offers onerous barriers to those who want to participate in the political system. The number of people exiled, imprisoned, or disappeared is testimony to the realities of what happens in Kazakhstan politics.

Peer Review Comments:

16d: In practice, all citizens can run for political office.

Score:

100

Comments: The probability of success for a person from outside the system is almost zero.

References: Election Observation Report. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. 2005 REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION Dec. 4, 2005, OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission [ LINK ];

Report. Team of IICAS. 2005. Elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan 2005 [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The system does not allow universal participation in the political system in light of the formal and informal barriers that are present in participating.

16e: In practice, an opposition party is represented in the legislature.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The opposition party always has some influence on the proceedings of the legislature. The opposition party can introduce legislation or bring pending matters to a vote without the consent of the ruling party. <p>50 Score Criteria: The opposition party has influence on the proceeding of the legislature, but it is limited in scope. The opposition\'s ability to force votes or publicly debate certain topics may be limited. <p>0 Score Criteria: The opposition party has only token participation in the legislature\'s proceedings and cannot advance legislation or force a debate.$

Comments: One member of the opposition party could get a seat in the Parliament. All others were cut off due to the irregularities in the electoral processes. Results for the 2007 elections were even more impressive when none of oppoosition candidates could win a seat

References: Report Tracy, Jen; Loza, Tihomir; Krauthamer , Ky; Gardner, Andrew; Druker, Jeremy; Kazakhstan: How to Win on All Counts Sept. 28, 2005 [ LINK ]

Article Ibragim Alibekov Kazakhstan: Results of The Elections Infuriated the Opposition [ LINK ]

Peer Review Comments: The relative dominance of pro-presidential parties over the media makes it extremely difficult for opposition parties to advance a platform or obtain a significant share of seats in Parliament.

Peer Review Comments: