The SCO mission recognized the presidential election in Kazakhstan as democratic and transparent, said Zhang Ming, the head of the SCO observer mission and SCO Secretary-General. He highlighted that the entire electoral process in the country was conducted legitimately in compliance with international standards. Polling stations were provided with all the necessary conditions for the voting procedure, and Kazakh citizens showed high turnout, he added. Overall, the invitation and participation of international observers in the presidential election prove the country’s striving to ensure transparent and fair elections. It bears noting that a total of 18 representatives of the seven member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization arrived in Kazakhstan on November 17 as part of the SCO observer mission. On election day, they attended 22 polling stations in the Kazakh capital and the Akmola region.
“All the members of the SCO observer mission carried out their functions independently, relying on the principles of political objectivity, neutrality, justice, refraining from expressing any bias and preferences in relation to the participants of the electoral process. The preparations and elections were conducted at a high level, in compliance with all the requirements. No obstacles or violations were recorded at the polling stations. Kazakhstan has provided all the necessary conditions for monitoring the electoral process, which shows the openness and transparency of these elections,” Zhang Ming said.
