16 октября 2026

The “OQ Startup” Creative Competition for the Best Projects is aimed at providing comprehensive support to projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields.

Kazakh compatriots aged 15–30 who are citizens of foreign countries are eligible to participate in the competition.

Projects in the fields of science, culture, IT, business, media, volunteering, as well as other creative and social fields are accepted for the competition.

A horizontally recorded video in MP4 or MOV format, no longer than 2 minutes, or a presentation in PPTX or PDF format, consisting of no more than 10 slides.

The video or presentation must briefly and clearly present the main content and relevance of the project, its objectives, target audience, implementation methods, and expected outcomes.

Submissions are accepted via email at Oqbaiqau@gmail.com

16 октября 2026

Strasbourg, 12-16 October 2026 – A delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan, led by Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Mr. Aidar Saitbekov, took part in the 35th Plenary Meeting of the Council of Europe Cybercrime Convention Committee and the Octopus Conference.

Addressing the Plenary Session, Mr. Saitbekov officially announced Kazakhstan’s accession to the Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

Accession to this international treaty enables Kazakhstan to operate within a unified legal framework, facilitate the swift exchange of electronic evidence, and jointly counter transnational organized crime.

The Budapest Convention serves as a robust foundation for operational interaction and effective law enforcement in the digital environment.

In the margins of the event, the Head of the Kazakh Delegation held a bilateral meeting with Ms. Tanja Gonggrijp, Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The parties discussed expanding practical cooperation, including the organization of joint training initiatives and the implementation of capacity-building projects in combating cybercrime.

Additionally, on the sidelines of the Plenary Session, bilateral meetings were held with representatives of national delegations (including the United States, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Estonia, Norway, and Armenia), as well as key industry stakeholders, including Google, Cybox, and the Codex platform, among others.

16 октября 2026

Strasbourg, October 15, 2026 – An official ceremony took place at the Council of Europe for Kazakhstan’s accession to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention).

Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, A.Saitbekov, handed over the accession documents of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Convention on Cybercrime (Budapest Convention) the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, A.Berset.

The corresponding law on accession was signed by the country's President on October 12, 2026.

The Budapest Convention establishes a legal framework for cooperation with participating countries in combating cybercrime, facilitating operational collaboration, and ensuring effective law enforcement in the digital sphere, while also enhancing the effectiveness of the fight against cybercrime.

21 сентября 2026

Saverne, Monswiller, September 18, 2026 – As part of a working visit to France, representatives of Kazakhstan visited the production sites of KUHN, one of the worlds’ leading manufacturers of agricultural machinery.

The delegation headed by Olzhas Saparbekov, Vice-Minister of Industry and Construction of Kazakhstan; Azat Sultanov, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan; Dinara Shukizhanova, President of AgromashHolding KZ JSC; and Sergey Glokke of Eurasia Group AG (KUHN’s partner in Kazakhstan).

During the visit, participants learned out production processes and technological solutions of the company’s operations. Attention was also focused to the prospects for further cooperation and the development of industrial cooperation.

The parties discussed the localization of KUHN agricultural machinery production in Kazakhstan, technological interaction and the further development of production competencies.

The visit built on the agreements reached in April 2026 during the meeting between Prime Minister of Kazakhstan O.Bektenov and leading global manufacturers of agricultural machinery where an agreement was signed between AgromashHolding KZ JSC, Eurasia Group AG LLP and KUHN Group, providing for the development of industrial cooperation and the development of localized KUHN machinery production in Kazakhstan.

The working meeting in Saverne and Monswiller allowed the parties to discuss further practical steps to implement the agreements reached and to expand cooperation in the field of agricultural machinery manufacturing.

 

Located in the French Grand Est, KUHN Group is one of the world leaders in the development, manufacture and supply of agricultural machinery and implements. Today, KUHN operates 11 plants on three continents and supplies agricultural machinery to more than 110 countries worldwide.

17 сентября 2026

In the 40th edition of the Global Financial Centres Index, Kazakhstan’s capital ranked 57th among 117 financial centres worldwide. Astana’s rating increased by 18 points, from 684 to 702.

Astana improved its position in the Global Financial Centres Index 40 (GFCI 40), climbing eight places from 65th to 57th. The city retained its leading position in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, which it has held for more than three years.

In the regional ranking, Astana was followed by Cyprus, which ranked 72nd globally, and Warsaw, which placed 78th. The gap between Astana and its closest regional competitor was 15 places.

Astana’s rise came against a 1.09% decline in the average rating of financial centres in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At the same time, the authors of the index noted that the region’s leading financial centres continued to strengthen their positions.

Astana was also named among the ten financial centres expected by survey participants to play a more significant role in the global financial system over the next two to three years. Kazakhstan’s capital ranked ninth on the list, receiving 45 mentions from respondents.

In the separate FinTech ranking, Astana rose four places from 55th to 51st.

“Astana’s eight-place rise and continued regional leadership send an important signal of growing confidence in the AIFC and Kazakhstan among the international financial community. For us, a position in the ranking is not an end in itself, but an independent assessment of the work we are consistently pursuing: improving the legal and regulatory environment, developing capital markets and financial technologies, and expanding international ties. Our goal is for this progress to be measured not only by Astana’s standing among global financial centres, but above all by new investment, international companies and opportunities for Kazakhstani businesses,” said Renat Bekturov, Governor of the Astana International Financial Centre.

GFCI 40 assessed 139 financial centres, 117 of which were included in the main index. The ranking was compiled using 144 quantitative measures provided by international organisations, including the World Bank, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations, as well as 39,531 assessments from 6,147 financial sector professionals.

Survey respondents also identified the priority areas that financial centres should focus on over the next five years. These include developing digital infrastructure, including cloud technologies, data transmission and cyber resilience; attracting FinTech companies and digital asset businesses; strengthening systems to combat money laundering and financial crime; and further deepening capital markets.

New York retained first place in the global ranking, followed by London, Hong Kong and Singapore. Shanghai, Tokyo, Seoul, Shenzhen, Dubai and Zurich also ranked among the top ten.

The GFCI is published twice a year and is one of the leading international benchmarks for the competitiveness of financial centres. The index is produced by the UK-based think tank Z/Yen Group in partnership with the China Development Institute (CDI). It assesses financial centres across five broad areas: business environment, financial sector development, infrastructure, human capital and reputation.

Astana first entered the GFCI ranking in March 2018 and became the leading financial centre in Eastern Europe and Central Asia in March 2023. The Astana International Financial Centre has made a significant contribution to strengthening the city’s position by developing its legal and regulatory environment, financial infrastructure, capital and digital asset markets, and expanding opportunities for international and regional investors.

The AIFC provides businesses with access to financial instruments and international markets, an independent dispute resolution system, regulation based on international standards, and an environment for the development of financial technologies. The Centre continues to strengthen Astana’s role as a regional platform for attracting investment, facilitating capital flows and implementing cross-border projects.

 

The Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) is an independent jurisdiction where investors and business meet emerging opportunities of Kazakhstan and Central Asia in a transparent and sustainable environment backed by the principles of English Common Law. www.aifc.kz

14 сентября 2026

Natzwiller, September 13, 2026 – The Consulate General of Kazakhstan in Strasbourg took part in an International commemoration ceremony for the victims of the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp, held at the Memorial of the same name in the Alsace region.

The event, organized by the French National Office for Veterans and Victims of War and dedicated to the memory of the victims of the nazi regime and the tragic events of the past, was attended by representatives of local authorities, members of organizations and associations providing assistance to the families of deportees, as well as representatives of the diplomatic corps in France’s Grand Est region.

As a sign of respect and solidarity in preserving the historical memory of the victims and the fate of the prisoners of the Natzweiler camp, a wreath was laid on behalf of the Kazakh mission in Strasbourg at the foot of the monument commemorating the horrific Nazi crimes of that period.

During conversations with the Memorial’s administration held on the sidelines of the event, Kazakh diplomats emphasized the particular importance of preserving historical memory and perpetuating the memory of the heroism of soldiers, including Kazakhstanis who fought and lost their lives on French territory during the Second World War.

With the aim of close expert-level cooperation and facilitating cooperation in locating the burial sites of Kazakh soldiers who fell in the liberation of France during the war, the French counterparts were provided with lists of individuals likely originated from the Kazakh SSR, obtained from Kazakh researchers.

 

The Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp was established by Nazi Germany in May 1941 in the territory of annexed Alsace. Approximately 52,000 prisoners of more than fifty nationalities passed through the camp, around 22,000 of whom died.

Today, the former camp is one of the most important sites of remembrance of Nazi crimes in France. It is also home to the European Centre of Deported Resistance Members, dedicated to preserving the memory of resistance to the Nazi regime during that period.

03 сентября 2026

On September 3, Kazakhstan for the first time celebrates the Day of the Kazakh Tazy. The date carries particular significance: it was on September 3, 2024, that the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) decided to grant preliminary recognition to the national breed.

The decision was made in Amsterdam, where the Kazakh Tazy was assigned international standard No. 372 and Kazakhstan was officially recognized as the breed's country of origin.

For centuries, the Kazakh Tazy has lived alongside the people of the Great Steppe, serving in traditional hunting and becoming an integral part of Kazakh culture and everyday life. Its distinct place in national tradition is also reflected in the FCI's international standard, which recognizes the Tazy as one of the “Zheti Qazyna” — the seven treasures of the Kazakh people.

Efforts to preserve the breed and secure its international recognition have intensified significantly in recent years. In 2022, Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev instructed the relevant authorities to take measures to preserve the national breed and promote it internationally.

In 2023, the necessary legislative framework was established, defining matters relating to the breed standard, certificate of origin, state support, scientific research, and breeding work.

An important milestone was the accession of the Union of Kennel Clubs of Kazakhstan to the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. On August 22, 2023, at the FCI General Assembly in Geneva, the Kazakhstani organization was granted full membership. Its accession was supported by 72 of the 77 countries taking part in the vote.

This enabled Kazakhstan to officially submit the national breed for international recognition. In March 2024, a package of documents on the Kazakh Tazy was sent to the FCI and reviewed by the federation's Standards Commission and Scientific Commission.

In May of that year, a special single-breed exhibition was held in Astana, where international experts were presented with 100 Kazakh Tazy of different ages, colors, origins and types. FCI specialists assessed the dogs' conformation, movement and conformity to the breed type.

Following this work, on September 3, 2024, the FCI decided to grant preliminary recognition to the Kazakh Tazy.

“The Kazakh Tazy has lived alongside our people for centuries. The breed has survived to this day thanks to the hunters, breeders, cynologists, dog owners and everyone who has worked with the Tazy from generation to generation. International recognition is an important result of this work. But the work does not end here. Our task now is to preserve the Tazy's breed characteristics, its gene pool, and its natural and working qualities,” — said Yerlan Nyssanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Today, about four thousand Tazy are registered in the Unified Stud Book of the Union of Kennel Clubs of Kazakhstan. The actual number of dogs is higher: some of them, in villages and remote areas, are not yet covered by centralized kennel-club registration.

Specialists continue to work in the regions, holding breeding inspections, gathering information on the dogs' origin and keeping records. This work is necessary to trace the dogs' origin and offspring, and to preserve the Tazy's breed traits and genetic diversity.

The Kazakh Tazy is increasingly being presented on international platforms. In 2025, the breed's official presentation took place at the World Dog Show in Helsinki.

In June 2026, Kazakhstan presented 12 Tazy at the World Dog Show in Bologna. As part of the FCI World Congress of Judges, a separate professional presentation of the breed was also held for international judges. Kazakhstan's national stand was open at the show, where visitors could get to know the Tazy as well as the country's traditions and culture.

Work is also continuing within Kazakhstan. In the Zhetysu region, a building for the National Center for Kazakh Dog Breeds is under construction, organized by the regional administration (akimat) and carried out with the support of sponsors.

The center will keep and breed purebred dogs, maintain the Unified Pedigree Book and issue certificates of origin. It is also planned to train experts and specialists in cynology there, and to hold trials, exhibitions, shows and competitions of various levels.

On February 20, 2026, a government resolution approved the Comprehensive Plan for the Preservation and Reproduction of Kazakh Dog Breeds for 2026–2036. State and non-governmental organizations will take part in its implementation. The plan provides for work on breed preservation and reproduction, breeding records, training of specialists, and continued scientific and cynological work.

On April 30, 2026, the Head of State received Tamás Jakkel, President of the Fédération Cynologique Internationale. The meeting addressed the preservation of the national breed, the building of a sustainable gene pool, and further cooperation with the FCI. The President thanked Tamás Jakkel for his support regarding the preliminary recognition of the Kazakh Tazy.

On May 2, a single-breed exhibition, “Kazakh Tazy,” was held in Astana as part of the international kennel exhibition “Astana Winner – 2026” It was attended by FCI representatives as well as Kazakhstani and foreign cynologists.

FCI's preliminary recognition is only one stage of the work. Full recognition requires a lengthy observation period to confirm the breed's stability over several generations. During this period, breeding records, health monitoring, and the preservation of breed type, genetic diversity, and the Kazakh Tazy's natural and working qualities will continue.

September 3 is not only the date of the Kazakh Tazy's international recognition, but also a reminder of the need to preserve the national breed and pass it on to future generations.

31 августа 2026

Overview

Kazakhstan held the first election to its new unicameral Kurultai on 23 August 2026. Five parties entered the chamber, with the Adilet Party winning 110 of the 145 seats. The election implements the new Constitution approved by referendum in March and replaces the former bicameral Parliament with a chamber elected entirely by nationwide proportional representation.

Registered electorate	12,623,289
Ballots cast / turnout	9,351,539 / 74.08%
Kurultai seats / term	145 / five years
Contesting lists	7 parties / 545 candidates
Polling network	10,423 stations, including 79 in 61 countries
Overseas electorate / ballots	11,402 registered / 9,623 voted / 84.4% turnout
International observers	777 accredited: 160 representing 42 foreign states and 617 representing 13 international organisations

Final results and seat allocation

According to the final results announced by the Central Election Commission (CEC), five parties cleared the statutory 5% threshold and received seats in the Kurultai.

Party / ballot option	Vote share	Number of votes	Seats
Adilet Party	71.17%	6,528,948	110
Auyl Party	6.26%	574,621	10
Respublica Party	5.56%	509,631	9
Ak Zhol Democratic Party	5.21%	478,083	8
Nationwide Social Democratic Party	5.11%	469,058	8
People’s Party of Kazakhstan	3.11%	285,395	0
Baytaq Green Party	1.07%	97,751	0
Against all	2.51%	230,446	-

Composition of the first Kurultai

The 145 seats are distributed across five parliamentary factions. The gender profile of each faction is shown below.

Party	Seats	Share of chamber	Women MPs
Adilet Party	110	75.9%	37 (33.6%)
Auyl Party	10	6.9%	4 (40.0%)
Respublica Party	9	6.2%	3 (33.3%)
Ak Zhol Democratic Party	8	5.5%	2 (25.0%)
Nationwide Social Democratic Party	8	5.5%	3 (37.5%)
Total	145	100%	49 (33.8%)

• Women hold 49 of the 145 seats (33.8%), while men hold 96 seats (66.2%). This is a substantial increase from the former Mazhilis, where women held 18 of 98 seats (18.4%).
• Eighteen deputies (12.4%) are in the youth category. Members range in age from 27 to 65; the estimated chamber-wide average is approximately 46.5 years.
• At least 36 deputies (24.8%) have previous national parliamentary experience: 32 in the Mazhilis and four in the Senate. The remaining 109 deputies (75.2%) are entering the national Parliament for the first time, although some have served in local maslikhats or public advisory bodies.
• The leaders of all five parties represented in the chamber received mandates.

Profile of the Adilet faction

• Adilet’s 110-member faction includes 37 women (33.6%), 13 youth representatives (11.8%) and two persons with disabilities (1.8%). It also includes 21 representatives of other ethnic groups (19%), and the average age is 46.7 years.
• Twenty-four members have previous national parliamentary experience, including 20 former Mazhilis deputies and four former senators. The faction also includes 26 former maslikhat deputies and 13 former members of the National Kurultai, the presidential consultative body.
• Ten members belong to the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve, four serve on the Council for Youth Policy under the President, and five sit on the National Commission on Women’s Affairs and Family and Demographic Policy.
• Its professional mix includes three environmental specialists, two representatives of the volunteer movement and four IT professionals.

Why this election matters

• It is the first nationwide vote under the Constitution adopted on 15 March 2026 by 87.15% of referendum participants on 73.12% turnout. The Constitution entered into force on 1 July.
• The election completes the transition from the former Senate and Mazhilis to a single 145-member Kurultai. All deputies (members of parliament) are elected for five years under the same nationwide rules; there are no appointed parliamentary seats or single-member constituency races.
• The new Kurultai will immediately shape the institutional transition. The Government must resign its powers before the newly elected chamber; the Kurultai will consider presidential nominations for offices including the Vice President and Prime Minister and will exercise legislative, budgetary, appointment-consent and government-accountability powers.
• The President has convened the first session for 28 August 2026 in Astana. The chamber’s composition will therefore affect the pace of implementing the new constitutional framework and the policy agenda presented to international partners.
• Final turnout was considerably higher than the 54.21% recorded in the 2023 parliamentary election and broadly comparable to the 73.12% turnout in the March 2026 constitutional referendum.

Who participated

All seven registered political parties fielded nationwide lists: Adilet, the Nationwide Social Democratic Party, Baytaq, the People’s Party of Kazakhstan, Auyl, Ak Zhol and Respublica. Adilet is a new party into which the former governing Amanat Party merged in June 2026.

The CEC registered 545 candidates. They included 172 women, 74 candidates aged 35 or younger and 19 persons with disabilities; the combined share of these three categories was 43.9%, and the average candidate age was 45.4. Every party met the legal requirement that these groups collectively make up at least 30% of its candidate list.

How winners were chosen

1. Each voter cast one secret ballot for a nationwide party list or selected the Against all option.
2. Parties receiving at least 5% of votes cast participated in the allocation of all 145 mandates.
3. Votes for qualifying parties were divided by a national electoral quota; whole seats were assigned first, and the remaining seats went to the parties with the largest fractional remainders.
4. Following publication of the final results, each qualifying party’s governing body determined which registered candidates would receive its mandates. The lists of all five factions were announced by 27 August. At least 30% of each party’s mandates had to go collectively to women, youth and persons with disabilities.
5.  

Participation at home and abroad

The CEC reported 12,623,289 registered voters. Final participation was 9,351,539 voters, equal to 74.08%. According to the CEC’s 20:00 election-night reporting, turnout ranged from 43.23% in Almaty and 51.67% in Astana to 92.16% in Turkistan Region.

Voting took place at 10,423 polling stations, including 79 stations at Kazakh missions in 61 countries. Overseas voter lists contained 11,402 citizens. A total of 9,623 Kazakh citizens cast their ballots abroad, representing a voter turnout of 84.4% among registered overseas voters.

How the election was conducted

• Polling generally ran from 07:00 to 20:00 local time. Special stations, including those in hospitals, military units, remote areas and diplomatic missions, could close early if every listed voter had voted.
• Home voting was available on request for voters unable to attend because of health, care responsibilities or location in remote areas. Voters could verify registration through local authorities and a digital-government service.
• Accessibility measures included bilingual Braille ballot templates at every station and dedicated information points, large monitors, headphones, magnifiers and additional lighting.
• Precinct commissions began counting after polls closed. The law limited precinct counting to 12 hours; territorial commissions transmitted tabulation data to the CEC, which announced the final result on 25 August.

International observation and assessments

The CEC accredited 777 international observers: 160 from 42 foreign states and 617 representing 13 international organisations. They included 138 parliamentarians from 41 countries, as well as representatives of election-management bodies from 22 states, including 11 commission chairs.

• OSCE/ODIHR-led International Election Observation Mission (with OSCE PA and PACE): its preliminary statement described the election as technically well prepared, the campaign as generally calm and orderly, and opening and voting as overwhelmingly positive. It also identified limited political pluralism and raised concerns about aspects of transparency. A comprehensive final report will follow.
• CIS Observer Mission: its interim report described the campaign as calm and organised, said parties campaigned without obstruction and noted broad opportunities and equal conditions. On election day, mission head Igor Petrishenko also praised the organisation of polling and election-commission support for voters. The CIS Observer Mission concluded that the elections were conducted at a high organisational level and described them as fair, competitive and open and as having been conducted in accordance with Kazakhstan’s legislation.
• Shanghai Cooperation Organisation: Deputy Secretary-General T.R. Midhun said the mission had received no complaints and observed no violations during its first-half visits, while stressing that a final assessment would follow completion of all stages.
• Organization of Turkic States: Deputy Secretary-General Nuru Guliyev said voting was open, complied with Kazakhstan’s legislation and protected ballot secrecy.

31 августа 2026

Overview

Kazakhstan is holding a national legislative election to constitute the first Kurultai under the Constitution that entered into force on 1 July 2026. Voters will choose among seven registered party lists for all 145 seats in a single nationwide constituency. The vote completes the transition from the former bicameral Parliament - the Mazhilis and Senate - to a unicameral national legislature.

Election at a glance

Election day	Sunday, 23 August 2026
Institution elected	Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Seats and term	145 deputies, each serving a five-year term
Electoral district	One nationwide constituency
Voting system	Closed-list proportional representation
Electoral threshold	5% of valid votes cast
Registered electorate	12,605,788 voters, as of 3 August 2026
Contest	Seven party lists and 545 registered candidates
Ballot choice	One party list or the option ‘Against all’
Standard polling hours	7:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. local time

Why the election is significant

• Constitutional transition: The new Constitution was approved in the 15 March referendum, with 87.15% of participating voters in favour and turnout of 73.12%. It took effect on 1 July; the former Parliament’s mandate ended and the election was called within the constitutionally required two-month transition period.
• A new legislature: The Kurultai replaces both the Mazhilis and Senate as Kazakhstan’s sole national legislative body. All 145 seats are elected; there are no appointed seats.
• Institutional authority: The Kurultai legislates, approves the national budget, exercises parliamentary oversight and may consider confidence in the Government. It consents to presidential nominees for Vice President, Prime Minister and specified senior posts.
• Immediate next step: The President must convene the first session within 30 days after publication of the results. The Government relinquishes its powers before the newly elected Kurultai.

How the electoral system works

• One national party-list vote: The ballot lists the seven parties in an order determined by lot, then ‘Against all’. Voters do not select individual candidates.
• Closed lists: Seats won by a party are filled according to the order of candidates on its registered list.
• Proportional allocation: Parties receiving at least 5% share the mandates proportionally. If only one party crosses the threshold, the party with the next-highest vote total is also included.
• Party nomination only: Only registered political parties may nominate lists; independent and self-nominated candidacies are not permitted.

Participating political parties

Ballot order	Party	List size	Profile and principal priorities
1	Adilet Party	186	Jobs and incomes; housing and health care; infrastructure; entrepreneurship; digitalisation and artificial intelligence. AMANAT approved accession to ADILET in June 2026; the combined organisation is contesting under the ADILET name.
2	Nationwide Social Democratic Party	33	Social-democratic platform focused on inequality, progressive taxation, labour rights, social protection, anti-corruption, judicial reform and political rights.
3	Kazakhstan Green Party ‘Baitaq’	47	Environmental platform focused on air and water quality, pollution control, renewable energy, ecosystem protection and sustainable urban development.
4	People’s Party of Kazakhstan	72	Social-welfare and domestic-development agenda covering jobs, wages, health, education, housing, national industry, regional development and digitalisation.
5	Auyl Party	69	Agrarian and rural-development party prioritising agriculture, food security, village infrastructure, rural finance, health care and education.
6	Aq zhol Democratic Party of Kazakhstan	63	Pro-market liberal platform centred on entrepreneurship, manufacturing, a smaller state role in the economy, parliamentary oversight and anti-corruption.
7	Respublica Party	75	Reform and entrepreneurship platform focused on incomes, manufacturing, effective government, digitalisation, education, inclusion and public safety.

 2023 benchmark: In the March 2023 Mazhilis election, vote shares were: AMANAT 53.90%; Auyl 10.90%; Respublica 8.59%; Aq zhol 8.41%; People’s Party 6.80%; Nationwide Social Democratic Party 5.20%; and Baitaq 2.30%. Adilet did not contest that election, and AMANAT’s accession to Adilet means the 2026 ballot is not directly comparable party-for-party.

Candidates and representation

• Candidate field: The registered lists contain 545 candidates: 172 women and 373 men. The average age is 45.4 years.
• Quota categories: There are 74 candidates under 35 and 19 candidates with disabilities. Women, young people and persons with disabilities together account for 43.9% of the field; these categories may overlap.
• Representation rule: Each party must meet a collective quota of at least 30% for women, youth and persons with disabilities both on its list and in the allocation of its mandates. All seven parties met the list requirement.
• Candidate eligibility: A deputy must be a citizen of Kazakhstan aged at least 25 who has permanently resided in the country for the previous ten years.

Who can vote?

• Eligibility: Citizens of Kazakhstan aged 18 or older by polling day may vote, except persons declared legally incapable by a court and persons serving a custodial sentence.
• Voter-list checks: From 7 August, voters may verify their entry and request corrections through their precinct election commission and available official services.
• Voting away from home: A voter who will be in another locality may obtain an absentee voting certificate from the precinct commission at the place of permanent registration until 6:00 p.m. on 22 August. It cannot be used merely to switch stations within the same locality.
• Citizens abroad: Eligible citizens outside Kazakhstan may vote in person at designated polling stations at diplomatic missions. Postal and online voting are not available.

Polling, administration and accessibility

• Election administration: More than 10,400 polling stations and more than 10,600 election commissions will operate, supported by approximately 71,000 commission members. For voting abroad, 79 polling stations will operate at Kazakhstan’s missions in 61 countries.
• Ballot: The paper ballot is light blue, double-sided and A4-sized. A total of 12,731,847 ballots are being produced, including the statutory 1% reserve.
• Voting procedure: Voting is in person and secret. Voters present identification, receive one ballot and mark one choice. Photographing or filming a completed ballot and distributing the image on election day is prohibited.
• Accessible voting: Measures include step-free access where required, ramps and handrails, enlarged voting booths, tactile signs, magnifiers, additional lighting, Braille ballot templates, audio instructions, accessible transport and sign-language support.

Key dates before election day

Date	Milestone
1 July	New Constitution entered into force; the presidential decree calling the election was issued.
2-13 July	Political parties nominated candidate lists.
16-23 July	Candidate-list registration was completed and ballot order was determined.
23 July, 6:01 p.m.	Election campaigning began.
From 7 August	Voter-list verification and absentee-certificate issuance began.
17 August, 6:00 p.m.	Deadline for accreditation of foreign and international observers.
18-23 August	Publication of opinion polls, forecasts and other election-related research is prohibited.
21 August, midnight	Campaigning ends.
22 August	Day of electoral silence.

International observation

By 17 August, the Central Election Commission had accredited 781 foreign and international observers. The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights has deployed 39 long-term observers and 208 short-term observers. ODIHR will work with OSCE and Council of Europe parliamentary delegations on polling day. Initial findings are expected the following day; a final report will follow.

31 августа 2026

Dear compatriots,

 

Today, the international community observes the International Day against Nuclear Tests, established by the United Nations General Assembly at the initiative of our country.

Exactly 35 years ago, amid a complex international situation, the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site was closed. For decades, it inflicted irreparable damage on human health and the environment, leaving a painful mark on the fate of our people. This date will serve as a reminder to all humanity of the tragic consequences of nuclear testing and as a call to prevent such tragedies from ever happening again.

By voluntarily renouncing the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal on the planet, Kazakhstan made a historic choice in favor of peace, security, and sustainable development. This decision fulfilled the aspirations of the people of Kazakhstan and demonstrated our state’s responsibility for the fate of future generations.

Our commitment to peace and friendship with all states, enshrined in the preamble of the New Constitution, remains an unwavering principle of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy. Our country’s position as one of the leaders of the global nuclear- weapons-free movement remains unchanged: we call for dialogue and negotiations among the nuclear-weapons states, the earliest possible entry into force of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, and decisive multilateral action aimed at eliminating the threat of the use of nuclear weapons.

Nuclear energy must serve exclusively peaceful and constructive purposes. In a nationwide referendum, our people firmly supported the course towards the development of nuclear energy, laying a solid foundation for Kazakhstan’s economic, scientific, and technological progress for decades to come.

This strategic choice is an important part of the transformations opening a new chapter in the country’s sustainable development. Large-scale reforms across all spheres of public life are aimed at building a Just, Progressive, and Clean Kazakhstan.

I am confident that together we will achieve this noble goal.