Briefing on Kazakhstan’s parliamentary elections hosted in Washington D.C.

On January 8, 2021, in the lead-up of the elections to the Majilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the U.S. Erzhan Kazykhanov hosted an online briefing for the U.S. Congress.

The participants of the briefing were informed about the implementation of reforms aimed at further improving of democratic institutions and procedures in Kazakhstan, as well as about the details of the electoral process.

Informing of the current electoral campaign in the country, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan spoke in detail about the main stages of election preparation, the country’s electoral legislation, and the political parties participating in the elections, as well as international observers and representatives of foreign media.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, Ambassador Kazykhanov emphasized the additional measures taken by the state to ensure the safety of all participants in the election process.

The Ambassador of Kazakhstan stressed that Kazakhstan has taken actions to further strengthen democratic institutions and civil society in accordance with high international standards. In particular, the threshold for registration of political parties was lowered, and the representation of women and young people in parliament was increased.

“Free and fair elections are the fundamental principle of the organization of state power in Kazakhstan, as codified in the Constitution of our country,” Kazykhanov said.

In the context of cooperation with the United States, in his speech, the Ambassador of Kazakhstan also mentioned the Agreement on investment cooperation signed on January 8 between the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) and the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The document provides for the implementation of joint investment projects in Kazakhstan through the AIFC platform in the amount of up to USD 1 billion.

Following the briefing, Ambassador Kazykhanov answered the questions regarding the amendments to the legislation, the activities of political parties and measures taken by the state to maintain a stable epidemiological situation.