Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan. 31 /Trend, A.Maratov/
Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan has declared referendum to extend the term of the country's current president Nursultan Nazarbayev "legally incorrect and contradicting basic principles of democracy".
Earlier the Constitutional Council examined the president's appeal to check the main constitutional amendments authorizing the would-be referendum for compliance with the country's Constitution.
Earlier in the month, the Kazakh legislature voted unanimously in favour of amendments to the Constitution authorizing a referendum to extend the rule of long-serving Nazarbayev until 2020, bypassing elections due in 2012. Nazarbayev refused to sign the amendments, and submitted them to the Constitutional Council for consideration.
A similar referendum was held in Kazakhstan in 1995 when Nazarbayev's powers were extended until 1999. The 70-year-old Nazarbayev has been in power for over 20 years.
Kazakhstan's Constitutional Council declares referendum over prolonging president's term "legally incorrect"
Constitutional Council of Kazakhstan has declared referendum to extend the term of the country's current president Nursultan Nazarbayev "legally incorrect and contradicting basic principles of democracy".
