Azerbaijan, Baku, March 31 / Trend, A. Gasimova /
The CSI website reports that the process of preparation for the upcoming presidential elections in Kazakhstan scheduled for April, is under way and in full compliance with Kazakhstan's electorallegislation and universally recognised democratic principles. These
were the words of CIS Executive Committee Chairman and Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev before leaving for Astana. Lebedev is the head of the CIS Observation Mission at the snap presidential elections in Kazakhstan.
On Kazakh invitation the CIS mission (its headquarters located in Astana) since March monitors the course of preparations for holding the elections. At present, the formation of the mission is completed. It includes representatives of Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus,
Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, the Interparliamentary Assembly of CIS member states, CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, the EurAsEC Parliamentary Assembly and the CIS Executive Committee - in total 426 people.
Lebedev said all the conditions are created in Kazakhstan for the observers to perform their functions. The mission operates strictly observing the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan, independently, without interfering in the electoral process, he added.
The presidential campaign in Kazakhstan will end on April 1. The elections will be held on April 3. Four candidates passed registration at the Kazakh Central Election Commission and will continue to participate in the snap presidential elections scheduled for April 3.
The candidates are Nursultan Nazarbayev, Communist Zhambyl Ahmetbekov,Leader of the Patriots Party, Senator Gani Kasimov and Tabiyat Ecological Union leader Mels Eleusizov.
Experts believe Nazarbayev might easily win the election. Nazarbayev, who has been in power for over 20 years, is supported by about 90 percent of the population.