Kazakhstan, Astana, April 3 /Trend A. Maratov/
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Observation Mission attended 24 polling stations in Kazakhstan before noon without stressing any violations.The SCO mission was formed in mid-March. The most part of the mission works in Astana.
"The elections in Kazakhstan are very stable, without any violations, especially in the political sense," SCO Secretary-General Muratbek Imanaliyev said at a briefing on Sunday. I think it must please the Kazakhs and, of course, neighbors of Kazakhstan."
Polling stations are open from 7:00 a.m. to 20:00 p.m. on the Kazakhstan time. The authorities promise the most transparent elections in history.
A total of 1,059 accredited observers will be monitoring the elections in the country. The most numerous mission will be from the CIS (425) and the OSCE/ODIHR (357 people). Over 250 foreign journalists monitor the elections.
Besides the incumbent president, Communist Zhambyl Ahmetbekov, leader of the Patriots Party, Senator Gani Kasimov and Tabiyat Ecological Union leader Mels Eleusizov participate in the snap presidential elections.
On behalf of SCO, he welcomed the strong preparation for the elections, which was carried out by the CEC, public organizations and candidates for presidents.
The SCO observers saw a long queue at one of the polling stations at 7:00 a.m. This demonstrates the high activity of Kazakh people and a willingness to vote for their candidate, he said.
"We also heard the reports of our observers from Karaganda and Almaty," he said. I can confirm once again the high activity. It is evident."
The CEC will announce the preliminary results of the elections in the first half of April 4.