Kazakhstan, Astana, Jan.11 / Trend, L. Podolyak /
Early elections of deputies to the Majilis (lower house of parliament) of Kazakhstan and the next elections to the Maslikhat (local representative body) in Zhanaozen in the Mangistau region will be held on schedule - Jan. 15, 2012, the Kazakh Central Election Commission (CEC) Deputy Chairman Vladimir Foos said at the CEC meeting.
He said the elections in Zhanaozen will not differ from those in other regions, besides the fact that restrictions introduced by presidential decree on the state of emergency, will be taken into account.
A state of emergency has been declared in Zhanaozen, where mass riots took place in December, 2011and will run until Jan.31. In this regard, the Constitutional Council took a decision on the impossibility of holding parliamentary elections in Zhanaozen. On Jan.10, 2011 the Kazakh President vetoed this decision.
It was noted that the Kazakh President took into account Zhanaozen residents' concerns over the fact that the Constitutional Council's decision limits their voting rights stipulated by the country's Constitution and laws.
Today the Constitutional Council supported the president's veto.