CIS mission to observe parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan

MINSK, 31 January (BelTA) - The CIS observation mission is set to monitor the parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan, CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev told the media, BelTA has learned.

“We have received an invitation from the leadership of Kazakhstan to send an observation mission to monitor the upcoming parliamentary elections slated for 19 March. We are now working on the mission. We have already prepared letters to the countries with the request to send us the candidates for the mission,” Sergei Lebedev said.

In his words, the mission is expected to be headed by CIS First Deputy Secretary General Leonid Anfimov.

“The elections will take place on 19 March. The mission usually starts work some 20 days ahead of the election day. Around that time, our team will go there to open the mission headquarters. Short-term observers, as a rule, arrive three days before the elections,” the CIS secretary general said. “We will coordinate these activities with the leadership of the Central Election Commission and the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan. Based on previous experience, the mission includes MPs of the CIS countries. We send invitations to the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, heads of CIS parliaments and Central Election Commissions of CIS countries.”

“I think the mission will be formed and start its activities in time. We will coordinate all the matters with the leadership of Kazakhstan,” Sergei Lebedev stressed.

The CIS Plenipotentiaries Council is holding its session in the CIS Executive Committee in Minsk on 31 January. The concept of Kyrgyzstan's presidency in the CIS in 2023 and an action plan for its implementation will be presented at the meeting. The plenipotentiaries will also discuss the draft agenda of the next session of the CIS Foreign Ministers Council scheduled for 14 April in Tashkent and approve the council's work plan for 2023.