Representatives of the OSCE ODIHR visited the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan

In Astana, the chairman of the specialized judicial division of the Supreme Court of Kazakhstan Aigul Kydyrbaeva met with the Head of the OSCE ODIHR mission to monitor early parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan Boris Frlec and advisor to the Legal Affairs of OSCE ODIHR Megan Fitzgerald.

During the meeting A.Kydyrbaeva, emphasizing the achieved level of cooperation of Kazakhstan with the ODIHR and its institutions noted that in Kazakhstan has created all conditions for the full and free realization of citizens’ political rights, ensured the effective functioning of the electoral rights protection mechanism. Informing on the judicial system of Kazakhstan in the light of the transformations occurred, she stressed on the Republic courts willingness to work with special responsibility in the coming electoral period: quickly and at a high level to ensure the legality of all complaints and legal claims related to violations of the election legislation.

"In Kazakhstan, it is created a modern and open judicial system, in line with democratic standards of a fair trial", - A.Kydyrbaeva noted. She reported on the formation under the Supreme Court in 2016 a new specialized judicial division in which jurisdiction is related to consideration of disputes with participation of major investors, administrative cases on the Prosecutor General, as well as cases involving violations of the election legislation.

Speaking about the importance of the forthcoming elections in the country, A.Kydyrbaeva noted that according to the law, a statement received in the period of preparation and conduct of elections, as well as within a month from the day of voting, should be considered within five days, and received less than five days before the vote, on polling day, and before the announcement of the elections results - immediately.

All disputes related to the electoral process, considered by the district courts. The exception is the cases challenging the decisions and the Central Election Commission actions, which have jurisdiction over the Supreme Court and will be considered by a specialized judicial division.  

In turn, B. Frlec, informing about the objectives and principles of the OSCE mission work in Kazakhstan for the ODIHR early elections of deputies of Mazhilis of the Parliament, has expressed interest in receiving information about the statistics on applications and complaints concerning the electoral process received by the courts of the Republic. He also noted on his satisfaction provided the Supreme Court information in the course of the meeting. 

At the end of the meeting the sides expressed their mutual readiness to develop further cooperation.