Early parliamentary election in Kazakhstan will take place on August 18. Although the Central Election Commission was quick enough to ensure inclusiveness of registration process and gave approval for the opposition’s party list, social-democrats already cry foul in the campaign.

First of all, All-National Social-Democratic party (recently merged with “True Ak Zhol” Party), which represents opposition on the elections, they are not happy with the election commissions as such. There are no opposition members in the CEC; in lower level bodies across the country opposition representatives make up only appx. 1% of election commission members.

Besides, all state TV channels used various pretexts to reject broadcasting of video ads devoted to the merge of ANSDP and “True Ak Zhol”. The agitation campaign has started on July 18 and will last till August 16, and currently the oppositionists also complain that most broadcast media put numerous obstacles to their pre-election ads. At the same time, most of the airtime is, surely, dedicated to the ruling “Nur Otan” party, chaired by president Nursultan Nazarbayev. (more…)