Maslikhat elections to be held in Zhanaozen after the state of emergency is over

Elections to the town and oblast Maslikhats (local executive body) in Zhanaozen will be held after the state of emergency is lifted, Tengrinews.kz reports. Zhanaozen will not vote in the parliamentary elections on January 15. This was discussed at the meeting of Kazakhstan Central Election Commission on January 6. “Because of the state of emergency in Zhanaozen, early elections of Kazakhstan Parliament’s Majilis deputies and elections of Kazakhstan Maslikhat deputies set for January 15, 2012, will not be held in Zhanaozen. The elections of the deputies of Zhanaozen Maslikhat and the deputies of Mangistau oblast Maslikhat shall be held after the state of emergency in Zhanaozen is lifted,” Chairman of Kazakhstan CEC Vladimir Foos said. On January 6 Kazakhstan Constitutional Council explained that Zhanaozen residents will not vote in the elections because of the state of emergency. State of emergency was declared by Kazakhstan President on December 17, 2011 until 7:00 a.m. of January 5, 2012. January 4 it was prolonged to January 31, 2012.