29 March 2011 | 12:34

Accreditation of election observers: final count

Photo by Maksim Popov©

Central Election Commission (CEC) has finished accrediting observers for the presidential elections at midnight on March 28. But foreign journalists can still be accredited at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the ministry sets no deadlines. Nine more observers got accredited with the CEC at the last moment: during the last three hours before the deadline for observers’ applications submission, Tengrinews.kz reports. 1,059 foreign observers and representatives of international organizations and at least 90 foreign journalists will be observing Kazakhstan’s presidential elections to take place on April 3. CEC accredited 357 observers from OSCE, 426 from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), 13 from SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), 100 observers from 4 international organizations and 163 representatives of 25 different countries. 90 foreign journalists who are permanently accredited in Kazakhstan will also be observing the elections. OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) started its long-term elections observation mission upon receiving the Kazakh government’s invitation on February 11, 2011. Kazakh CEC accredited the first group of international observers on February 26, 2011. These were 7 representatives from France and 2 from International Republican Institute. OSCE observers started monitoring the elections preparation process on February 28. Accreditation of international observers started on February 7 and lasted till the midnight of March 28. By Assel Satayeva

Central Election Commission (CEC) has finished accrediting observers for the presidential elections at midnight on March 28. But foreign journalists can still be accredited at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the ministry sets no deadlines. Nine more observers got accredited with the CEC at the last moment: during the last three hours before the deadline for observers’ applications submission, Tengrinews.kz reports. 1,059 foreign observers and representatives of international organizations and at least 90 foreign journalists will be observing Kazakhstan’s presidential elections to take place on April 3. CEC accredited 357 observers from OSCE, 426 from CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), 13 from SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization), 100 observers from 4 international organizations and 163 representatives of 25 different countries. 90 foreign journalists who are permanently accredited in Kazakhstan will also be observing the elections. OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) started its long-term elections observation mission upon receiving the Kazakh government’s invitation on February 11, 2011. Kazakh CEC accredited the first group of international observers on February 26, 2011. These were 7 representatives from France and 2 from International Republican Institute. OSCE observers started monitoring the elections preparation process on February 28. Accreditation of international observers started on February 7 and lasted till the midnight of March 28. By Assel Satayeva