Kazakhstan presidential election, 2005
Encyclopedia
Kazakhstan
held a presidential election on 4 December 2005. Incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev
, in power since 1989, sought and won another seven-year term against four other candidates. Opposition candidates were allowed some access to the mass media, but this was still restricted. According to western election observers, opposition candidates also suffered considerable harassment. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the elections, calling them unfair, but noted improvements.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov
, described as the leading figure of the opposition, was unable to take part, having died shortly before the election. A former mayor of Almaty
and government minister, Nurkadilov had joined the opposition. He was found shot dead in November, shortly after reportedly saying that he would go public with documents proving government corruption. Near his body was "a pillow pierced by bullets that may have been used as a silencer". The official cause of death was presented as suicide, with a report stating that Nurkadilov had shot himself twice in the chest and then once in the head.
, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission, declared the election valid. About 1,600 observers monitored the election, including 465 from the influential Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Bruce George, coordinator for observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, was highly critical of the election: "Regrettably, despite some efforts which were undertaken to improve the process, the authorities did not exhibit sufficient political will to hold a genuinely good election."
The OSCE has gone on record noting the following issues with the election "Unauthorised persons interfering in polling stations, cases of multiple voting, ballot box stuffing and pressure on students to vote were observed during voting and during the count, observers saw tampering with result protocols and a wide range of procedural violations."
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
held a presidential election on 4 December 2005. Incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev has served as the President of Kazakhstan since the nation received its independence in 1991, after the fall of the Soviet Union...
, in power since 1989, sought and won another seven-year term against four other candidates. Opposition candidates were allowed some access to the mass media, but this was still restricted. According to western election observers, opposition candidates also suffered considerable harassment. The Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) criticized the elections, calling them unfair, but noted improvements.
Zamanbek Nurkadilov
Zamanbek Nurkadilov
Zamanbek Nurkadilov served as the Mayor of Almaty in Kazakhstan and Minister of Emergency Situations in the Nazarbayev administration. In March 2004 he began to strongly criticize President Nazarbayev. On 11 November 2005, three weeks before the 2005 presidential election, someone shot him twice...
, described as the leading figure of the opposition, was unable to take part, having died shortly before the election. A former mayor of Almaty
Almaty
Almaty , also known by its former names Verny and Alma-Ata , is the former capital of Kazakhstan and the nation's largest city, with a population of 1,348,500...
and government minister, Nurkadilov had joined the opposition. He was found shot dead in November, shortly after reportedly saying that he would go public with documents proving government corruption. Near his body was "a pillow pierced by bullets that may have been used as a silencer". The official cause of death was presented as suicide, with a report stating that Nurkadilov had shot himself twice in the chest and then once in the head.
Candidates and provisional final results
Onalsyn ZhumabekovOnalsyn Zhumabekov
Onalsyn Zhumabekov has served as the Chairman of the Central Electoral Commission in the Government of Kazakhstan since the Majilis confirmed him on 13 April 2006. He replaced Zagipa Baliyeva, who replaced him as the Minister of Justice...
, Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Central Election Commission, declared the election valid. About 1,600 observers monitored the election, including 465 from the influential Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
Bruce George, coordinator for observers from the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, was highly critical of the election: "Regrettably, despite some efforts which were undertaken to improve the process, the authorities did not exhibit sufficient political will to hold a genuinely good election."
The OSCE has gone on record noting the following issues with the election "Unauthorised persons interfering in polling stations, cases of multiple voting, ballot box stuffing and pressure on students to vote were observed during voting and during the count, observers saw tampering with result protocols and a wide range of procedural violations."