11.01.2021-17.01.2021 No 289 7

CHANGES AFTER THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS FOR THE MAJILIS IN KAZAKHSTAN Along with the Majilis, the lower chamber of Democratic Institutions and Human Rights - been directly linked to this party’s program. the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 42; Shanghai Cooperation Organization - 15; Since independence, despite changes in the the elections of deputies of regional, city and Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic-speaking vote ratio, the Nur Otan party, which has been district local representative bodies, known as countries - 9; OSCE Parliamentary Assembly - the clear winner in all elections, has solid fi- Maslikhats, were held simultaneously. In his 9; Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective nancial and human resources. Therefore, as in address to the nation on October 21, 2020, the Security Treaty Organization - 7; Turkish the past, the Nur Otan party had once more President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Council - 7; Organization of Islamic Coopera- gained the trust and support of the people of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the de- tion - 4; The EU Delegation to Kazakhstan – 2, Kazakhstan. cree scheduling the regular parliamentary elec- or a total of 322 observers from 31 countries, On January 15, the President of Kazakhstan tions for the Majilis for January 10, 2021. The as well as and 76 independent observers at in- Tokayev took part in the first session of the previous parliamentary elections of the Majilis dividual level. Majilis of the 7th convocation. Expressing were held in 1995, 1999, 2004, 2007, 2012 and On January 12, 2021, the CEC of the Republic gratitude to the deputies of the 6th convocation 2016, three of which were held early. of Kazakhstan announced the results of the for the adoption of 410 laws over the past 5 Since independence, numerous arrangements election. According to the latest official results, years, the President wished success to the dep- have been made in Kazakhstan to improve the the 5 parties participating in the elections re- uties of the 7th convocation. Referring to the legislative process, as prior to these elections ceived the following votes: Nur Otan party - fact that the current Majilis was summoned on certain changes were made in the work of the 5.148.074 votes (71.09%), Ak Zhol party - the eve of the 30th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s Majilis and Maslikhats. As was stated by the 792.828 votes (10.95%), People’s Party of Ka- independence and the 25th anniversary of the President of Kazakhstan on October 21, 2020, zakhstan - 659.019 votes (9.10%), the “Auyl” parliamentary system, the President empha- the work of the Majilis of the 7th Convocation party - 383.023 votes (5.29%), and the “Adal” sized the importance for the state to conduct re- would be committed to democracy and trans- party - 258.618 votes (3.57%). According to searches in all areas, determine priorities, de- parency. Since the announcement of the elec- Article 97/1 of the law “On Elections in the Re- velop the rule of law and increase the trust of tion up until the election day there had been no- public of Kazakhstan,” the following parties the people in the government on the eve of the ticeable activity among political parties, so that that passed the electoral threshold of 7% be- endeavors to come. He stressed the need for the political life in the country is catching up came entitled to representation to form the gradual reforms, expanding the competence of with the contemporary developments in the Majilis of the 7th Convocation: 76 deputies local authorities, modernization of the manage- world. The multiparty system facilitates the from the Nur Otan party, 12 deputies from Ak ment system and the semi-public sector, ex- participation of the population into the political Zhol party and 10 deputies from the People’s panding the scope of digitalization, thereby life, and the recent modifications of the legal Party of Kazakhstan. further improving transparency. He noted the procedures enhanced the work of the govern- On January 11, 2021, elections of candidates urge to prioritize the educational sector, and to mental entities. The issue of the constitutional for Majilis of the 7th Convocation were held by eliminate the educational and social gap be- clause “On the Parliament of the Republic of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan (APK). tween regions. On the other hand, Tokayev em- Kazakhstan and the Status of its Deputies” Accordingly, at the 28th session of the APK phasized the gradual introduction of elections along with the law “On Committees and Com- held in Nur-Sultan, 351 out of 504 members of in the neighborhoods as a precondition for po- missions of the Parliament of the Republic of the APK took part in the voting and elected 9 litical reforms, and stated that the election Kazakhstan” facilitate further opportunities for deputies. threshold could be reduced from 7% to 5% to the opposition parties, which strengthens pub- There were many peculiarities of this election. ensure active participation of political parties lic trust in political institutions. As a result, one First, it coincides with the 30th anniversary of in the elections. of the chairs and two secretaries of the Majilis Kazakhstan’s independence. Second, the elec- Nurlan Nigmatullin, who served as the Chair of standing committees will be elected from tion was held during the term of the second the Majilis of the 5th and 6th convocations, was among the deputies of the parliamentary oppo- President in the history of the country, who was elected as the Chair of the Majilis of the 7th sition. In addition, the provisions of the consti- elected on June 10, 2019. Third, both the ruling Convocation by unanimous support of the dep- tution law “On Elections in the Republic of Ka- political party and opposition parties were well uties. After the new members had sworn in, the zakhstan” and the law “On Political Parties” prepared for the elections. Besides, the Com- members and chairs of the Standing Commis- created for the first time in Kazakhstan a man- munist Party of Kazakhstan, which was repre- sions in the Majilis were also determined. Dur- datory 30% quota for youth and women, ex- sented at the Majilis of the 6th convocation, ing that process, chairs of two commissions panding the representation of women and changed its name to the People’s Party of Ka- were elected from the members of the Ak Jol young people in the parliament. zakhstan shortly before the elections. In this Party and the Kazakhstan People’s Party. According to the Central Election Commission election, the party received 7.19% of the votes Ultimately, the “Covid-19 pandemic” had af- (CEC), 63.3% of the 11,915,903 eligible voters and entered the Majilis with 7 deputies. This fected Kazakhstan any other country in the in Kazakhstan casted their ballots at 10,060 election did not go very smooth for the Ak Zhol world. In order to quickly overcome an eco- polling stations. According to the Ministry of party, which was part of the Majilis of the 5th nomic crisis that could emerge due to the pan- Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and 6th convocations. Due to tough competi- demic, a number of legislative reforms would 66 polling stations were set in 53 countries for tion, the Ak Zhol party had to develop a strong be necessary. On the other hand, the outcome Kazakh citizens living abroad. CEC Chairman election campaign in order not to lose the trust of this election might have satisfied the expec- Berik Imashev noted the importance of elec- of the electorate. Nevertheless, the political or- tations of the population. It can be said that the tions for democracy and public life in the coun- ganization, which has been in the Majilis for 10 renewed Majilis strengthened the expectations try. Imashev thanked local and international years, gained 10.18% of the votes on January for economic and social development of Ka- observers for their support in the organization 10, 2021, the highest rate in the history of the zakhstan, and further increasing political par- of the elections, as well as for their contribution party, thanks to its experience in previous elec- ticipation. Meanwhile, the recent elections of in holding transparent and fair elections. Ac- tions,. The role of the Nur Otan party under the the Majilis on the eve of the 30th anniversary cording to the CEC, a total of 398 observers leadership of the First President of Kazakhstan, of the Independence of Kazakhstan, formed by from 10 international organizations took part in Nursultan Nazarbayev, is crucial in the politi- the rulig party and other parties that gained the elections, including the Commonwealth of cal life of Kazakhstan. Since its establishment, public trust, will form a basis for the welfare of Independent States (CIS) - 179; CIS Interpar- the economic, social, health and educational the country, equal opportunities and the devel- liamentary Assembly – 48; OSCE Office for development of the people Kazakhstan has opment of democracy in Kazakhstan.

Written by Erkinbek Turgynov, Eurasian Research Institute, Kazakhstan

Politics, Foreign Affairs, and Security Economy, Finance, and Energy Society and Culture th  On January 10 , 2021, Kyrgyzstan held  The European Bank for Reconstruction  TURKSOY organized an exhibition in the presidential elections. According to the and Development (EBRD) continues to country’s Central Election Commission, support small and medium enterprises in Bulgarian city of Plovdiv, presenting its 79.28% of voters supported Sadyr Japa- Kazakhstan, jointly with its local partners. album “Reading Abai”. The prestige al- rov. As a result, the Executive Office Recently, the bank agreed to share up to bum features paintings by painters of the of the President has begun active prepara- 50% of risk on a $1.1 million loan pro- Turkic World inspired by the works of tions for the inauguration, which will take vided by the Bank CenterCredit to the lo- Abai. The event was held at the Consulate st th place from January 21 to January 28 . It cal packaging producer Intelpack. The General of the Republic of Turkey and was is expected that the President of Turkey, EBRD has a long term partnership with the attended by diplomats and members of the Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and the first Pres- Intelpack as it previously supported the local municipality only due to the health ident of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarba- company through funding and technical yev, will attend the inauguration (24.kg, assistance. To date, the bank’s investments and safety measures taken to halt 13.01.2021). in Kazakhstan reached almost $8 billion the COVID-19 pandemic (Turksoy.org,  The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, (Kazinform, 13.01.2021). 14.01.2020). the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev,  According to Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of  The “Corner of Abai”, introducing the life and Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Agriculture, Tilek Toktogaziev, the coun- and work of the famous Kazakh poet, was Pashinyan, had a meeting in Moscow on try intends to become a regional agricul- opened at the Trakya University in Tur- Nagorno-Karabakh issues, which lasted tural hub. The ministry plans to process almost four hours. President Putin also had key. The event was organized within the and export meat products to the Persian framework of the 175th anniversary of the bilateral talks with his colleagues. Russian Gulf countries using both internal reserves leader mentioned strategic partnership and import of cheap cattle from its neigh- great Kazakh poet and philosopher with with both countries and noted that the boring countries, including Kazakhstan, the participation of TURKSOY. Diplo- agreements on ceasefire reached in No- Russia and Mongolia. The ministry’s esti- mats of Kazakhstan and Turkey, as well as vember were implemented consistently, mates show that the country can export 40 University management members were which created preconditions for long-term thousand tons per week of meat products present at the event (Turksoy.org, regulation of the conflict taking into con- to the United Arab Emirates and 60 tons sideration the interests of both nations 13.01.2021). (TASS, 11.01.2021). per day to China (24.kg, 12.01.2021).  The International Turkic Academy pre-  Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign affairs,  The Eurasian Economic Commission pub- sented books about Azerbaijan in the Nur- Dmytro Kuleba, had an online meeting lished strategic directions of development Sultan city. The event was organized as of the Eurasian Economic Union until th with his Moldovan and Georgian counter- 2025, which were approved by the Su- part of the 30 anniversary of independ- parts, Aureliu Ciocoi and David Zalkal- preme Eurasian Economic Council on De- ence of the Turkic states that will be cele- iani. The ministers of foreign affairs of the th three EU's Eastern Partnership member- cember 11 , 2020. The document, consist- brated over the course of 2021. The pre- states reiterated their commitment to de- ing of 330 measures and mechanisms, sented book included “Karabakh the Pearl velop an in-depth dialogue initiative aims to stipulate comprehensive regional of Azerbaijan: history, culture, nature”, within the EU+ Associated Partners for- cooperation. Implementation of the strat- “Lost Happiness: True stories of mat based on the principle of differentia- egy will require signing 13 additional in- Karabakh” and “Azerbaijan People’s Re- tion. The sides also agreed that the integra- ternational agreements, passing over 60 statutory and regulatory enactments, and public”. The event was attended by diplo- tion into the European Market and the pro- mats and high-ranking government offi- spect of spreading the “four European introducing about 25 amendments and ad- freedoms” should be strategic goals for denda to the Eurasian Economic Union cials from different Turkic states Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia (Ukrin- Treaty and the national legislations (Twesco.org, 14.01.2021). form.net, 15.01.2021). (BelTA, 14.01.2021).  A Russian Educational Center was opened  The President of Moldova, Maia Sandu,  Belarus’s new automobile market experi- in the Tajik city of Tursunzade. The initi- paid her first visit to Kiev and met with the enced lower sales in 2020. According to ative was implemented by the public or- Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelen- the Director General of the Belarusian Au- ganization “Russian Community”, the sky. The two leaders signed a number of tomobile Association, Aleksandr Si- Russian embassy in Tajikistan, the city ad- documents on bilateral cooperation in en- dorevich, sales dropped by 18% and ergy, infrastructure, trade and transporta- amounted to 53.5 thousand. In 2019, the ministration and Tajikistan Dioceses of the tion. The presidents also reaffirmed their sales equaled 65 thousand vehicles. Si- Holy Russian Orthodox Church. The Cen- mutual support for a peaceful resolution of dorevich mentions that the capacity of ter is designed to improve the knowledge conflicts based on respect for the sover- Belarus’s market is at least twice as large. of the Russian language among school- eignty and territorial integrity of the two In 2020, Russian brands accounted for children, as well as to help them with ad- countries within the internationally recog- 70.2% in total sales. A share of carmakers mission to universities in the Russian Fed- nized borders and expressed their inten- of Belarus increased from 10% to 17%, eration (Centralasia.news, 12.01.2021). tions to resume the bilateral dialogue at the while sales of imported vehicles amounted highest level (Ukrinform.net, 12.01.2021). to 13% (BelTA, 14.01.2021).  Turkmenistan is planning to nominate the  The Special Representative of the Presi-  In 2020, Uzbekistan’s exports amounted desert ecosystem of Central Asia to the dent of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Af- to $15.1 billion. According to the Ministry UNESCO World Heritage List. The deci- ghanistan, Ismatulla Irgashev, received the of Investment and Foreign Trade, Uzbeki- sion was made based on the results of field Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipo- stan plans to increase its exports to $17 bil- research, conducted by scientists during tentiary of Pakistan, Sayyid Ali Asad Gi- lion in 2021 and will involve more than their expeditions to the Eastern, Central lani. The sides exchanged views on the 2,000 new enterprises in this process. In and Northern Karakum Desert. As a result current situation in Afghanistan and the ef- 2020, foreign investments in the country’s forts of the international community to fixed assets equaled $6.6 billion and more of the research, reports and updated lists of maintain peace and stability in this coun- than 169 thousand new jobs were created flora and fauna of deserts were prepared. try. The Ambassador of Pakistan empha- as part of the investment programs. In The necessary information was also col- sized and praised the role of Uzbekistan in 2021, the country plans to attract foreign lected for the development of management establishing long-term and sustainable investments worth $10.5 billion (UzRe- plans for natural reserves (Centralasia.me- peace in Afghanistan (Uzdaily.uz, port, 14.01.2021). dia, 11.01.2021). 15.01.2021).  Recently, Iranian Ambassador to Azerbai-  The Program Coordinator of the Turkish  The President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Ali- jan, Seyid Abbas Mousavi, had a meeting yev, held a phone conversation with the with the President of the National Confed- Cooperation and Coordination Agency President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Er- eration of Organizations of Entrepreneurs (TIKA), Osman Usta, visited the National dogan. The leaders pointed out the devel- of Azerbaijan, Mammad Musayev. The Library of Kyrgyzstan. He also held nego- opment of friendly and fraternal relations parties discussed measures to expand eco- tiations with its director, Zhyldyz Bakash- between the two nations in all areas. The nomic ties between the two countries. In ova, and discussed the prospects for fur- Presidents also discussed the restoration particular, they agreed that establishment ther improvement and modernization of and reconstruction works in the recently of the Iranian Trade House in Azerbaijan liberated territories, as well as the involve- the Kyrgyz-Turkish Center for Culture and would deepen economic cooperation. Dur- Literature named after Chingiz Aitmatov. ment of Turkish companies in them. The ing 11 months of 2020, Iran exported President of Turkey stressed that Turkey products worth $266.1 million to Azerbai- The sides also discussed the joint projects would continue to support Azerbaijan jan, while its imports amounted to $36.7 and outlined plans for holding joint events (News.az, 16.01.2021). million (AzerNews, 13.01.2021). in 2021 (En.kabar.kg, 14.01.2021).

Prepared by Saule Akhmetkaliyeva and Kanat Makhanov