Institute for Objective International Observation of Elections and Referendums and its Impact on Political Integration (on the example of early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on November 20, 2022, and early elections of deputies of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan on March 19, 2023)

Abstract

The authors demonstrate the differences in the applied methodology of work and the different approaches to assessing the results of the observation of the mission of international observers from the CIS and the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (hereinafter - ODIHR), based on the results of the observation by the Mission of Observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States over the organization and holding of the early elections of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which held on November 20, 2022, and the early elections of deputies of the Majilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held on March 19, 2023. The CIS observer mission in its activities is guided by the provisions of the Convention on Standards for Democratic Elections, Electoral Rights and Freedoms in the CIS Member Nations, signed by the Heads of the CIS Member Nations, whereas the ODIHR mission is guided by instructions and recommendations that they themselves accept. This ODIHR approach creates grounds for doubting the objectivity of their conclusions based on the results of observation.