Presidential “Elections” in Kazakhstan

But can this properly be termed an election? President Noursoultan Nazarbaïev, in power since 1989, is running for a new presidential term and probably expects a score similar to that achieved in 2005, when he scored 91% of votes cast.

A turnout of about nine million is expected.

During the 2005 campaign, Zamanbek Nurkadilov, the principal opposition candidate was found dead with three gunshot wounds a little before election day. The subsequent judicial enquiry ruled the cause of death was suicide…