Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Roman Vasilenko, met with the international observer mission from the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) to discuss preparations for the upcoming national referendum on the construction of a nuclear power plant.
During the meeting, Vasilenko highlighted the significance of recent political reforms in Kazakhstan and emphasized that the referendum is an important step towards greater citizen involvement in key decision-making, in line with the “Listening State” principle.
The OTS observers were briefed on Kazakhstan’s electoral reforms, which include quotas for women, youth, and people with disabilities, direct elections for rural district leaders (akims), a lowered electoral threshold for political parties, and the option to vote “against all” candidates.
Vasilenko expressed gratitude to the OTS mission for their role in monitoring the referendum, noting that their independent assessment will be crucial for ensuring the transparency and fairness of the process. He also wished them success and expressed hope for continued cooperation with the OTS to build a stronger and more unified future.
