The farce of Kazakhstan's election

[Gotno Gizmo]

In the coming weeks Kazakhstan prepares for another Presidential election. Why do they bother? President Nazarbayev's indirect ownership of the media ensures that no meaningful opportunity for serious (other than artificial) opposition to the existing presidency exists, or is understood. On street political rallies other than for the President's party are not tolerated. As the commentator of the attached Moscow News article indicates "the best vote that the Kazakhstan electorate can make, is to abstain from voting on mass!
Presidential Campaign Kicks Off in Kazakhstan | News | The Moscow Times

[Gotno Gizmo]

A relatively small protest march in Astana was quickly broken up by the Kazakh security forces.

Kazakh Protesters Detained In Attempt To Meet President - Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty ╘ 2011

[Gotno Gizmo]

It seems that the OSCE (the European security, democracy and liberty organisation); having chosen Kazakhstan as its venue this year for a summit conference, now must have 'egg on its face'. The OSCE observers must have reluctantly admitted that there were shortfalls in the administration of Kazakhstan's recent presidential elections.
Kazakhstan election officials accused of intimidation and ballot-box stuffing | World news | guardian.co.uk

[Gotno Gizmo]

The British singer and long time pop celebrity "Sting" has refused to attend a concert planned in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The reasons for cancelling his visit to Kazakhstan is the failure of President Nazarbayev's regime to uphold human rights.

Kazakhstan was recently chosen as the venue for the OSCE (the European security, democracy and liberty organisation) summit, much to the amazement of Human Rights organisations.

BBC News - Sting cancels Kazakhstan concert over "rights abuses"

[Gotno Gizmo]

It is nauseating when countries like Kazakhstan, Belarus and Russia have elections. History shows us that in these elections the ruling elite have virtually a nil chance of losing their hold on power. Regimes like this have the advantage of owning the media by one means or another. The only genuine opposition parties permitted are those seen to pose no risk to the government, or are parties created to give the appearance of a an opposition party, but are a puppet one under the regime. When a movement is being formed that threatens the regime it is crushed at birth. The electorate in these countries have never experienced the true power of a fair and free vote in all of their lives. As such they are gullible to the propoganda of their regimes. Even if the electorate wisen up to their situation, these regimes will manipulate the voting figures to maintain supremacy.

BBC News - Two more Kazakh parties wins parliamentary seats