(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The EU Monday said voters in the Presidential elections of the 26 April in Kazakhstan "were not offered a genuine choice between political alternatives.
"There were also significant restrictions to the freedom of expression, as well as to the media environment and undue restrictions on suffrage right," said Catherine Ray, spokesperson for EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, in a statement tonight.
She noted that international elections observers also "highlighted that serious procedural deficiencies and irregularities were noted throughout the voting, counting and tabulation processes." The EU called on Kazakh authorities to effectively address shortcomings, as well as other restrictions and irregularities observed by the international observers.
"This should be done before the legislative elections in 2016, in order to ensure that they are in line with international standards. Kazakh authorities also need to enhance their efforts to honour their international commitments regarding democratic principles and human rights" it added.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev was elected for the fifth consecutive time for a five-year term, with results showing he won 97.7 percent of the vote.
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