Development of electoral systems in Turkic states discussed in Kazakhstan

On May 14, 2025, the city of Turkestan hosted the signing of the Regulations on the Advisory Platform of the Central Electoral Authorities (CIO) of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) member States and an international scientific and practical conference organized by the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan jointly with the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the topic "The Turkic World: Traditions, Practice and prospects for the development of electoral systems".

The event was attended by the heads and representatives of the central electoral authorities of the TG member States - Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and the TG observer State - Hungary, as well as 4 reputable international organizations - TG, the World Association of Electoral Authorities (A-WEB), the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkic States (TurkPA), Turkic Academy, scientists from the CIS countries, deputies of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, members of the Expert Council at the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan, chairmen of the territorial election commissions of the regions, Astana, Almaty and Shymkent. The event was also attended by representatives of Abai KazNPU - Candidate of Law, Joint Professor Bakhytkali Koshpenbetov, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Senior lecturer Gulzhan Rasheva, Doctor of Political Sciences Zhomart Simtikov, Doctor of Political Sciences Lyazat Matakbayeva and 1st year Master`s student of the Department of International Law Ayazhan Ospanova.

During the plenary session of the International Scientific and Practical Conference "The Turkic World: Traditions, practice and prospects for the development of electoral systems", the head of the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, Nurlan Abdirov, stressed the importance of strengthening international electoral cooperation, the historical and spiritual significance of the city of Turkestan as a symbol of the unity of the Turkic world and provided information on the transformation of the electoral system of Kazakhstan in the context of the constitutional reform initiated by the President countries by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan Sayasat Nurbek, Secretary General of the OTG Kubanychbek Omuraliev, as well as the heads of the central election authorities of Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan addressed the conference participants with welcoming remarks. The speakers emphasized the importance of sharing experiences and preserving the traditional foundations of electoral systems.

The conference featured a professional dialogue, constructive and fruitful exchange of experience in the development of electoral systems in the Turkic states. The results of the conference will serve to further improve the legislative framework and practice for the development of electoral systems in the member States. The conference continued with two parallel sections devoted to the historical and modern experience of the electoral systems of the Turkic countries.

Section 1: "Electoral traditions in Turkic communities"

The moderator of the section was Deputy, Secretary of the Committee on International Relations, Defense and Security of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Doctor of Historical Sciences, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Darkhan Kydyrali. The historical aspects of the formation of power in the Turkic states were discussed. Scientists from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkey presented reports on the Kagan elections, the Biy court proceedings, the steppe democracy of the Golden Horde, political reforms and electoral processes in Turkey, the peculiarities and centuries-old electoral traditions in nomadic states in the Eurasian space.

Section 2: "Analysis of the electoral systems of the Turkic states: achievements and prospects"

The section was moderated by the rector of Karaganda University named after academician E.A.Buketov, Doctor of Law, Professor Nurlan Dulatbekov. The scientists presented reports on the state and prospects of the electoral processes in the Turkic countries. The issues of transformation and continuity of the institutions of the people`s will, current trends in electoral law, mechanisms for ensuring the rights of voters, new trends in campaigning and much more were discussed.

As a result of the conference, the Turkestan Resolution was adopted, in which the participants emphasized their common commitment to further strengthen democratic institutions and electoral processes and noted that the conference would give a new impetus to the involvement and broad participation of scientists and experts from the Turkic community from all member States in discussing topical issues of improving electoral systems and increasing citizens` trust in them.

The conference participants also recommended that the authorized bodies of the TG member States support joint scientific research and the holding of scientific and practical conferences in the field of electoral processes.

The conference materials will be published in a collection in Kazakh and English.