Text of report by Kazakh Khabar TV on 24th October

A report which we have just received from Astana will end our
news programme. Marat Mukhamedsaliyev from the Central
Electoral Commission [CEC- of Kazakhstan]:

[Mukhamedsaliyev] The CEC is receiving information about
the turnout [for votings in the second round of the elections
for the Majlis, lower house, of the Kazakh parliament] from all
polling stations in the republic and processing them at the
informtion centre in Astana. On average, every two hours the
indexes about the activity of population [in voting process] is
changing and being brought up on the billboard put up in the
CEC building. Residents of Aktyubinsk and North Kazakhtan
Regions, where the winners became known in [the first round of]
the elections held on 10th October, will not take part in the
elections today [24th October].

On average, turnout in the second round of the elections
is 10-15 per cent lower [than the first round]. It is
interesting that the lowest turnout is in the most politically
active city of Kazakhstan, Almaty. According to information
received by this evening, 17 per cent of residents in the
southern capital, Almaty, have cast their votes. The same
silence is also predominant in Astana: a total of no more than
20 per cent [of voters] visited them [the polling stations]
before the closure [of the stations]. It is possible that the
low index of activity is linked with the boomerang effect when
an abundance of political advertisments and the rise of
passions among the candidates can no longer make people
interested in the elections. One cannot discount the time of
the season: preparations for winter and concerns over household
issues are simply squeezing out politics. In contrast to urban
areas, villagers are indifferent to the elections of candidates
to the bodies of power. Today, all Kazakhstan's Regions, where
voting is under way, have stepped over the 40 per cent turnout.
On the whole, the chairwoman of the CEC, Zagipa Baliyeva,
assessed the holding of the elections as satisfactory.

[Baliyeva] So, this is the second round [of elections] and
the voters are less active. Those candidates who failed [in the
first round] and their supporting groups possibly have decided
not to participate in the elections as their candidates are
absent now. It is not difficult to say why. Facts, however,
show that there is 10-15 per cent lesser turnout.

[Mukhamedsaliyev] Zagipa Baliyeva said in her interview to
the [Khabar] agency that the second round is passing without
interruptions. For the time being, the CEC is considering the
complaints which the CEC traditionally receives during the
votings.

[Baliyeva] There are few instances which we are
considering and taking measures against them. We will report to
you about their results later. We will let you know. A total of
about 10 complaints have been received so far since this
morning and we are actively considering them.

[Mukhamedsaliyev] The vote counting will be held more
operatively in the second round. The CEC promises to give the
preliminary results of votings in 47 polling districts tomorrow
. Now, according to the latest information, by 1900 hours [1200
gmt] over 2,350,000 voters cast their ballots, or over 40 per
cent of the citizens who enjoy the right to vote.

Source: Khabar TV, Almaty, in Russian 1300 gmt 24 Oct 99
BBC Mon CAU 241099/** AJBA/QU