Text of report by Kazakh Khabar TV on 21st August

[Presenter] In Astana today [21st August] the Central Electoral
Commission explained to candidates for seats in the [Astana]
city maslikhat [local authority] how to correctly conduct the
election campaign. As it turns out, despite the fact that less
than a month is left till the elections [elections to upper
house of parliament 17th September, to lower house and local
authorities 10th October], the Central Electoral Commission is
much busier than those standing for election.

[Correspondent, over video of the meeting of Central
Electoral Commission with candidates]. The largest number of
candidates to the city authorities has been registered in
Almaty and Astana. In the capital, 149 people are running for
25 local authority seats. All of them have been successfully
registered. Now, the crucial phase of the election campaign for
the candidates has started, the period of campaigning. This
will last till 8th October.

A member of the Central Electoral Commission, Tatyana
Okhlapkova, explained the provision of the law on elections
which fixes the period when campaigning can be done. The state
allocates about 30,000 tenge for each of the 149 candidates for
printing leaflets and grants the right of free speech on
television and radio. Tatyana Okhlapkova explained in
considerable detail that the law bans civil servants from
campaigning in the elections unless they are on leave. There
can be no campaigning in military units. Winning votes by
selling things at a reduced prices or by distributing gifts is
also prohibited.

[Okhlapkova] You may distribute printed matter, including
illustrated literature, badges, flags and other emblems.
[Correspondent] For the moment the activities of
campaigners are not noticeable. Obviously, with only a little
over a month to go, the candidates prefer to preserve their
strength and means for the very beginning of the elections.

Source: Khabar TV, Almaty, in Russian 1500 gmt 21 Aug 99
BBC Mon CAU 210899/** VA/QU
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