Tokayev appoints six members to Kazakhstan's Central Election Commission
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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed decrees on September 23, 2026, appointing six members to the Central Election Commission. The appointments followed consent from the Kurultai, the country's new representative body. The commission oversees elections and referendums in Kazakhstan.
Key Facts
- President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed decrees on September 23, 2026, appointing six members to the Central Election Commission.
- The appointed members are Azamat Aimanakumov, Mikhail Bortnik, Mukhtar Erman, Asel Zhanabilova, Lyazzat Suindyk, and Shavkhat Utemisov.
- The Kurultai gave its consent to the appointments on the same day, following a presentation by head of the Presidential Administration Roman Sklyar.
- All six appointees were already serving on the commission, making the decrees a reappointment.
- Nurlan Abdirov was appointed chairman of the Central Election Commission on September 18, 2026.
Presidential Decrees
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed decrees on September 23, 2026, appointing six members to the Central Election Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The decrees named Azamat Aimanakumov, Mikhail Bortnik, Mukhtar Erman, Asel Zhanabilova, Lyazzat Suindyk, and Shavkhat Utemisov as commission members. The appointments were announced by the Akorda press service and reported by multiple Kazakhstani media outlets. The same day, Tokayev also signed decrees appointing judges of the Constitutional Court.
Kurultai Consent
The Kurultai, Kazakhstan's new representative body, gave its consent to the six candidates on September 23, 2026. Head of the Presidential Administration Roman Sklyar presented the candidates to the Kurultai deputies. The Kurultai also consented to the appointment of ten Constitutional Court judges and eight members of the Supreme Audit Chamber. The consent procedure was required under the new Constitution, which came into force on July 1, 2026.
Commission Reappointment
All six appointees were already serving on the Central Election Commission, making the decrees a reappointment. The reappointment was necessary because the new Constitution requires members to be reconfirmed after the formation of the Kurultai. Mukhtar Erman joined the commission in March 2022 and has served as its secretary and, since November 2024, as deputy chairman. Nurlan Abdirov was appointed chairman of the commission on September 18, 2026, and has led the body since January 2022.