Kazakh Opposition Denies Plans For Unrest On Election Day
November 21, 2005
By Daniel Kimmage
21 November 2005 -- Presidential candidate Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, who heads the opposition bloc For a Just Kazakhstan, told a news conference in Almaty on 18 November that he and his supporters have no plans to spark unrest during the 4 December presidential election, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported.
Tuyakbai denied that they "have ever planned or are planning any anti-constitutional actions or measures aimed at destabilizing the situation in the country."
Kazakh officials have warned of opposition plans to destabilize the situation in the country during the presidential election, while the opposition has accused President Nursultan Nazarbaev's supporters of dirty tricks, news agencies reported on 16-17 November.
Central Election Commission head Onalsyn Zhumabekov told a news conference in Astana on 16 November that "certain forces" will try to stir unrest on 4 December over allegedly incomplete voter rolls, Interfax-Kazakhstan reported. Zhumabekov said the state has made every effort to ensure the voter rolls are complete.
Interior Minister Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov told reporters in Astana on 17 November that "radical forces" are planning to "stage mass disturbances" during the election period, according to Interfax-Kazakhstan. Mukhamedzhanov warned that "any attempts to destabilize the social and political situation will be resolutely prevented by the police."
Tuyakbai's campaign headquarters issued statements on 16-17 November alleging abuses and urging thorough investigations of recent attacks on individuals with ties to the opposition, the website Navigator reported.