Kurultai

Kazakhstan held a parliamentary election for its new single-chamber parliament called the Kurultai, an event expected to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s grip on power. The vote follows a constitutional overhaul initiated by Tokayev and takes place amid economic strain and intensifying crackdowns on media freedom. Authorities have opened criminal cases against independent journalists for publishing information regarding Ukraine.

Parliamentary elections opened in Kazakhstan, an event expected to strengthen President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s power following a constitutional overhaul that merged two parliament chambers into the single Kurultai. The vote occurs amid economic strain and geopolitical tensions, while authorities have simultaneously intensified crackdowns on press freedom against independent journalists.