Some 200 opposition activists and supporters have rallied in Kazakhstan’s largest city of Almaty to protest the results of the January 15 parliamentary elections.
According to preliminary official results, three parties — the Nur Otan party of President Nursultan Nazarbaev and two pro-government parties, Aq Zhol and the Communist People’s Party, won entry to the new parliament.
International observers said the election failed to meet basic democratic principles.
The protest was organized by the Social Democratic Azat (Freedom) party which failed to pass the 7 percent threshold.
Participants burned ballots in a symbolic protest against alleged election fraud.
The protest, which was peaceful and lasted about half an hour, had been sanctioned by Almaty city authorities.
RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service
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