Kazakh President Tokayev Wins Re-Election

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has secured a second term in a snap election, winning 81.3 per cent of the vote.

The Central Asian nation’s Central Election Commission made the announcement on Monday citing preliminary data.

Tokayev had been widely expected to extend his rule over the nation by seven more years with a strong mandate to continue his increasingly independent foreign policy, as the former Soviet republic navigates the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

“We can say that the people have expressed convincing confidence in me as president and all of you,” Tokayev told his staff earlier, referring to exit polls that favoured him.

The campaign would “go down in history”, the former diplomat added.

Tokayev won his first election in 2019. In less than a year, Tokayev suppressed the worst anti-government protests in his country’s history, neutralised his all-powerful predecessor, and stood up to Russia’s President Vladimir Putin.

Protests broke out across the vast country that turned into violent unrest and centred on Kazakhstan’s economic centre, Almaty.

Tokayev showed a ruthless side, ordering law enforcement to “shoot to kill” demonstrators.

He also cut off communication with the outside world.