COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES

Makpal Batyrgalievna Gaysina; Amergali Ilyashevich Begimtaev

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES

Abstract

In the post-Soviet space, the dynamics of the electoral process serve as an indicator of the level of civic engagement and trust in institutions, which is particularly evident in the examples of Kazakhstan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Despite common historical and institutional legacies, these countries demonstrate noticeable differences in voter turnout, the share of protest votes, and media profiles. The objective of the study was to identify and compare the key institutional, media and behavioral determinants of election regimes based on data from the 2015–24 parliamentary and presidential campaigns. A comprehensive application of descriptive statistics, time series analysis, coefficient of variation, multiple regression and content analysis of television news showed that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are characterized by a high centralization of administrative resources and the dominance of state media (stable at over 85%), Russia has a balanced mix of state and private broadcasting, and Kyrgyzstan has a multiplex and private media environment. The growth of the share of private media correlates with the widening of the turnout spread (<60% →>80%) and the increase in protest votes (up to 12%). To increase the transparency and legitimacy of electoral procedures, it is recommended that independent media monitoring be expanded, barriers for small parties and observers be reduced, and reliable digital voting formats be introduced, taking into account the need to counteract information manipulation.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

This study did not require approval from an ethics committee as it did not involve human participants, animals, or sensitive personal data. All data used in this research were obtained from publicly available sources.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Regional Studies, Politics in International Relations

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Makpal Batyrgalievna Gaysina ^* This is me
0009-0003-5074-5406
Kazakhstan

Amergali Ilyashevich Begimtaev This is me
0009-0002-1633-7698
Kazakhstan

Publication Date

January 30, 2026

Submission Date

September 10, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 13, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 8 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Gaysina, M. B., & Begimtaev, A. I. (2026). COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES. Eurasian Research Journal, 8(1), 34-53. https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP

AMA

1.Gaysina MB, Begimtaev AI. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES. ERJ. 2026;8(1):34-53. https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP

Chicago

Gaysina, Makpal Batyrgalievna, and Amergali Ilyashevich Begimtaev. 2026. “COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES”. Eurasian Research Journal 8 (1): 34-53. https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP.

EndNote

Gaysina MB, Begimtaev AI (January 1, 2026) COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES. Eurasian Research Journal 8 1 34–53.

IEEE

[1]M. B. Gaysina and A. I. Begimtaev, “COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES”, ERJ, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 34–53, Jan. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP

ISNAD

Gaysina, Makpal Batyrgalievna - Begimtaev, Amergali Ilyashevich. “COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES”. Eurasian Research Journal 8/1 (January 1, 2026): 34-53. https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP.

JAMA

1.Gaysina MB, Begimtaev AI. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES. ERJ. 2026;8:34–53.

MLA

Gaysina, Makpal Batyrgalievna, and Amergali Ilyashevich Begimtaev. “COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES”. Eurasian Research Journal, vol. 8, no. 1, Jan. 2026, pp. 34-53, https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP.

Vancouver

1.Makpal Batyrgalievna Gaysina, Amergali Ilyashevich Begimtaev. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTORAL REGIME OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN AND THE CIS COUNTRIES. ERJ [Internet]. 2026 Jan. 1;8(1):34-53. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA24DF42EP