The Week in Kazakhstan: Yes, the Usual

According to official data, 71.1% of the voters said they agreed to the construction of Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant at a referendum on October 6. The Central Election Commission said the turnout stood at 63.7%. Analysts have questioned both the overwhelming “yes” vote and the turnout numbers. Independent observer groups told the press they had recorded a number of gross violations of the electoral procedures, including ballot stuffing. Dozens of activists campaigning for the “no” had...