11/09/2025 Political Affairs and Democracy
“The Assembly remains committed to co-operation with Kazakhstan that is based on shared values and is determined to support the country to continue its democratic reforms,” said the Committee on Political Affairs and Democracy.
Adopting a draft resolution based on a report by Zsolt Németh (Hungary, ECPA), the committee welcomed Kazakhstan’s democratic transformation, including constitutional and legislative reforms since 2019, and particularly the abolition of the death penalty in 2022.
It also praised Kazakhstan’s active participation in Council of Europe Treaties and co-operation instruments, such as the Neighbourhood Co-operation Priorities 2024-2027.
The committee encouraged the Kazakh Parliament to use its strengthened role to push forward the democratisation process, to broaden participation in the European legal space and to accelerate progress toward ratifying the Istanbul Convention. It also invited Kazakhstan to consider joining the Council of Europe’s Pompidou Group and to step up its involvement in the Assembly’s work.
The committee also called on Kazakhstan’s authorities to pursue their reform agenda with transparency and measurable progress, to reinforce judicial independence and accountability, and to ensure accountability for past human rights violations.
It further urged them to guarantee political pluralism, strengthen safeguards against torture, protect independent media and civil society, and continue their constructive engagement with the Council of Europe and other international partners in defence of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.