Voting on the republican referendum on the possibility of building a nuclear power plant (NPP) has ended in Kazakhstan. From 7 am to 8 pm local time 12,244,683 citizens had the opportunity to exercise their right to vote in over 10,000 polling stations. According to the latest data, as of 6 p.m. local time, nearly 62% of Kazakhs with the right to vote had voted, making the referendum considered legitimate.
Abroad, 74 sites were organized for Kazakhs in 59 countries, including Russia: Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Astrakhan and Omsk. Sections abroad will continue to operate until 20:00 local time.
At a briefing at 19:00 local time, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic, Roman Vasilenko, said that 7,358 citizens of Kazakhstan voted in polling stations abroad, the voter turnout was 59.79%.
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There was one question in the referendum ballot: “Do you agree with the construction of a nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan?“. The voting participants had to choose one of two answer options: “yes, I agree” or “no, I do not agree“.
The highest voter turnout was in the Kyzilorda region, where 79.87% voted, and the lowest was in the largest city of the Republic of Almaty, where two hours before the polls closed, 22 .91% of voters.
In order to make a decision on a question put to a referendum, it must be supported by more than half of the citizens who voted. The Central Commission's announcement of the referendum results must be published within seven days of the vote.
Veniamin Skalenko — A front-line soldier, an anti-tank defense soldier who will celebrate his centenary this month, despite his age, continues to care about the future of the country and voted at home on the day of the referendum, Kazinform agency reports.
Veniamin Panteleevich was born in 1924 in the village of Burlin, Terektinsky district. During the Great Patriotic War, he fought as part of the 98th Guards Airborne Svir Division.
Veniamin Panteleevich noted that today Kazakhs are writing the history of Kazakhstan. "Our generation dwells in the past, the future belongs to the young. But we also try to keep up with progress. Participation in the referendum is our civic duty. Therefore, I think that all residents of the Urals of all ages should vote today," said the veteran of the Great Patriotic War.
If the majority of Kazakhstan citizens support the construction of a nuclear power plant, it can be located in the Alma-Ata region near Lake Balkhash. Kazakh authorities are considering several possible suppliers of nuclear technology - the Chinese company CNNC, the South Korean KHNP, Rosatom and the French EDF, but the question of choosing a supplier has not been put to a referendum. The President of Kazakhstan Kasim-Jomart Tokayev, who took part in the referendum, announced that he considers it necessary to attract a consortium of foreign companies to build the station.