Others (36)
65-396: [REDACTED] CIS member state The Mäjilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan ( Kazakh : Қазақстан Республикасы Парламентінің Мәжілісі , romanized : Qazaqstan Respublikasy Parlamentınıñ Mäjılısı ; Russian : Мажилис Парламента Республики Казахстан ), commonly shortened as Mazhilis ( Kazakh Cyrillic : Мәжіліс [mæʒɘˈlɘs] , lit. 'Assembly'), is
130-656: A snap election is called earlier) and are elected through mixed-member majoritarian representation : 69 seats via closed party-list proportional representation with a required 5% electoral threshold to win seats (which are allocated according to the largest remainder method ), and 29 seats via first-past-the-post in single-member constituencies . Since 2021, Article 89 of the Constitutional Law "On Elections" requires for parties to include at least 30% quota of women, young people (aged under 29), and disabled persons within their electoral lists. The Chairman of
195-603: A 5% election threshold , and the other 30% are allocated through first-past-the-post (FPTP) in 29 single-member constituencies . Throughout its existence, the composition of the Mazhilis has been shaped by varying electoral systems and legislative reforms. From 1995 to 1999, it operated under the FPTP system before transitioning to a mixed-member majoritarian representation from 1999 to 2007, which blended constituency-based and party-list systems. Subsequent 2007 amendments saw
260-576: A CSTO peacekeeping force. One of the CST's original objectives was to resolve conflicts between CIS members, however military conflicts such as Russia's open assistance and support to the two secessionist areas in Georgia, Russia seizing Crimea and support to secessionist areas in Ukraine, the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan border issues have demonstrated how ineffective
325-632: A Founding state. Ukraine did participate in the CIS and became an associate member of the CIS Economic Union in 1994, and signed the Commonwealth of Independent States Free Trade Area in 2011. Ukraine withdrew its representatives from the CIS in May 2018 and stopped actively participating in the CIS, but remained a party to a number of agreements, such as the free trade area. Although Ukraine
390-587: A change of government in a series of colour revolutions : Eduard Shevardnadze was overthrown in Georgia; Viktor Yushchenko was elected in Ukraine; and Askar Akayev was toppled in Kyrgyzstan. In February 2006, Georgia withdrew from the Council of Defense Ministers, with the statement that "Georgia has taken a course to join NATO and it cannot be part of two military structures simultaneously", but it remained
455-580: A course to join NATO and it cannot be part of two military structures simultaneously". However, it remained a full member of the CIS. In the aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War in 2008, President Saakashvili announced during a public speech in the capital city Tbilisi that Georgia would leave the CIS and the Georgian Parliament voted unanimously on 14 August 2008 to withdraw from the regional organization. On 18 August 2008
520-433: A forum for discussing issues related to the social and economic development of the newly independent states. To achieve this goal member states have agreed to promote and protect human rights. Initially, efforts to achieve this goal consisted merely of statements of goodwill, but on 26 May 1995, the CIS adopted a Commonwealth of Independent States Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. In 1991, four years before
585-560: A full member of the CIS until August 2009, one year after officially withdrawing in the immediate aftermath of the Russo-Georgian War . In March 2007, Igor Ivanov , the secretary of the Russian Security Council, expressed his doubts concerning the usefulness of the CIS, emphasizing that the Eurasian Economic Community was becoming a more competent organization to unify the largest countries of
650-617: A number of agreements including the 2001 Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) agreement on cooperation in the provision of safety of hazardous industrial facilities , the 1996 CIS agreement on cooperation in evacuating nationals from third countries in emergencies , the 1992 Agreement between the State Parties of the Commonwealth of Independent States on social and legal guarantees of the military personnel, persons discharged from military service, and members of their families ,
715-689: A rising political crisis in the country, Mikhail Gorbachev , the president of the Soviet Union , proposed a federation by holding a referendum to preserve the Union as a union of sovereign republics . The new treaty signing never happened as the Communist Party hardliners staged an attempted coup in Moscow in August that year. Following the events of the failed 1991 coup , many republics of
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#1732779895965780-514: A speech on 16 May 16 to the joint session of the chambers of Parliament , President Nursultan Nazarbayev summarized the development of Kazakhstan since independence in 1991, and outlined his proposed constitutional changes. The main changes proposed by the President were as follows: In addition to these proposals the Kazakh parliament passed an additional amendment two days later, lifting
845-493: Is its legal successor. It covers an area of 20,368,759 km (7,864,422 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 239,796,010. The CIS encourages cooperation in economic, political, and military affairs and has certain powers relating to the coordination of trade, finance, lawmaking, and security, including cross-border crime prevention. As the Soviet Union disintegrated, Belarus , Russia , and Ukraine signed
910-745: Is modelled on the European Convention on Human Rights , but lacking the strong implementation mechanisms of the latter. In the CIS treaty, the Human Rights Commission has very vaguely defined authority. The Statute of the Human Rights Commission, however, also adopted by the CIS Member States as a decision, gives the commission the right to receive inter-state as well as individual communications. CIS members, especially in Central Asia , continue to have among
975-575: The Belovezha Accords on 8 December 1991, declaring that the Union had effectively ceased to exist and proclaimed the CIS in its place. On 21 December, the Alma-Ata Protocol was signed. Estonia , Latvia and Lithuania chose not to participate. Georgia withdrew its membership in 2008 following a war with Russia . Ukraine formally ended its participation in CIS statutory bodies in 2018, although it had stopped participating in
1040-697: The Eurasian Economic Union (alongside subdivisions, the Eurasian Customs Union and the Eurasian Economic Space ); and the Union State . While the first and the second are military and economic alliances, the third aims to reach a supranational union of Russia and Belarus with a common government and currency. The CIS as a shared Russophone social, cultural, and economic space has its origins in
1105-949: The Russian Empire , which was replaced in 1917 by the Russian Republic after the February Revolution earlier that year. Following the October Revolution , the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic became the leading republic in the Soviet Union (USSR) upon its creation with the 1922 Treaty and Declaration of the Creation of the USSR along with Byelorussian SSR , Ukrainian SSR and Transcaucasian SFSR . In March 1991, amidst Perestroika and
1170-526: The "Agreement Establishing the Commonwealth of Independent States", known as the Belovezh Accords ( Russian : Беловежские соглашения , romanized : Belovezhskiye soglasheniya ). The CIS announced that the new organization would be open to all republics of the former Soviet Union and to other nations sharing the same goals. The CIS charter stated that all the members were sovereign and independent nations and thereby effectively abolished
1235-563: The 15 former Soviet Republics participated in the CIS, the three non-participants being the Baltic states , which were occupied by the Soviet Union. The CIS and Soviet Union also legally co-existed briefly with each other until 26 December 1991, when the Soviet of the Republics formally dissolved the Soviet Union. This was followed by Ivan Korotchenya becoming Executive Secretary of the CIS on
1300-723: The 1992 Agreement on the Establishment of the Council of Commanders of the Border Troops and the Agreement on the Creation of the Interstate System of Documentary Encrypted Communications of the Commonwealth of Independent States . Following the overthrow of Eduard Shevardnadze in Georgia, Georgia officially withdrew from the Council of Defense Ministers in February 2006, stating that "Georgia has taken
1365-512: The 1995 human rights treaty , article 33 of the Charter of the CIS created a Human Rights Commission with its seat in Minsk, Belarus. This was confirmed by the decision of the Council of Heads of States of the CIS in 1993. In 1995, the CIS adopted a human rights treaty that includes civil and political as well as social and economic human rights. This treaty entered into force in 1998. The CIS treaty
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#17327798959651430-531: The CIS "on a selective basis". Since that month, Ukraine has had no representatives in the CIS Executive Committee building. In April 2018, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko indicated that Ukraine would formally leave the CIS. On 19 May 2018, Poroshenko signed a decree formally ending Ukraine's participation in CIS statutory bodies. As of 1 June 2018, the CIS secretariat had not received formal notice from Ukraine of its withdrawal from
1495-498: The CIS (art. 7). Other states can participate as associate members or observers if accepted as such by a decision of the Council of Heads of State to the CIS (art. 8). All the founding states apart from Ukraine and Turkmenistan ratified the Charter of the CIS and became member states of it. Nevertheless, Ukraine and Turkmenistan kept participating in the CIS, without being member states of it. Turkmenistan became an associate member of
1560-661: The CIS Charter in January 1993, making them "founding states of the CIS", but did not ratify the Charter itself that would make them full members. These states, while not being formal members of the CIS, were allowed to participate in CIS. They were also allowed to participate in various CIS initiatives, e.g. the Free Trade Area, which were, however, formulated mostly as independent multilateral agreements, and not as internal CIS agreements. Turkmenistan has not ratified
1625-484: The CIS entirely by the end of 2024. A country can become an associate member under the CIS Charter (sec. 2, art. 8) if approved by the Council of Heads of States. Participation of associate members and of the observers in the work of the Commonwealth organs shall be governed by their rules of procedures. Two states, Ukraine and Turkmenistan ratified the CIS Creation Agreement before the adoption of
1690-639: The CIS in August 2005. Georgia left the CIS altogether in 2009 and Ukraine stopped participating in 2018. The work of CIS is coordinated by the general secretary. The Interparliamentary Assembly was established on 27 March 1992 in Kazakhstan . On 26 May 1995, the CIS leaders signed the Convention on the Interparliamentary Assembly of Member Nations of the Commonwealth of Independent States eventually ratified by nine parliaments,
1755-529: The CIS member states is the creation, in 1995, of the joint CIS Air Defense System . Over the years, the military personnel of the joint CIS Air Defense System grew twofold along the western, European border of the CIS, and by 1.5 times on its southern borders. In 2002, the six member states agreed to create the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) as a military alliance. In 2007, CSTO members agreed to create
1820-641: The CIS signed the Collective Security Treaty (also referred to as the Tashkent Pact or Tashkent Treaty). Three other post-Soviet states signed in 1993 and the treaty took effect in 1994 and lasted 5 years. When the treaty was subsequently renewed, three countries withdrew, leaving Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan as members. In December 1993, the CIS Armed Forces Headquarters
1885-556: The CIS, a process that would take one year to complete, following notice being given. The CIS secretariat stated that it will continue inviting Ukraine to participate. Ukraine has stated that it intends to review its participation in all CIS agreements and only continue in those that are in its interests. On 3 May 2023 Ukraine formally withdrew from the 1992 agreement that set up the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly. In 2023 and 2024 Ukraine also withdrew from
1950-607: The CIS, it would need to legally withdraw from the Creation Agreement, as Georgia did previously. On 14 March 2014, a bill was introduced to Ukraine's parliament to denounce their ratification of the CIS Creation Agreement, but it was never approved. Following the 2014 parliamentary election , a new bill to denounce the CIS agreement was introduced. In September 2015, the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Ukraine will continue taking part in
2015-684: The CIS. Following the withdrawal of Georgia, the presidents of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan skipped the October 2009 meeting of the CIS, each having their own issues and disagreements with the Russian Federation. In May 2009, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine joined the Eastern Partnership (EaP), a project that was initiated by the European Union (EU). The EaP framework governs
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2080-577: The CST and later the CSTO, is in this role. Corruption and bureaucracy are serious problems for trade in CIS countries. 2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan [REDACTED] CIS member state The 2007 amendment to the Constitution of Kazakhstan modified Kazakhstan's basic law , on May 18, 2007. The changes followed the conclusion of the activities of the 'State Commission on Democratization' formed two years previously. In
2145-496: The Charter (Statutes) of the CIS was signed, setting up the different institutions of the CIS, their functions, and the rules and statutes of the CIS. The Charter also defined that all countries that have ratified the Agreement on the Establishment of the CIS and its relevant (Alma-Ata) Protocol would be considered to be founding states of the CIS, with only those countries ratifying the Charter being considered to be member states of
2210-446: The Charter and therefore is not formally a member of the CIS. Nevertheless, it has consistently participated in the CIS as if it were a member state. Turkmenistan changed its CIS standing to associate member as of 26 August 2005. The cited reason was to be consistent with its 1995-proclaimed, UN-recognised, international neutrality status, but experts have cited the country no longer needing Russia to provide natural gas access, as well as
2275-451: The EU's relationship with the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. There are nine full member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The Creation Agreement remained the main constituent document of the CIS until January 1993, when the CIS Charter (Russian: Устав , romanized : Ustav ) was adopted. The charter formalized
2340-649: The Istanbul Agreement (see Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty ), legislative initiatives to denounce the agreement on the creation of CIS were tabled in Moldova's parliament on 25 March 2014, though they were not approved. A similar bill was proposed in January 2018. On 14 June 2022, Moldovan Minister of Foreign Affairs Nicu Popescu said the Moldovan government was considering
2405-529: The Mazhilis heads the lower chamber and is elected by the Mazhilis members. The Mazhilis Chair opens sessions, convenes regular joint sessions and chairs the regular and extraordinary joint sessions of the Parliament. The Mazhilis Chairmen is assisted by two Deputy Chairpersons who nominates them and are elected by the deputies of the Mazhilis. The Deputy Chairpersons of the Mäjilis carry out tasks made by
2470-476: The Mazhilis includes: Results of the 2023 Kazakh legislative election 51°07′41″N 71°26′30″E / 51.1280°N 71.4417°E / 51.1280; 71.4417 Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States ( CIS ) is a regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia . It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, and
2535-522: The Mazhilis were expanded from 77 to 107, and 98 of them were elected through party-list proportional representation that was used for the first time in the 2007 legislative elections . From there, Nur Otan won all the contested seats, eliminating any opposition in the Mazhilis. In the 2012 legislative elections , minor parties, the Aq Jol Democratic Party and Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan , entered into Mazhilis; however,
2600-465: The Mazhilis. A member of the Mazhilis can be a person who has reached 25 years of age, is a citizen of Kazakhstan and has permanently resided in its territory for the last ten years. Deprivation of a deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the mandate may be made when: The Mazhilis is composed of seven committees: According to the Constitution of Kazakhstan , the exclusive jurisdiction of
2665-457: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia sent a note to the CIS Executive Committee notifying it of the aforesaid resolutions of the Parliament of Georgia and Georgia's withdrawal from CIS. In accordance with the CIS Charter (sec. 1, art. 9), Georgia's withdrawal came into effect 12 months later, on 18 August 2009. Since its inception, one of the primary goals of the CIS has been to provide
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2730-553: The Soviet Union. On 21 December 1991, the leaders of eight additional former Soviet Republics ( Armenia , Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Moldova , Turkmenistan , Tajikistan and Uzbekistan ) signed the Alma-Ata Protocol which can either be interpreted as expanding the CIS to these states or the proper foundation or foundation date of the CIS, thus bringing the number of participating countries to 11. Georgia joined two years later, in December 1993. At this point, 12 of
2795-897: The USSR declared their independence fearing another coup. A week after the Ukrainian independence referendum was held , which kept the chances of the Soviet Union staying together low, the Commonwealth of Independent States was founded in its place on 8 December 1991 by the Byelorussian SSR , the Russian SFSR , and the Ukrainian SSR , when the leaders of the three republics met at the Belovezhskaya Pushcha Natural Reserve, about 50 km (31 mi) north of Brest in Belarus, and signed
2860-453: The adoption of a party-list proportional representation system from 2007 to 2023, fostering the consolidation of political parties and the emergence of Amanat as the party of power . Notably, the chamber reverted to a mixed electoral system following the 2022 constitutional referendum , integrating proportional representation and constituency-based voting. Moreover, the Mazhilis has encountered instances of early dissolution, which impacted
2925-466: The chairman who take on certain responsibilities if he or she is not able to. The term of office of the Mazhilis members is five years. Regular elections for Mazhilis are held no later than two months before the end of the term of office of the current convocation of the Parliament . Snap elections of Mazhilis members are held within two months from the date of the early termination of the powers of
2990-462: The concept of membership: a member country is defined as a country that ratifies the CIS Charter (sec. 2, art. 7). Additional members can join with the consent of all current members. Parties that ratified the Creation Agreement before the adoption of the Charter are considered to be "Founding states", but not members. In light of Russia's support for the independence of occupied regions within Moldova, Georgia, and Ukraine as well as its violation of
3055-414: The convocation terms of the Parliament and the governance of Kazakhstan. Over the years, the Mazhilis has gained significant authority, including the power to approve governmental appointments by the president. After the 1995 Kazakh constitutional referendum was held on 30 August 1995 where Kazakhstani voters overwhelmingly approved a new draft of the Constitution of Kazakhstan , a bicameral Parliament
3120-575: The country and propose solutions to address them by representing the interests of constituents. With a membership of 98 deputies, the chamber is led by a chairman and convenes in the Parliament Building situated in the Kazakhstan's capital city of Astana . Deputies of Mäjilis are directly elected to five-year terms, with the electoral process employing a mixed voting system , where 70% of the seats are distributed under party lists with
3185-551: The country had signed with the CIS, as his country aims to join the European Union. On 15 May 2023, the President of the Parliament of Moldova , Igor Grosu , stated the country will withdraw from the agreement establishing the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly; he argued that being in the CIS "did not protect the Republic of Moldova from energy blackmail in the middle of winter, from threats and official statements hostile to
3250-423: The country's declining faith in the confederation's ability to maintain internal stability in light of the Colour Revolutions . The Verkhovna Rada never ratified the agreement on membership of the CIS in accordance with the CIS Charter so Ukraine never became a member. Ukraine did not apply to become an Associate member, nor was it granted by the Council of Heads of States, accordingly Ukraine remained just
3315-439: The independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Moldova". As part of the process to severing connections with the CIS, in July 2023 Moldova passed a law on denunciation of the agreement on Moldova's membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Assembly of the CIS countries. 70 agreements were denounced by October 2023, from the total of around 282 signed by Moldova. In December 2023, Moldova announced its intention to withdraw from
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#17327798959653380-451: The lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan , alongside the upper house Senate . Together, they form the national bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, responsible for enacting legislation. Established by the Constitution of Kazakhstan following the 1995 constitutional referendum , the Mazhilis was first convened in 1996. The chamber plays role in the legislative process, debating and passing laws, where lawmakers discuss key issues facing
3445-561: The national legislatures in the CIS (as well as recommendations) for their use in the preparation of new laws and amendments to existing legislation. More than 130 documents have been adopted that ensure the convergence of laws in the CIS at the level of national legislation. The Assembly is actively involved in the development of integration processes in the CIS and also sends observers to the national elections. The Assembly held its 32nd Plenary meeting in Saint Petersburg on 14 May 2009. Between 2003 and 2005, three CIS member states experienced
3510-403: The only CIS member not signing was Georgia. Under the terms of the convention, the InterParliamentary Assembly (IPA) was invested with international legitimacy. It is housed in the Tauride Palace in St Petersburg and acts as the consultative parliamentary wing of the CIS, created to discuss problems of parliamentary cooperation, review draft documents of common interest, and pass model laws to
3575-399: The organization in 2014 following the Russian annexation of Crimea . Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine , Moldova voiced its intention to progressively withdraw from the CIS institutional framework. Eight of the nine CIS member states participate in the CIS Free Trade Area . Three organizations originated from the CIS, namely the Collective Security Treaty Organization ,
3640-510: The prospect of leaving the CIS, although at the end of May President Maia Sandu had said the country would not leave for the time being. An August 2021 poll conducted in Moldova (prior to the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine ) found that 48.1% of respondents supported Moldova's withdrawal from the CIS. On 30 November 2022, Popescu stated that Moldova will suspend its participation in CIS meetings, and on 23 February 2023 stated that Moldova has started withdrawing from multiple treaties that
3705-462: The ruling party has maintained its dominant-party control since then. Constitutional amendments and electoral law changes in 2021 and 2022 eliminated the nine seats reserved for the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan , reduced the electoral threshold for proportional seats from 7% to 5%, and re-introduced single member constituencies. The Mazhilis is composed of 98 directly-elected members. Elections of Mazhilis members are held every 5 years (unless
3770-413: The same day. After the end of the dissolution process of the Soviet Union, Russia and the Central Asian republics were weakened economically and faced declines in GDP . Post-Soviet states underwent economic reforms and privatisation . The process of Eurasian integration began immediately after the break-up of the Soviet Union to salvage economic ties with Post-Soviet republics. On 22 January 1993,
3835-418: The situation of human rights in other CIS member states. The Commonwealth of Independent States continues to face serious challenges in meeting even basic international standards. The CIS Charter establishes the Council of Ministers of Defence , which is vested with the task of coordinating military cooperation of the CIS member states who wish to participate. In May 1992, six post-Soviet states belonging to
3900-462: The world's poorest human rights records. Many activists point to examples such as the 2005 Andijan massacre in Uzbekistan to show that there has been almost no improvement in human rights since the collapse of the Soviet Union in Central Asia. The consolidation of power by President Vladimir Putin has resulted in a steady decline in the modest progress of previous years in Russia. In turn, this has led to little to no scrutiny by Russia when it comes to
3965-434: Was abolished. Instead, "the CIS Council of Defence Ministers created a CIS Military Cooperation Coordination Headquarters (MCCH) in Moscow, with 50 percent of the funding provided by Russia." General Viktor Samsonov was appointed as Chief of Staff. The headquarters has now moved to 101000, Москва, Сверчков переулок, 3/2. An important manifestation of integration processes in the area of military and defence collaboration of
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#17327798959654030-403: Was established that included the lower house Mazhilis. In the 1995 elections , under the new parliamentary structure, all seats in both houses of parliament were contested in December 1995; runoff elections filled twenty-three seats in the Mazhilis for which the initial vote was inconclusive. International observers reported procedural violations in the Mäjilis voting. The new parliament, which
4095-420: Was not a member. Ukraine has never applied for, or been granted, Associate member status. Following the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in February 2014, relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated, leading Ukraine to consider ending its participation in the CIS. As Ukraine never ratified the Charter, it could cease its informal participation in the CIS. However, to fully terminate its relationship with
4160-415: Was one of the states which ratified the Creation Agreement in December 1991, making it a Founding State of the CIS, it chose not to ratify the CIS Charter as it disagrees with Russia being the only legal successor state to the Soviet Union. Thus it has never been a full member of the CIS. However, Ukraine had kept participating in the CIS, with the consent of the Council of Heads of States, even though it
4225-404: Was seated on 30 January 1996, included 68 Kazakh and 31 Russian members; 10 deputies members of which were women. In the aftermath of the 2004 elections , the Otan became the first party in the Mazhilis to hold the majority of seats which became bigger after the Asar , Civic Party , and Agrarian Party merged with Otan in 2006. After the constitutional amendments in May 2007 , the seats in
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