2025 Semey akim election

2025 Semey akim election
12 October 2025
Turnout53.70%
 
Candidate Ädilet Qojanbaev Qanyş Töleuov Aibolat Bekjasarov
Party Independent Independent Independent
Popular vote 89,441 12,557 9,763
Percentage 77.06% 10.82% 8.41%
Äkim before election

Bekjan Bapyşev
(acting)

 Elected Äkim

Ädilet Qojanbaev
Independent

The 2025 Semey akim election was held on 12 October 2025 to elect the akim (mayor) of Semey, a city of regional significance in the Abai Region of Kazakhstan. It was the first direct mayoral election in both the city's and the country's history for a regional center, following the early dismissal of akim Talgat Muratov in August 2025.

Although four candidates were initially registered, one withdrew before election day, leaving three candidates, all officially running as independents but affiliated with the Amanat party. Ädilet Qojanbaev, akim of Kokpekti District, won with 77.1% of the vote, becoming Semey's first directly elected akim.

Background

Semey is a city in Kazakhstan with a population of more than 300,000.[1] Its status is officially classified as a city of regional significance, and it functions as the administrative center of the Abai Region.

As part of political modernization, Kazakhstan has begun introducing a system of direct elections since 2021 for akims (administrative heads), starting from the level of villages, settlements, rural districts, and cities of district significance.[2] In November 2023, several pilot elections for akims of districts and cities of regional significance were conducted, intended as a deliberate step in the gradual transition toward direct elections of local leaders.[3][4][5] Those pilot elections included those held in Kurchatov City and Abai District.[6]

In the 2024 State of the Nation Address, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that beginning in 2025, akims of districts as well as cities of regional significance would also be chosen by direct vote of the population.[7] These elections are planned to take place after the expiration of the terms of appointed incumbent akims.[8]

Talgat Muratov, who had served as akim of Semey since his appointment in December 2024,[9] was dismissed from his post on 18 August 2025 ahead of schedule by the akim of Abai Region, Berik Uali. The decision followed reports that Muratov had allegedly gone on vacation in April and did not return to the performance of his official duties, from which became publicly known after the territorial election commission published a resolution scheduling the akim election in Semey for 12 October 2025.[10] Since then, Bekjan Bapyşev has temporarily served as acting akim.[11]

Electoral system

Before the election, akims of Semey used to be appointed by the Abai Regional Äkim on the recommendation of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan.[11]

In accordance with Article 36-2 of the Law "On Local Government and Self-Government in the Republic of Kazakhstan", the akim is elected for a four-year term by the population of the respective administrative-territorial unit through universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot. Candidates must be citizens of Kazakhstan who have reached the age of 25 and who meet the requirements of the law as well as the electoral law.[12] The same individual may not be elected to the position of akim for more than two consecutive terms.[13]

Timetable

The Semey Territorial Election Commission under Resolution No.7 published an official timetable for the 2025 Semey election, highlighting the main stages:[14]

  • 28 August – 11 September 2025: Candidate nomination and registration period.
  • 16 September – 11 October 2025: Official campaign period, including candidate meetings and placement of campaign materials.
  • 12 October 2025: Election day, from 07:00 to 20:00 local time.
  • 12–15 October 2025: Vote counting and aggregation of results.
  • 15 October 2025: Official determination of election results.
  • By 19 October 2025: Publication of results and registration of the elected akim.

Candidates

A total of eight individuals were nominated to contest the election for akim of Semey, all of them are self-nominees (independents).[15]

Registered

Following verification of documents and special checks, four candidates were registered by the Semey Territorial Electoral Commission (TEC) according by commission chairman Güljan Quanyşeva during the pre-election period. Quanyşeva also added that the candidates would still be subject to additional reviews by the National Security Committee and the tax authorities, and could be excluded from the race if discrepancies were found.[16]

Candidate name and birth year[6] Political office(s)[16] Nomination Details[17]
Ädilet Qojanbaev
(born 1980)		 Äkim of Kokpekti District
(2024–2025)
Head of Abai Region Financial Office
(2022–2024)		 Self-nominated Member of the Amanat party
Aibolat Bekjasarov
(born 1963)		 Chairman of Semey City Mäslihat
(?–2025)		 Self-nominated Member of the Amanat party
Qanyş Töleuov
(born 1972)		 Director of the Higher College of Geodesy, Cartography, and Construction
(since ?)		 Self-nominated Member of the Amanat party

Withdrawn

  • Qanat Şapatov – Head of the Palace of Children and Youth Creativity in Semey and a deputy of the Semey City Mäslihat, officially withdrew his candidacy on 7 October 2025.[18]

Rejected

Four candidates were not registered after the verification process.

  • Baqytbek Baiburov – former head of the Semey Emergency Department. His registration was denied on 12 September 2025 by the Semey TEC, which cited "non-compliance with the requirements of the law" but did not specify the grounds. Baiburov filed an administrative lawsuit to the Specialized Interdistrict Administrative Court of the Abai Region, arguing that his professional background satisfied the statutory criteria,[19] but his case was upheld on 19 September.[11][20]

A projected frontrunner for the election, incumbent acting äkim of Semey, Bekjan Bapyşev, was unexpectedly not present among the registered candidates. It is speculated that he is one of the three unnamed people unsuccessful to register.[11]

Campaign

The registration of candidates for the office of akim of Semey concluded at 18:00 on 16 September 2025. Immediately after the close of registration, the official campaign period began, running until 00:00 on 11 October.[21]

The Semey Territorial Election Commission (TEC) designated 26 public facilities across the city, including cultural centers, schools, and libraries, as venues for meetings between candidates and voters. In addition, 30 locations were assigned for the placement of printed campaign materials. The schedule of candidate meetings was to be coordinated by election commissions in cooperation with local executive bodies and published through the media.[21]

Conduct

More than 220 thousand people have the right to vote in Semey. 112 billion tenge was the city's budget, according to open sources and Radio Free Europe.[11] 128 polling stations will participate in the election, 110 of them are public, and 18 are not.[6]

Results

The Semey Territorial Election Commission announced the results of the akim election on 14 October 2025. Ädilet Qojanbaev was elected akim of Semey, becoming the city's first directly elected mayor. According to the commission, Qojanbaev received 77.1% of the votes, "confidently surpassing his opponents." The Semey TEC stated that the election "was held in an open and calm atmosphere, observing all established procedures," and reported a high voter turnout, which it said, "demonstrated citizens’ confidence in the direct electoral system."[22]

CandidatePartyVotes%
Ädilet QojanbaevIndependent89,44177.06
Qanyş TöleuovIndependent12,55710.82
Aibolat BekjasarovIndependent9,7638.41
Against all4,3103.71
Total116,071100.00
Valid votes116,07197.91
Invalid/blank votes2,4822.09
Total votes118,553100.00
Registered voters/turnout220,76153.70
Source: Semey Territorial Election Commission[23]

Aftermath

On 14 October 2025, Ädilet Qojanbaev officially assumed office as the akim of Semey. The presentation ceremony was attended by the akim of Abai Region, Berik Uali, who described the election as a historic milestone for both Semey and Kazakhstan, reflecting the process of political modernization initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.[24]

In his remarks, Qojanbaev stated that the position carried both "great responsibility and honor," expressing gratitude for the trust placed in him by the citizens. He emphasized his commitment to "work together to improve the social conditions of the people," noting that "a great deal of work lies ahead."[25]

References

  1. ↑ Кенжеғазыұлы, Думан (11 June 2025). "Семей қаласының халық саны 314 130 адамды құрайды". 018 (in Kazakh). Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  2. ↑ Wood, Colleen (2021-08-02). "Akim Elections: More Cosmetic Reform in Kazakhstan?". The Diplomat. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  3. ↑ Temirgaliyeva, Arailym (2023-11-06). "CEC summarizes results of Nov 5 election of akims of districts and regional centers in Kazakhstan". Kazinform. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  4. ↑ Haidar, Aida (2023-11-06). "Kazakh Elections Signal Groundbreaking Political Reforms in Central Asia, Says State Counselor Karin". The Astana Times. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  5. ↑ Omarova, Botagoz (2023-11-09). "Kazakhstan: Akims Win Akim Elections". Central Asian Bureau for Analytical Reporting. Institute for War & Peace Reporting. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 Qadyr, Baqytbek (20 September 2025). "Семейде сайлау болады" [Semey will have an election] (in Kazakh). Egemen Qazaqstan. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "Kazakhstan to fully implement direct elections for akims next year". Tengri News. 2024-09-02. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  8. ↑ Matveev, Andrei (2024-09-02). "Kazakhstan: Tokayev Delivers Address to the Nation". The Times Of Central Asia. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  9. ↑ "Талғат Мұратов Семей қаласының әкімі". Inbusiness.kz (in Kazakh). 2024-12-23. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  10. ↑ Қали, Айдос (29 August 2025). "Талғат Мұратов Семей әкімі қызметінен мерзімінен бұрын кетті". Zakon (in Kazakh). Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 "Әкім сайлау, шеттеген кандидат, Досаевқа жаңа қызмет — AzatNEWS 19.09.2025" [Akim election, suspended candidate[s], a new job for Dosaev — AzatNEWS 19.09.2025]. Radio Free Europe (in Kazakh). 19 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  12. ↑ Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On Local Government and Self-government in the Republic of Kazakhstan (No. 148). Astana: Vedomosti of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Article 36-2. 7966. Retrieved 25 August 2025 – via "Adilet" LIS.
  13. ↑ Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. On Local Government and Self-government in the Republic of Kazakhstan (No. 148). Astana: Vedomosti of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Article 36 § 2. 7966. Retrieved 25 August 2025 – via "Adilet" LIS.
  14. ↑ Wood, Colleen (27 August 2025). "2025 жылғы 12 қазанға тағайындалған Абай облысы Семей қаласы әкімінің сайлауын әзірлеу мен өткізу жөніндегі негізгі іс-шаралардың күнтізбелік жоспары". Gov.kz. Semey Territorial Election Commission. Retrieved 23 September 2025 – via National Information Technologies.
  15. ↑ "Абай облысы Семей қаласы әкіміне кандидаттарды ұсыну туралы ақпарат" [Information on the results of the nomination of candidates for akim of the city of Semey in the Abay region] (Press release) (in Kazakh). Абай облысы Семей қаласының аумақтық сайлау комиссиясы. 12 September 2025. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 23 September 2025 – via Gov.kz.
  16. 1 2 Tuğanbaeva, Zarina (17 September 2025). "Семейде әкім лауазымына төрт үміткер тіркелді" [Four candidates have registered for akim in Semey]. kaz.inform.kz (in Kazakh). Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  17. ↑ Barokhovsky, Ilya (20 September 2025). "Первые выборы акима крупного города. Что не так с кандидатами в Семее?". orda.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 23 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  18. ↑ Халел, Альбина (2025-10-09). "Минус один кандидат и необычные пригласительные: готов ли Семей к историческим выборам акима?: 9 октября 2025". Baq.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  19. ↑ Иксанова, Нана (16 September 2025). "Скандал на старте выборов акима Семея: ТИК отказала кандидату, но не раскрыла оснований". Bes.media. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  20. ↑ "Семейде сот төтенше жағдай департаментінің бұрынғы бастығына әкім сайлауына түсуге рұқсат етпеді" (in Kazakh). Radio Free Europe. 19 September 2025. Archived from the original on 24 September 2025. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  21. 1 2 "Абай облысы Семей қаласының әкіміне кандидаттарды тіркеу қорытындылары және сайлау алдындағы үгіттің басталуы туралы" [On the results of the registration of candidates for akim of the city of Semey in the Abay region and the start of pre-election campaigning] (Press release) (in Kazakh). Абай облысы Семей қаласының аумақтық сайлау комиссиясы. 17 September 2025. Archived from the original on 2 August 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2025 – via Gov.kz.
  22. ↑ "Әділет Қожанбаев Семей қаласының жаңа әкімі болып сайланды". Kazinform (in Kazakh). 2025-10-14. Retrieved 2025-10-17.
  23. ↑ "Семей қаласының аумақтық сайлау комиссиясының 2025 жылдың 12 қазанда өткен Абай облысы Семей қаласының әкімін сайлау қорытындылары туралы хабарламасы" (in Kazakh). Semey Territorial Election Commission. 14 October 2025. Retrieved 17 October 2025.
  24. ↑ Садықова, Нұргүл (2025-10-15). "Cемейдің әкімі қызметіне кірісті". semeitv.kz (in Kazakh). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
  25. ↑ Жақып, Ержан (2025-10-15). "Семей қаласының жаңа әкімі таныстырылды". Qazaqstan (in Kazakh). Retrieved 2025-10-18.
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