Kazakhstan Votes; Tokayev Tightens Grip Between Russia, China

Experts interviewed by Deutsche Welle agreed no party other than Adilet stands a realistic chance of winning, a picture also reflected in recent opinion polling.

"The new parliament will do the same as the previous one, which is pretty much to represent whatever the regime wants them to do," said Luca Anceschi, professor of Eurasian studies at the University of Glasgow, who said genuine opposition figures should not be expected in the chamber.

Zauresh Battalova, a former Kazakh senator who heads the Foundation for the Development of Parliamentarism in Kazakhstan, told DW that what matters is not the number of chambers but "the scope of its powers, its autonomy and its ability to oversee the executive branch of government." She said the election is being held "exclusively on the basis of party lists, in the absence of a political opposition and with limited party competition. The scope for genuine political choice remains extremely narrow."

Kazakh political analyst Rustam Burnashev told Reuters the snap vote gives Tokayev a chance to clear out figures tied to Nazarbayev, but that deeper reform is unlikely. "All the parliamentary candidates are known," he said. "Nor can one say that the parliament itself will be a transformative one."

Voters are less focused on the geopolitics. Atapsha, a fruit seller in Almaty who declined to give his full name, told Reuters he would vote without expectations: "I am 73 years old. I've been waiting for things to get better for 73 years, but so far, nothing has really worked out. Still, I hope that this year things will finally improve."