Putin Congratulates Nazarbayev on Presidential Win in Kazakhstan

Incumbent leader Nursultan Narzarbayev garnered 97.7 percent in Sunday’s presidential elections with a record 95 percent voter turnout.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated incumbent Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev on his reelection and emphasized his readiness to continue dialogue with the Central Asian nation, the Kremlin’s press service said Monday.

According to the Central Election Committee in Kazakhstan, Narzarbayev garnered 97.7 percent in Sunday’s presidential elections with a 95 percent voter turnout.

“The Russian president emphasized his readiness to continue dialogue and joint work in the future growth of the entire complex of bilateral ties, as well as the constructive mutual action within the Eurasian Economic Union and other international structures in the interests of the peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan to provide peace, stability, and security on the continent,” the press service said.

The Russian president also noted that the election results confirm Nazarbayev's great authority among the people of Kazakhstan who by their voting have shown vast support for his course on rapid social and economic development of Kazakhstan, active participation in integration processes in Eurasia and strengthening strategic partnership with Russia.

Nazarbayev, 74, has been the president of Kazakhstan since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.

During the previous presidential elections of April 2011, Nazarbayev also received more than 95 percent of the popular vote.