On October 20, 2020, the East Kazakhstan branch of the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan “Ak Zhol” participated in the debate tournament “We Are Young – We Choose” in Ust-Kamenogorsk. The event, which featured five teams of student youth, took place on October 20.

The organizers were the Kazakhstan International Foundation for Legal Cooperation, the East Kazakhstan Regional Election Commission, and the East Kazakhstan Regional Branch of the DPK “Ak Zhol.”

The goal of the debate tournament was to raise the level of legal electoral culture among young voters, stimulate interest in studying electoral law and the electoral process, and foster an active civic position in the younger generation through discussions that engage youth on relevant topics. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the debates were held online.

In his opening remarks, the chairman of the East Kazakhstan Regional Election Commission, E. Nabiev, addressed the participants.

“Youth is a vital social and electoral resource of society. We are interested in the involvement of youth in the socio-political life of the republic and the country, including in elections – both as voters and as organizers, candidates, and other participants in the electoral process. It is very important for us to hear the opinions of young people themselves,” he noted.

Doctor of Law and deputy of the Ust-Kamenogorsk City Maslikhat from DPK “Ak Zhol,” K. Rakhimberdin, emphasized that debates are an excellent tool for developing leadership qualities and competencies necessary for future lawyers.

The jury was chaired by E. Nabiev, Doctor of Pedagogical Sciences and Professor, and included K. Kh. Rakhimberdin, Doctor of Law and deputy of the Ust-Kamenogorsk City Maslikhat from DPK “Ak Zhol,” and A. Zhapalova, a lawyer from the East Kazakhstan branch of the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights.

The winning teams of the debates were:

• First place – “Young Lawyers” (Marina Mograbyan, Alexander Semenov);

• Second place – “Optimists” (Ekaterina Remmikh, Polina Ivanova);

• Third place – “Leaders of KASU” (Vadim Drebin);

• Fourth place – “Femida” (Shynar Baurzhanova, Asel Erikova);

• Fifth place – “Hamilton and Jefferson” (Erbolat Kemaladin, Dmitry Filippov).

All winners were awarded honorary certificates.

Representatives of the student youth asked the organizers to regularly hold such debate tournaments on current legal issues and involve more young people in these processes.

“An increasing number of Kazakhstani youth today take an active civic position, showing interest in issues of electoral law and the electoral process, increasing electoral activity, and participating in the preparation and conduct of elections,” the debate participants noted.