Images show residents of Kazakhstan's capital, Astana, casting their ballots during snap parliamentary elections. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced the early vote as part of a "modernisation" drive introduced after protests against fuel prices erupted in January last year. Kassym-Jomart's critics say the drive is designed to consolidate power. But Irina Reshetnik, a medic and one of those voting in Astana, believes that the admission of independent candidates means "the electoral system in Kazakhstan is changing for the better". The positive sentiment is echoed by Ayat Abdusalamov, who says "elections are becoming genuine, people feel it, people notice it, and, as you can see, everyone comes with their families to vote. I think this is an indicator that people believe in these elections." IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES