Kazakhstan is voting in presidential elections on Sunday which are likely to see President Nursultan Nazarbayev renew his 26-year rule for another five years.<br /><br /> He is running on a platform of economic and social stability, which many human rights groups say comes at a price, with systematic suppression of the opposition.<br /><br /> The 74-year-old leader called the snap elections a year early, which many believe was a move to stop speculation about a possible successor.<br /><br /> He faces little challenge from the opposition candidates who are seen as pro-government. <br /><br /> He has been in power since before Kazakhstan became independent in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.<br /><br /> Independent observers have yet to judge elections in the country as free and fair.
