Kazakhstan faces up to the legacy of Soviet weapons testing in a vote on nuclear power

MOSCOW (AP) — Polls are open in Kazakhstan for a landmark referendum on building the country’s first nuclear power plant. The proposal is backed by Kazakhstan’s government and President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, who hopes to boost the country’s energy security. However, the use of nuclear materials remains a controversial and often sensitive topic in Kazakhstan, which was used as a testing ground for the Soviet Union’s nuclear program. Critics have also drawn attention to the project’s high costs and potential Russian involvement. There are also concerns over the fairness of the voting.