Kazakhstan appoints new foreign minister in government reshuffle

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Yermek Kosherbayev as the new head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), the presidential press service announced.

Kosherbayev succeeds Murat Nurtleu, who has been named presidential assistant for international investment and trade cooperation.

Yerzhan Kazykhan, who previously held that role, will now serve as Kazakhstan’s permanent representative to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva.

Kosherbayev has served as Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan since February 2025, following his tenure as head of the East Kazakhstan region. Between 2018 and 2019, he held senior positions at the MFA, including executive secretary and deputy minister. From 2020 to 2023, he was Kazakhstan’s ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary to Russia. His earlier career included roles at the Ministry of Agriculture and in several national companies, among them KazTransOil, operator of the country’s main oil pipeline, and the state oil company KazMunayGas.

Murat Nurtleu, who had led the MFA since 2023, previously served as chief of staff of the presidential administration and held positions within Kazakhstan’s National Security Committee.

By Tamilla Hasanova