President Tokayev strips Nazarbayev of lifetime right to address Kazakh citizens

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has amended the country’s Foreign Policy Concept, removing Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev’s special lifetime right to address citizens and state bodies on foreign policy issues.

Nazarbayev led Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. In 2023, Tokayev also signed a decree abolishing the law “On the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan — Elbasy,” which granted Nazarbayev lifetime privileges and guarantees.

The updated Foreign Policy Concept also introduces several terminological changes. The word “citizen” has been replaced with “citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan,” while the words “Independence” and “Sovereignty” are now capitalised.

In addition, references to parliament in the document have been replaced with “Kurultai” following Kazakhstan’s transition to a unicameral legislative system.

By Jeyhun Aghazada