Clarification on Kazakhstan's Leadership and Decision-Making
Kazakhstan's Parliament Speaker affirms President Tokayev is the sole decision maker and that former President Nazarbayev exercises personal rights.
Alex Carter
- 2023-12-27
- Updated 03:22 PM ET
(NewsNibs) - In a recent statement, Kazakhstan's Parliament Speaker, Erlan Koshanov, has made it clear that the country's leadership and decision-making reside solely with President Tokayev. According to Koshanov, there is no dual power in Kazakhstan, dispelling any notions of shared authority. President Tokayev, who was elected by a significant majority, is the acknowledged decision maker in national affairs. This clarification comes amid conversations about former President Nursultan Nazarbayev's current role in the state's affairs.
Recent Visit to Moscow
Speculation around Nazarbayev's influence was recently fueled by his trip to Moscow for a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on December 18. However, Dmitry Peskov, Press Secretary for the President of Russia, characterized the interaction as a "completely personal meeting," indicating that it was not state-related. Furthermore, it has been emphasized that any meetings, travels, or activities undertaken by Nazarbayev are conducted in his capacity as a private citizen, not as a state official.
Assurance of Non-Interference
Parliament Speaker Koshanov has assured that Nursultan Nazarbayev does not interfere with the governance of Kazakhstan or its state affairs. While Nazarbayev's meeting with Putin could draw attention due to his previous long-term leadership in Kazakhstan, current leadership has been firm in reinforcing that any decisions and actions taken by Nazarbayev are solely part of his personal rights, highlighting a clear separation between his activities and the official state functions carried out by President Tokayev and his administration.
In conclusion, the Kazakhstani government has firmly stated that the nation's decision-making process is under the authority of President Tokayev, with former President Nazarbayev having no official role in state affairs. The Kremlin corroborated this by condemning any discussions from the private meeting between Nazarbayev and Putin, maintaining the personal nature of their encounter.
