Serik Nyghmetuly Akhmetov ( kk, Серік Нығметұлы Ахметов, translit=Serık Nyğmetūly Ahmetov, ; born 25 June 1958) was a
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan ( Kazakh Cyrillic: Қазақстан Республикасының Премьер-Министрі, Kazakh Latin: Qazaqstan Respublikasynyñ Premier-Ministrı, ; russian: Премьер-Министр Респ ...
from 2012 to 2014. He served as the
Minister of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
from April to October 2014.
Akhmetov served for a time as first deputy akim of
Astana
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmo ...
before being appointed to
government
A government is the system or group of people governing an organized community, generally a state.
In the case of its broad associative definition, government normally consists of legislature, executive, and judiciary. Government is a ...
as Minister of Transport and Communications on 25 September 2006. He has also served as Chairman of the Board of the Atameken National Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Kazakhstan since 2005. From March 2009, Akhmetov served as
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...
before becoming the akim of
Karaganda Region
Karaganda Region ( kk, Qarağandy oblysy; russian: Карагандинская область, translit=Karagandinskaja oblast′), also spelled Qaraghandy Region, is a region of Kazakhstan. Its capital is Karaganda.
On 17 March 2022 it was an ...
in November 2009. In January 2012, he was appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister before becoming PM following the resignation of
Karim Massimov
Karim Qazhymqanuly Massimov ( kk, Кәрім Қажымқанұлы Мәсімов, ; born 15 June 1965)äkim of Karaganda Region to which he was convicted in December 2015. He was eventually released in September 2017.
Early life and career
Akhmetov was born in the town of
Temirtau
Temirtau ( kz, Теміртау, translit=Temırtau; russian: Темиртау) is a city in the Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan. The population was 170,481 in the 1999 census, rising to 210,590 in 2015.
The city is located on the Nura River (the ...
. In 1985, he graduated from the plant-technical educational institution at the Karaganda Metallurgical Combine with a degree in metallurgical engineering, and in 1993, from the postgraduate course of the
State University of Management
The State University of Management is a public university in Moscow, Russia. It was founded in 1919. Its rector is Ivan Vasilyevich Lobanov. There are more than 250 professors and 12 academics and members of the Russian Academy of Sciences workin ...
, earning a doctorate in economics.
Akhmetov began his career in 1975 as a turner apprentice, then worked as a turner at the Karmetkombinat. From 1976, he served in the
Soviet Army
uk, Радянська армія
, image = File:Communist star with golden border and red rims.svg
, alt =
, caption = Emblem of the Soviet Army
, start_date ...
. In 1978, Akhmetov returned to the Karmetkombinat as a turner where he was elected as a Secretary of the Komsomol Committee of the Plant in 1983.
In 1985, he was elected the First Secretary of the Temirtau City Committee of LKMSK and from 1986, as the First Secretary of the Karaganda Regional Committee of the Komsomol. From 1989, Akhmetov was the organizer of the Karaganda Regional Party Committee.
In 1993, he was appointed head of the Marketing Bureau, then head of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations of the Karmetkombinat. Akhmetov also headed the Futau Joint Venture. In 1995, Akhmetov became the general director of the Ken Dala Agro-Industrial Exchange, becoming president of the reorganized exchange in 1996.
From 1998 to 2001, Akhmetov served as a state inspector of the Organizational and Control Department of the Administration of the President of Kazakhstan. In 2001, he was appointed as the akim of
Temirtau
Temirtau ( kz, Теміртау, translit=Temırtau; russian: Темиртау) is a city in the Karaganda Region of Kazakhstan. The population was 170,481 in the 1999 census, rising to 210,590 in 2015.
The city is located on the Nura River (the ...
and then in 2003 as the first deputy akim of
Astana
Astana, previously known as Akmolinsk, Tselinograd, Akmola, and most recently Nur-Sultan, is the capital city of Kazakhstan.
The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim River in the north-central part of Kazakhstan, within the Akmo ...
.
In 2004, he became the head of the State Inspectorate of the Office of Organizational Control Work and Personnel Policy of the Administration of the President. From 2005, Akhmetov served as an executive director, then chairman of the board of the Atameken National Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers of Kazakhstan.
On 25 September 2006, he was appointed as a Minister of Transport and Communications.
On March 3, 2009, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
August 19, 2009 concurrently appointed to the position of Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kazakhstan Engineering.
On November 19, 2009, by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, he was appointed Akim of the Karaganda region.
Since January 20, 2012 - First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since September 24, 2012 - Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
April 2, 2014 - President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev accepted Akhmetov's resignation.
From April 3 to October 22, 2014 - Minister of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Russia
Akhmetov met with
Igor Levitin
Igor Yevgenyevich Levitin (russian: Игорь Евгеньевич Левитин) (born 21 February 1952) is a Russian political figure, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation since September 2013, and Class 1 Active State Advisor of th ...
, the
Russia
Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...
n Transport Minister on 25 October 2006. Akhmetov proposed building a transport corridor using preexisting roads from southern Kazakhstan through
Kazan
Kazan ( ; rus, Казань, p=kɐˈzanʲ; tt-Cyrl, Казан, ''Qazan'', IPA: ɑzan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan in Russia. The city lies at the confluence of the Volga and the Kazanka rivers, covering a ...
and
Orenburg
Orenburg (russian: Оренбу́рг, ), formerly known as Chkalov (1938–1957), is the administrative center of Orenburg Oblast, Russia. It lies on the Ural River, southeast of Moscow. Orenburg is also very close to the Kazakhstan-Russia bor ...
to
St. Petersburg
Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...
. Minister Levitin said the Russian Government would consider the proposal, but that it wanted the corridor to go through
Chelyabinsk
Chelyabinsk ( rus, Челя́бинск, p=tɕɪˈlʲæbʲɪnsk, a=Ru-Chelyabinsk.ogg; ba, Силәбе, ''Siläbe'') is the administrative center and largest city of Chelyabinsk Oblast, Russia. It is the seventh-largest city in Russia, with a ...
. They discussed the "transit of planes from
Asia
Asia (, ) is one of the world's most notable geographical regions, which is either considered a continent in its own right or a subcontinent of Eurasia, which shares the continental landmass of Afro-Eurasia with Africa. Asia covers an area ...
to
Europe
Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a Continent#Subcontinents, subcontinent of Eurasia ...
" and transportation through the
Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the world's largest inland body of water, often described as the world's largest lake or a full-fledged sea. An endorheic basin, it lies between Europe and Asia; east of the Caucasus, west of the broad steppe of Central Asia ...
. Levitin plans on making a working trip to
Aqtau
Aktau ( kk, Aqtau, Ақтау , russian: Актау) is a city in Kazakhstan, located on the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. Its current name means "white mountain" in Kazakh, which may be due to its cliffs that overlook the Caspian. From 1964 to ...
to further discuss sea transportation.Kazakhstan wants to build road from south to St Petersburg. ExKz On 9 November Akhmetov and Levitin met in Aqtau, signing an agreement creating a train and ferry link between Aqtau and Makhachkala ports. The first ferry will carry 52 freight cars of grain and oil products on 10 November. RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
China
He traveled with Deputy Prime Minister
Karim Masimov
Karim Qazhymqanuly Massimov ( kk, Кәрім Қажымқанұлы Мәсімов, ; born 15 June 1965)Natalya Korzhova
Natalya Korzhova (born 8 April 1958) is a former Minister of Finance in the Government of Kazakhstan.Baktykozha Izmukhambetov
Baktykozha Salakhidenuly Izmukhambetov ( kk, Бақтықожа Салахиденұлы Ізмұхамбетов, ''Baqtyqoja Salahidenūly Izmūhambetov''; born 1 September 1948) is a Kazakh politician who served as the Chair of the Mazhilis from ...
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
The Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan () is a member in the Government of Kazakhstan. The post is usually led by multiple people who carry out their activities in accordance with the policies established by the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan and ar ...
. While serving the post, he was concurrently appointed to the post of chairman of the Board of Directors of
Kazakhstan Engineering
Qazaqstan ınjınırıng ulttyq kompanııasy AQrussian: АО Национальная компания Казахстан инжиниринг
, type = State-owned enterprise
, traded_as =
, ISIN = KZ2C00006674
, location =
, industry = ...
on 19 August 2009.
On 19 November 2009, by the Decree of the President, Akhmetov was appointed as the äkim of the
Karaganda Region
Karaganda Region ( kk, Qarağandy oblysy; russian: Карагандинская область, translit=Karagandinskaja oblast′), also spelled Qaraghandy Region, is a region of Kazakhstan. Its capital is Karaganda.
On 17 March 2022 it was an ...
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
The Prime Minister of Kazakhstan ( Kazakh Cyrillic: Қазақстан Республикасының Премьер-Министрі, Kazakh Latin: Qazaqstan Respublikasynyñ Premier-Ministrı, ; russian: Премьер-Министр Респ ...
. Upon taking office, Akhmetov spoke at the Central Office of the
Nur Otan
Amanat (), previously known as Nur Otan () until 2022, is a big tent political party in Kazakhstan. Being the largest to date, it has been the ruling party of the country from 1999, with a membership claiming to be of over 762,000 people in 2007. ...
at an expanded meeting of the parliamentary faction on 4 October 2012 where he informed the MP's about the forecast of the country's socio-economic development for 2013–2017, and the priorities of budget expenditures for 2013–2015 years. He outlined five areas for the implementation of social and economic policy aimed at achieving the planned growth parameters. Among the main priorities of the Government were ensuring macroeconomic stability, sustainable economic growth, social modernization, regional development, as well as the modernization of the public administration system and improvement of the quality of public services. In early 2013, utility tariffs increased in almost all regions due to the need of infrastructure renovation and lack of investment according to the Government, this move however was met with criticism.
On 16 January 2013, the Ministry of Regional Development was formed, as well as the up-to-date law on local self-government and amendments to the "Development of Regions" program were adopted, allowing the urbanization process to be less spontaneous and be under control. This gave äkims the responsibility of implementing results of each programs with the amount of tenge being spent.
In May 2013, Akhmetov's government was instructed by President
Nursultan Nazarbayev
Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev ( kk, Нұрсұлтан Әбішұлы Назарбаев, Nūrsūltan Äbişūlı Nazarbaev, ; born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakh politician and military officer who served as the first President of Kazakhstan, in off ...
to implement a new pension reform. In an interview, he said “in accordance with the instruction of the head of state, the concept should provide for joint responsibility of the state, employer and employee for the level of social protection of Kazakhstanis.” However, the law proposal by Labour and Social Protection Minister
Serik Abdenov
Serik is a town and district in Antalya Province of Turkey, east of the city of Antalya, along the Mediterranean coast.
Geography
Towards the coast the district is mainly flat farmland, used for growing vegetables, while the inland half of Seri ...
to increase the retirement age for women from 58 to 63 sparked discontent among Kazakh citizens as well as criticism from Nazarbayev himself who called for the postponement for the increased pension age. A comprised was eventually formed with bill drafting changed and Abdenov being dismissed from his post on 10 June 2013. Nazarbayev approved the law on 21 June.
By the end of 2013, Kazakhstan's nominal GDP reached a record breaking 236.6 billion, making it the biggest in
Central Asia
Central Asia, also known as Middle Asia, is a subregion, region of Asia that stretches from the Caspian Sea in the west to western China and Mongolia in the east, and from Afghanistan and Iran in the south to Russia in the north. It includes t ...
. However, Akhmetov's government faced little success as the
Kazakhstani tenge
The tenge ( or ; kk, теңге, teñge, ; sign: ₸ ; code: KZT) is the currency of Kazakhstan. It is divided into 100 tiyn ( kk, тиын, tıyın also transliterated as ''tiyin'').
History
After the breakup of the Soviet Union in December ...
plunged by 19% against
United States dollar
The United States dollar ( symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the officia ...
on 11 February 2014. This led to rare protests across the country and rumours on social media about how the Kazakh banks were on verge of collapse resulting in masses of people withdrawing their savings. On 14 February, Akhmetov announced that the government would set price controls for socially important products, fuels and lubricants.
On 2 April 2014, Akhmetov resigned from office as the PM. He continued to serve as the
Minister of Defense
A defence minister or minister of defence is a cabinet official position in charge of a ministry of defense, which regulates the armed forces in sovereign states. The role of a defence minister varies considerably from country to country; in som ...
On 19 November 2014, the court of Kazybek Bi district of
Karaganda
Karaganda or Qaraghandy ( kk, Қарағанды/Qarağandy, ; russian: Караганда, ) is the capital of Karaganda Region in the Republic of Kazakhstan. It is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, fourth most populous city in Kaza ...
, Akhmetov was accused of committing a crime under Article 176 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As a result, he was placed under a house arrest.
Akhmetov was convicted of corruption and given a ten-year prison sentence in 11 December 2015. Of the 21 people involved in the case, 12 filed an appeal against the verdict, including Akhmetov himself. On 10 March 2016, Akhmetov's lawyer, Nikolai Lesnik, announced in court an addendum to the appeal. In particular, he said that Akhmetov admitted his guilt in the fact that, being the akim of the Karaganda Region and the PM of Kazakhstan, he did not watch the individuals who committed the theft of budget funds in the Karaganda Region. Akhmetov asked the appellate panel of the regional court to acquit him.
In addition, shortly before the start of the consideration of the appeal, the friends and brother of Serik Akhmetov fully reimbursed the material damage to the state for all the convicts. During the main trial in the court of first instance, Berik Akhmetov contributed 70 million tenge to the government's reserve. 360 million tenge was contributed by the director of Trade House StalZinc LLP. After the verdict, another 1 billion and 825 million tenge were paid off by Serik's friends. In total, the state was compensated for damage in the amount of 2.2 billion tenge.
In this regard, the appellate board of the Court of the Karaganda Region softened the term of imprisonment. Instead of 10 years in prison, approved by the judge of first instance, Akhmetov was sentenced to 8 years in prison. On 29 March 2016, the Akhmetov was transferred to correctional facility AK 159/18 in the Karabas settlement to serve his sentence.
He was released from prison after two years with restrictions on 21 September 2017.
Personal life
Akhmetov is married and has two children. He is fluent in English, Russian and Kazakh.
In 2015, for the false Internet post about Akhmetov's death, Jandos Baishemirov, the notorious Kazakhstani blogger, a political critic of the government was detained. Many independent human rights and freedom of speech organizations have noted that the harassment of a blogger did not meet UN democratic standards.