Касым-Жомарт Токаев (28-09-2021) (cropped 3)
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Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev (born 17 May 1953) is a Kazakhstani politician and diplomat who has served as the second
president of Kazakhstan The president of Kazakhstan, officially the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the executive head of state of the Kazakhstan and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan. As the highest-ranking official ...
since 2019. He previously served as
Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...
from 1999 to 2002 and as
Chairman of the Senate The chairman of the Senate of Pakistan () is the president-chair of the Senate of Pakistan. ...
from 2007 to 2011 and again from 2013 to 2019. Tokayev also held the position of Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2011 to 2013. Born in
Alma-Ata Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains in southern Kazakhstan, near the border wi ...
(now Almaty), Tokayev studied at the
Moscow State Institute of International Relations Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) (, also known as MGIMO University) is an higher education, institute of higher education located in Moscow, Russia. The institute is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), Russian ...
and later trained at diplomatic institutions in
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
. He began his career in the
Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics () was founded on 6 July 1923. It had three names during its existence: People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs (1923–1946), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1946–1991) ...
before joining Kazakhstan's foreign service after independence in 1991. Tokayev twice served as Foreign Minister, from 1994 to 1999 and 2002 to 2007, as well as State Secretary from 2002 to 2003, playing a key role in shaping Kazakhstan's foreign policy and its
nuclear disarmament Nuclear disarmament is the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons. Its end state can also be a nuclear-weapons-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated. The term ''denuclearization'' is also used to describe the pro ...
policies. In March 2019, Tokayev became
acting president An acting president is a person who temporarily fills the role of a country's president when the incumbent president is unavailable (such as by illness or visiting abroad) or when the post is vacant (such as for death Death is the en ...
following the resignation of
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
. In June that year, he won the first round of a snap presidential election as the candidate of the ruling
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
party. Initially aligned with Nazarbayev, Tokayev gradually consolidated power by removing key figures associated with the former president. His presidency has included various economic initiatives and a shift toward political reforms. In January 2022, large-scale protests over fuel prices escalated into violent unrest, prompting Tokayev to declare a
state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
and request peacekeeping assistance from the CSTO. The subsequent crackdown resulted in casualties and mass arrests. Following the crisis, he distanced himself from Nazarbayev, removed key figures associated with the former leader, and implemented constitutional changes, including reducing presidential terms. In
2022 The year began with another wave in the COVID-19 pandemic, with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, Omicron spreading rapidly and becoming the dominant variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus worldwide. Tracking a decrease in cases and deaths, 2022 saw ...
, Tokayev was re-elected in a snap presidential election, winning 81% of the vote in first round. He ran as an
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
candidate with the support of People's Coalition after leaving the Amanat (formerly Nur Otan) party, positioning himself as a reformist. His administration has focused on political restructuring, economic modernization, and maintaining a multi-vector foreign policy, balancing relations with
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
,
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, and the
West West is one of the four cardinal directions or points of the compass. It is the opposite direction from east and is the direction in which the Sun sets on the Earth. Etymology The word "west" is a Germanic word passed into some Romance langu ...
. Despite advocating political modernization, Tokayev's government has faced criticism for restricting opposition parties, limiting press freedoms, and suppressing protests. In 2022, leaked financial records revealed that his family held offshore assets since at least 1998.


Early life and education

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was born into a prominent Kazakh family in the city of Alma-Ata (now Almaty). His father, Kemel Tokayev (1923–1986), a
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
veteran and renowned writer, is considered the founder of Kazakh detective fiction. His mother, Turar Shabarbayeva (1931–2000), worked at the Alma-Ata Institute of Foreign Languages. He was named after his uncle, Kassym Tokayev, a
Red Army The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army, often shortened to the Red Army, was the army and air force of the Russian Soviet Republic and, from 1922, the Soviet Union. The army was established in January 1918 by a decree of the Council of People ...
soldier who was killed during the Battle of Rzhev. In reflecting on the impact of the war on his father, Tokayev shared that his father "did not like to talk about the war," only revealing his thoughts when discussing "his first encounter with the enemy, the courage of the average soldier, and his burning desire to return home." Kemel Tokayev later received a medal for his contributions to the development of the Virgin Lands campaign after the war. Tokayev spent part of his childhood in the village of Kälpe, Karatal District, in the
Jetisu Region Jetisu Region (, ; ), formerly spelled Zhetysu Region, is one of the Regions of Kazakhstan. Its administrative center is Taldykorgan. Total area of the region is 118,500 km². Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly ...
, where his family had deep roots. In 1970, Tokayev enrolled in the
Moscow State Institute of International Relations Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) (, also known as MGIMO University) is an higher education, institute of higher education located in Moscow, Russia. The institute is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), Russian ...
, where he studied
Mandarin Mandarin or The Mandarin may refer to: Language * Mandarin Chinese, branch of Chinese originally spoken in northern parts of the country ** Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Mandarin, the official language of China ** Taiwanese Mandarin, Stand ...
. During his fifth year, he was sent to the Soviet embassy in China for a six-month training course.


Early career

Upon graduating from the
Moscow State Institute of International Relations Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) (, also known as MGIMO University) is an higher education, institute of higher education located in Moscow, Russia. The institute is run by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Russia), Russian ...
in 1975, Tokayev joined the
Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics () was founded on 6 July 1923. It had three names during its existence: People's Commissariat for Foreign Affairs (1923–1946), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1946–1991) ...
and was posted to the Soviet Embassy in
Singapore Singapore, officially the Republic of Singapore, is an island country and city-state in Southeast Asia. The country's territory comprises one main island, 63 satellite islands and islets, and one outlying islet. It is about one degree ...
. In 1979, Tokayev returned to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1983, he attended training courses at the
Beijing Language Institute Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU; ) is a public university of linguistics in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with the Ministry of Education of China.The university has the main aim of teaching the Chinese language and cult ...
in China. From 1984 to 1991, he served in various diplomatic roles at the Soviet embassy in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
, including
Second Secretary Diplomatic rank is a system of professional and social rank used in the world of diplomacy and international relations. A diplomat's rank determines many ceremonial details, such as the order of precedence at official processions, table seating ...
, First Secretary, and Counsellor. In 1991, he enrolled at the Soviet Diplomatic Academy in
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
to further his diplomatic training.


Political career


Deputy foreign minister (1992–1994)

In March 1992, Tokayev was appointed a deputy foreign minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. From there, he briefly took stance against
nuclear disarmament Nuclear disarmament is the act of reducing or eliminating nuclear weapons. Its end state can also be a nuclear-weapons-free world, in which nuclear weapons are completely eliminated. The term ''denuclearization'' is also used to describe the pro ...
in the former Soviet republics of
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
and Ukraine under pressure by Russia, letting negotiations to be held under the
United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
, writing it as "a significant success of Kazakh diplomacy, which was taking its first steps in the international arena, opened the way for further negotiations with all influential states at the highest level." In 1993, he became first deputy foreign minister and on 13 October 1994, Tokayev was appointed to the post of
minister of foreign affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...
. In March 1999, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was appointed
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 ...
.


Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (1999–2002)

On 12 October 1999, with the endorsement of the
Parliament of Kazakhstan The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, consisting of the upper house, the Senate, and the lower house, the Mäjilis. Both chambers conduct legislative sessions at the Parliament House in the cap ...
, he was appointed
Prime Minister of Kazakhstan The prime minister of Kazakhstan is the head of government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the holder of its fourth highest office, after the president of Kazakhstan, the chairman of Senate, and the chairman of Majilis. The prime minister hea ...
by decree of President
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
. Upon assuming office, Tokayev's government placed a strong emphasis on the agricultural sector, recognizing it as a fundamental pillar of the nation's economy. He cautioned against prematurely introducing legislation on land privatization, thereby signaling a cautious approach to such significant reforms. Additionally, Tokayev outlined several key areas of focus for the government, including the development of sports, the timely payment of pensions, and providing support for domestic producers—measures deemed essential for ensuring the long-term economic and social stability of Kazakhstan. Under Tokayev's leadership, Kazakhstan's economy showed significant growth, with GDP expanding by 13.5% in 2001, while inflation was successfully reduced by 11.2%. However, in November 2001, during an interview with
Khabar Agency The Khabar Agency (KA) (, ; ) is a major media outlet in Kazakhstan. It was established in 1995, known originally as the National Television News Agency (Khabar is ''News'' in Kazakh). It is currently one of the largest networks in the country, a ...
, Tokayev threatened to resign unless Nazarbayev took action against certain government officials whom he accused of undermining the executive branch and obstructing necessary democratic reforms. As a result of this pressure, six cabinet members were dismissed, including Deputy Prime Minister Oraz Jandosov, Minister of Labour and Social Protection Alikhan Baimenov, Pavlodar Region akim Galymzhan Zhakiyanov, and Deputy Defense Minister Janat Ertlesova. As a result, six cabinet members, including Jandosov, Zhakiyanov and Ertlesova were dismissed by Nazarbayev. On 28 January 2002, Tokayev resigned from his post as Prime Minister, citing the centralization of power under the strong presidential system as the cause of his resignation. He was subsequently appointed as State Secretary and
Minister of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and foreign relations, relations, diplomacy, bilateralism, ...
, where he continued to play a key role in shaping Kazakhstan's foreign policy.


Foreign minister and state secretary (1994–1999, 2002–2007)

As a minister of foreign affairs, Tokayev played an active role in the field of nuclear non-proliferation. In 1995 and 2005, he participated in the Review Conferences for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York City. In 1996, he signed the
Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) is a multilateral treaty to ban nuclear weapons test explosions and any other nuclear explosions, for both civilian and military purposes, in all environments. It was adopted by the United Nati ...
(CTBT) in New York, and in 2005 the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ) in
Semipalatinsk Semey (; , formerly known as Semipalatinsk ( ) until 2007 and as Alash-Qala ( ) from 1917 to 1920, is a city in eastern Kazakhstan, in the Kazakh part of Siberia. When Abai Region was created in 2022, Semey became its administrative centre. I ...
. He was elected Chairman of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the
Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization, regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an ar ...
and of the
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian politics, political, economy, economic, international security and Defence (military), defence organization of ten member states. It was established in 2001 by the China, People's Republic ...
. Tokayev took part in ten sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. He held a diplomatic rank of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary. On 28 March 2003, Tokayev expressed support for the US invasion of Iraq, citing concerns over
Saddam Hussein Saddam Hussein (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was an Iraqi politician and revolutionary who served as the fifth president of Iraq from 1979 until Saddam Hussein statue destruction, his overthrow in 2003 during the 2003 invasion of Ira ...
's potential development of
weapons of mass destruction A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a Biological agent, biological, chemical weapon, chemical, Radiological weapon, radiological, nuclear weapon, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill or significantly harm many people or cause great dam ...
. Throughout his tenure, Tokayev pursued a multi-vector foreign policy, balancing Kazakhstan's relations with Russia, China, and the West. His diplomatic efforts helped Kazakhstan avoid confrontations with other states, instead fostering cooperation and promoting stability both regionally and globally.


Chairman of the Senate (2007–2011, 2013–2019)

On 11 January 2007, Tokayev was appointed Deputy and Chairman of the Senate of Kazakhstan by Nursultan Nazarbayev. He was elected unanimously by the Senate deputies to the position. Tokayev emphasized that Kazakhstan was facing important tasks at this moment in history and pledged to make every effort to achieve the country's goals, including the strategy to place Kazakhstan among the top 50 most competitive states. He served the post until being relieved on 15 April 2011 after being appointed Director-General of the United Nations. President Nazarbayev expressed his gratitude towards Tokayev, stating that he's "absolutely committed to the path of reforms that I am pursuing." On 16 October 2013, he was reappointed again as the Senate Chair and was unanimously confirmed by the Senate MPs. During the
2016 Protests against land reforms in Kazakhstan The 2016 Kazakh anti-land reform protests were a nationwide series of public demonstrations in Kazakhstan national football team, Kazakhstan, primarily sparked by controversial amendments to the Land Code that would have permitted the sale and leas ...
, Tokayev stressed the issue of land lease to be dealt with in a critical matter. During the interview to
BBC News BBC News is an operational business division of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs in the UK and around the world. The department is the world's largest broad ...
in June 2018, Tokayev hinted a possibility on Nazarbayev's succession by expressing his belief that he wouldn't run for re-election as his presidential term was to end in 2020.


Vice-President of the OSCE PA

While serving as a deputy of the Senate, Tokayev was elected Vice-President of the
Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE (OSCE PA) is an institution of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The primary task of the 323-member Assembly is to facilitate inter-parliamentary dialogue, an important aspect of the o ...
(OSCE PA) during its 31st Annual Session in
Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
on 3 July 2008. From there, he played a key part in international parliamentary diplomacy, election monitoring, and regional security discussions. Tokayev contributed to OSCE PA initiatives, including serving as deputy head of the election observation mission under
Tony Lloyd Sir Anthony Joseph Lloyd (25 February 1950 – 17 January 2024) was a British Labour politician. He served as a member of Parliament (MP) for 36 years, making him one of the longest-serving MPs in recent history. He served as MP for Stretfo ...
to Belarus during the 2010 presidential election, which raised concerns about electoral transparency and human rights violations. Tokayev also prioritized trans-regional cooperation, particularly in addressing security challenges in Central Asia, such as the unrest in Kyrgyzstan and the conflict in Afghanistan. He advocated for stronger OSCE engagement in the region and efforts to enhance stability. His leadership was instrumental in hosting key OSCE PA events in Kazakhstan, including the 2010 Trans-Asian Parliamentary Forum in
Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...
, where Tokayev reinforced Kazakhstan's commitment to international cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy.


Director-General of the UN Office at Geneva

In March 2011, the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Ban Ki-moon Ban Ki-moon (born 13 June 1944) is a South Korean politician and diplomat who served as the eighth secretary-general of the United Nations between 2007 and 2016. Prior to his appointment as secretary-general, Ban was the South Korean minister ...
, announced the appointment of Tokayev to succeed
Sergei Ordzhonikidze Sergei Alexandrovich Ordzhonikidze (; born 14 March 1946) is a Russian diplomat. He was the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva from 2002 to 2011. Early life and education He was born in Moscow in early 1946. His mother ...
as the
Under-Secretary-General An under-secretary-general of the United Nations (USG) is a senior official within the United Nations System, normally appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the secretary-general for a renewable term of four years. Under-s ...
and Director-General of the
United Nations Office at Geneva The United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG, ) in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the four major offices of the United Nations where numerous different UN agencies have a joint presence. The main UNOG administrative offices are located inside ...
, a key hub for the UN's international diplomatic and humanitarian work, citing his wealth of experience at senior government levels, his thorough knowledge of the
Conference on Disarmament The Conference on Disarmament (CD) is a multilateral disarmament forum established by the international community to negotiate arms control and disarmament agreements based at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Conference meets annually in ...
(CD) and his extensive management expertise. With this appointment, Tokayev made history as the first Asian representative to hold the position. Tokayev was appointed as the Personal Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to the CD, a vital body for negotiating international arms control and disarmament agreements. During his leadership, he navigated financial challenges, implemented reforms to improve efficiency, and ensured the office's continued effectiveness. He worked to overcome the deadlock on critical disarmament issues, including the
Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty The Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) is a proposed international treaty to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. The treaty has not been negotiated and its terms remain to be define ...
, proposing in February 2012 procedural reforms such as extending the presidency duration and expanding membership. Tokayev emphasized the need for political will and urgent action to revitalize the CD and advance global disarmament efforts. His tenure also saw his participation in the
2012 Nuclear Security Summit The 2012 Nuclear Security Summit was a Summit (meeting), summit held at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea, on March 26 and 27, 2012.
in
Seoul Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital city, capital and largest city of South Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's List of cities b ...
, where he highlighted Kazakhstan's commitment to nuclear disarmament and global security. Tokayev's tenure was marked by his efforts to promote Geneva as a diplomatic hub on issues such as human rights, global health, economic cooperation, and climate change for international dialogue as well as addressing conflicts, such as the Syrian civil war, and territorial disputes. He strongly supported UN reforms, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's initiatives to reduce administrative costs and enhance transparency in UN operations, aligning with his broader goal of maintaining the UN Office's effectiveness. Following his appointment as Chairman of the Senate, Tokayev stepped down as Director-General of the UN Office in Geneva and was succeeded by
Michael Møller Michael Møller (born 9 November 1952) is president of the Diplomatic Forum of the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator Foundation, principal advisor at Macro Advisory Partners and member of the boards of several foundations, including the Kof ...
on 5 November 2013.


Presidency


Acting president

On 19 March 2019, then-President
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
announced his resignation. According to the Constitution of Kazakhstan, in case of early termination of powers, the Senate chairman becomes the
acting president An acting president is a person who temporarily fills the role of a country's president when the incumbent president is unavailable (such as by illness or visiting abroad) or when the post is vacant (such as for death Death is the en ...
until the end of the previous term. On 20 March, Tokayev officially took office as president. Immediately upon assuming office, Tokayev proposed renaming the capital city of Kazakhstan after his predecessor, and the same day the
Parliament of Kazakhstan The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, consisting of the upper house, the Senate, and the lower house, the Mäjilis. Both chambers conduct legislative sessions at the Parliament House in the cap ...
approved the renaming of Astana to
Nur-Sultan Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
. In his first weeks of office, Tokayev conducted trips across regions, meeting with various groups, and emphasized the importance of political stability, socio-economic development, and alignment with Nazarbayev's legacy. He focused on ensuring continuity and stability in Kazakhstan's policies, while addressing new global challenges through effective leadership and strategic direction.


2019 snap presidential election

On 9 April 2019, Tokayev signed decree scheduling snap presidential elections to be held on 9 June. He pledged electoral transparency and emphasized that Kazakhstan is a democratic state, asserting that a president should be elected according to the "will of the people" to eliminate political uncertainty. Tokayev became a presidential candidate after being nominated by the ruling
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
party on 23 April 2019, with the endorsement of party chairman and former president
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
. His campaign focused on continuing existing policies, ensuring justice, and promoting progress. A key part of his platform was maintaining Nazarbayev's legacy, which Tokayev cited as his reason for running. During the campaign, Tokayev was mocked on social media for using
photo manipulation Photograph manipulation involves the transformation or alteration of a photograph. Some photograph manipulations are considered to be skillful artwork, while others are considered to be unethical practices, especially when used to deceive. Mot ...
software to remove wrinkles and his double chin from official photos. On 9 June 2019, Tokayev was elected president of Kazakhstan with 71% of the popular vote in the first round. His victory was acknowledged by several foreign leaders, including
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...
,
Ilham Aliyev Ilham Heydar Oghlu Aliyev (born 24 December 1961) is an Azerbaijani politician who has been the fourth president of Azerbaijan since 2003. He is also the leader of the New Azerbaijan Party since 2005. The son and second child of former Aze ...
,
Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recep is a Turkish name deriving from the Arabic name Rajab. It may refer to: People Surname * Aziz Recep (born 1992), German-Greek footballer * Sibel Recep (born 1987), Swedish pop singer Given name * Recep Adanır (1929–2017), Turkish fo ...
,
Emomali Rahmon Emomali Rahmon ( ; born 5 October 1952), born Emomali Sharipovich Rahmanov, is a Tajik politician who has served as the President of Tajikistan since 1994, having previously led the country as Chairman of the Supreme Assembly (Tajikistan), Su ...
, and
Sooronbay Jeenbekov Sooronbay Sharip uulu Jeenbekov (born 16 November 1958) is a Kyrgyzstani politician who served as the fifth president of Kyrgyzstan from 2017 until his resignation in 2020, following a week of protests. Prior to that he served as the Prime Minist ...
. However, the election was marked by
protests A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration, or remonstrance) is a public act of objection, disapproval or dissent against political advantage. Protests can be thought of as acts of cooperation in which numerous people cooperate ...
, with security forces detaining thousands of demonstrators in major cities such as
Nur-Sultan Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
and
Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...
. The
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the p ...
(OSCE) criticized the election, stating that it lacked genuine pluralism and was marred by irregularities, including
ballot stuffing Electoral fraud, sometimes referred to as election manipulation, voter fraud, or vote rigging, involves illegal interference with the process of an election, either by increasing the vote share of a favored candidate, depressing the vote share o ...
and restrictions on
freedom of assembly Freedom of assembly, sometimes used interchangeably with the freedom of association, is the individual right or ability of individuals to peaceably assemble and collectively express, promote, pursue, and defend their ideas. The right to free ...
.


Early presidency (2019–2022)

After being elected in the 2019 election, Tokayev was fully sworn in as Kazakhstan's second president on 12 June 2019 at the Palace of Independence in Nur-Sultan, which was attended by high-ranking Kazakh officials including former president Nazarbayev himself. From there, Tokayev addressed the nation that he would serve the nation's citizens fairly, embarking that "different opinions, united nation" would be a slogan of his presidency. In June 2019, following a military ammo deposit blast in the town of
Arys Arys may refer to: People * Evelyn Arys (born 1990), Belgian racing cyclist Places * Arys, Kazakhstan * Arys (lake), Kazakhstan * Arys (river), Kazakhstan * Orzysz (German or Lithuanian: ''Arys''), Poland * Orzysz (lake) (German: '), in Poland ...
which resulted in evacuations of residents and hundreds of injuries, Tokayev launched a criminal case and ordered the Interior and Defence ministries to prevent possible more explosions, pledging that any perpetrators would be prosecuted. Tokayev paid visit to the town on 25 June, touring buildings that were affected by the blast as well as meeting with hospitalised victims. Tokayev delivered his first State of the Nation Address on 2 September 2019. The address focused on strengthening civil society and social security, supporting domestic business and economic development. After the Bek Air Flight 2100 crash, Tokayev declared the following day, 28 December 2019, a
national day of mourning A national day of mourning is a day, or one of several days, marked by mourning and memorial activities observed among the majority of a country's populace. They are designated by the national government. Such days include those marking the deat ...
and said that "all those responsible will be severely punished in accordance with the law." He also ordered the suspension of the flight authorisation of
Bek Air Bek Air was a Kazakh airline headquartered in Oral. History The airline was founded in 1999 as a business jet operator, Berkut Air, and since started domestic scheduled services. In 2008, Berkut Air purchased shares of stock in Oral Ak Zhol Ai ...
, the domestic airline involved. Following the Dungan–Kazakh ethnic clashes which broke out in February 2020, Tokayev fired the governor, deputy governor and police chief of the southern
Jambyl Region Jambyl or Zhambyl Region (; ), formerly known as Dzhambul Region () until 1991, is a region of Kazakhstan. Its administrative center is Taraz. The population of the region is 1,209,665; the city is 335,100. The region borders Kyrgyzstan, and is ...
. Tokayev blamed "two criminal groups" fighting over contraband for the deadly
ethnic violence An ethnic conflict is a conflict between two or more ethnic groups. While the source of the conflict may be political, social, economic or religious, the individuals in conflict must expressly fight for their ethnic group's position within so ...
between ethnic
Kazakhs The Kazakhs (Kazakh language, Kazakh: , , , ) are a Turkic peoples, Turkic ethnic group native to Central Asia and Eastern Europe. They share a common Culture of Kazakhstan, culture, Kazakh language, language and History of Kazakhstan, history ...
and the relatively wealthier
Dungan Dungan may refer to: * Dungan people, a group of Muslim people of Hui origin ** Dungan language ** Dungan, sometimes used to refer to Hui Chinese people generally * Dungan Mountains in Sibi District, Pakistan * Donegan, an Irish surname, sometimes ...
minority. In an interview to Informburo news agency, Tokayev commented on the fate of Mukhtar Dzhakishev, saying "this issue is exclusively within the competence of the court. Of course, I am aware that Dzhakishev has repeatedly applied for parole on ill-health. The session of the court of first instance will be held on 3 March. Let's wait for its decision, which I am sure will be fair." On 3 March 2020, the Semey City Court upheld the motion to grant parole to Dzhakishev. He served a 14-year prison sentence since 2009. In his second State of the Nation Address on 1 September 2020, Tokayev unveiled seven reforms with most focus on economic recovery. From there, he spoke of optimizing Kazakhstan's social system, increasing productivity and a greener economy, leveling business conditions, investing more in education and overseeing the state's administration as it becomes more sensitive and accountable.


Relationship with Nazarbayev

In the early years of his presidency, Tokayev governed under the significant influence of
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
, who continued to hold key positions, including the chairmanship of the
Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
, the ruling
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
party, and the
Assembly of People of Kazakhstan The Assembly of People of Kazakhstan () is a national political body in Kazakhstan consisting of delegates of the Regional Assemblies of the People. Its task is to represent the various ethnic groups that make up the Central Asian state at nation ...
(QHA). Additionally,
Dariga Nazarbayeva Dariğa Nūrsūltanqyzy Nazarbaeva (; born 7 May 1963) is a Kazakh businesswoman and politician who is the daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev who was the President of Kazakhstan from 1990 to 2019. She was a member of the Mäjilis from 2004 to 200 ...
’s appointment as Senate Chairwoman positioned her as Tokayev's constitutional successor, which contributed to the perception of a
dual power Dual power, sometimes referred to as counterpower, refers to a strategy in which alternative institutions coexist with and seek to ultimately replace existing authority. The term was first used by the communist Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin ...
structure. In October 2019, Tokayev signed a decree stipulating that ministerial appointments required Nazarbayev's approval, with the exception of the ministers of defense, interior, and foreign affairs. This move further underscored Nazarbayev's continued influence over key governmental decisions. However, in May 2020, Tokayev dismissed Dariga Nazarbayeva from her position as Senate Chairwoman, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power and fueling speculation about Tokayev's increasing political independence. Throughout this period, Tokayev rejected the notion of a dual power structure, emphasizing that there was no
diarchy Diarchy (from Greek , ''di-'', "double", and , ''-arkhía'', "ruled"),Occasionally spelled ''dyarchy'', as in the ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'' article on the colonial British institution duarchy, or duumvirate. is a form of government charac ...
between himself and Nazarbayev. He asserted that while he occasionally sought advice from Nazarbayev, he was the legitimately elected head of state and that there were no contradictions in his exercise of presidential authority. Nazarbayev's gradual retreat from the political scene became more evident on 28 April 2021, when he resigned from the chairmanship of the QHA and nominated Tokayev as his successor. By November 2021, Nazarbayev officially ceded leadership of the Nur Otan party to Tokayev, thus consolidating Tokayev's control over both the presidency and the ruling party.


= Abolition of capital punishment

= Tokayev played a pivotal role in Kazakhstan's decision to abolish the
death penalty Capital punishment, also known as the death penalty and formerly called judicial homicide, is the state-sanctioned killing of a person as punishment for actual or supposed misconduct. The sentence ordering that an offender be punished in s ...
, a move shaped by domestic human rights advocacy and international commitments. In December 2019, he announced the country's intention to join the
Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights The Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, aiming at the abolition of the death penalty, is a subsidiary agreement to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It was created on 15 D ...
, responding to concerns raised by Kazakh human rights activists and experts during discussions at the National Council of Public Trust. He directed the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
to initiate the process of accession, setting the stage for legislative changes. Addressing the
United Nations General Assembly The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA or GA; , AGNU or AG) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), serving as its main deliberative, policymaking, and representative organ. Currently in its Seventy-ninth session of th ...
in 2020, Tokayev framed the decision as a step toward fulfilling "a fundamental right to life and human dignity." Shortly after, on 23 September 2020, Kazakhstan's representative to the UN, Kairat Umarov, formally signed the protocol. The Parliament ratified the document on 29 December 2020, and on 2 January 2021, Tokayev signed the decree officially abolishing the death penalty.


2021 legislative elections

In autumn 2020, Tokayev announced date for 2021 legislative elections, where he asserted that the electoral and political process had been liberalised to allow for greater involvement in civil society and that the newly incoming parliament convocation will focus on support for socio-economic reforms. During election day, Tokayev said that the government would resign in accordance with law and that he would consult with newly elected deputies and party leaders in regard to the appointments of prime minister and cabinet members. In the aftermath of vote, the ruling
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
despite losing dozen seats, topped the results in which the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the p ...
(OSCE) citied that the elections "lacked genuine competition". At the opening session of the 7th Parliament held on 15 January 2021, Tokayev reappointed
Asqar Mamin Asqar Uzaqbaiuly Mamin (, ; born 23 October 1965) is a Kazakh politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022, resigning due to pressure from the 2022 Kazakh unrest. He served as First Deputy Prime Minis ...
as the prime minister.


Domestic policy

Tokayev outlined main directions for Kazakhstan which were increasing the incomes of population, eradication of corruption, judicial reforms, creating new jobs with decent wages, solving housing issues, fair social policies, regional developments, spiritualism, foreign national interests and youth opportunities. In his first month of presidency, Tokayev made several reorganisations and appointments within the administration and the ministerial cabinet with some top officials such as Presidential Administration head
Bakhytzhan Sagintayev Bakhytzhan Abdiruly Sagintayev (, , , ; born 13 October 1963) is a Kazakh politician who was a Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, from 9 September 2016 until his resignation on 21 February 2019. He served as the Äkim of Almaty from 28 June 2019 unt ...
and National Security Committee chairman
Karim Massimov Karim Qajymqanuly Massimov (, , ; born 15 June 1965)Kazakhstan moves to ...
keeping their posts while others being reshuffled or forced to stepped down.


= Economic reforms

= Tokayev has emphasized economic equity, advocating for a fair distribution of national income, which he described as "strategically important" for Kazakhstan. Early in his presidency, he took steps to enhance trade and economic growth, establishing the Ministry of Trade and Integration in June 2019 and appointing
Bakhyt Sultanov Bakhyt Turlykhanuly Sultanov (, ''Baqyt Tūrlyhanūly Sūltanov''; born 29 November 1971) is a Kazakh statesman, Deputy Prime Minister — Minister of Trade and Integration from January 11 to August 15, 2022, and Minister of Trade and Integration ...
as its head. The Ministry was tasked with boosting exports, a key driver of job creation and economic expansion. In response to financial difficulties faced by citizens, Tokayev prioritized wage increases and debt relief. In a national address, he announced a raise in the
minimum wage A minimum wage is the lowest remuneration that employers can legally pay their employees—the price floor below which employees may not sell their labor. List of countries by minimum wage, Most countries had introduced minimum wage legislation b ...
—the first since 2018—from 42,500 to 60,000 ₸, effective 1 January 2022. He framed this decision as a necessary step to stimulate domestic consumption amid the financial strain caused by the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
. To further support workers, he urged businesses to increase salaries and pledged state-backed incentives to facilitate wage growth. Tokayev also pursued social support policies aimed at relieving personal debt. In an interview with
Bloomberg News Bloomberg News (originally Bloomberg Business News) is an international news agency headquartered in New York City and a division of Bloomberg L.P. Content produced by Bloomberg News is disseminated through Bloomberg Terminals, Bloomberg T ...
, he outlined an initiative to assist citizens in extreme financial hardship, ultimately benefitting 16% of Kazakhstan's population. Rejecting government bailouts for banks, he instead signed a decree on 26 June 2019 directing the government and National Bank to begin decommissioning unsecured consumer loans, signaling a shift toward financial self-reliance. His administration also focused on economic governance and structural reforms. In January 2020, Tokayev initiated the formation of the Centre for Analysis and Monitoring of Socio-Economic Reforms, later evolving into the Presidential Reform Agency. That same month, he called for stricter registration policies for cars imported from the
Eurasian Economic Union The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU or EEU)EAEU is the acronym used on thorganisation's website However, many media outlets use the acronym EEU. is an economic union of five post-Soviet states located in Eurasia. The EAEU has an integrated single ...
(EAEU), despite protests from vehicle owners with foreign plates. The economic challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic prompted further government intervention. In March 2020, Tokayev directed the government to develop an anti-crisis plan to uphold social obligations. The plan introduced tax incentives, subsidized credit, and employment support to ease the burden on the private sector. However, as inflation surged, public dissatisfaction grew. Tokayev criticized the government and central bank for their inaction, calling for a reduction in inflation to 2–4% and attributing the rise in prices to an excess money supply generated by pandemic relief measures.


= Credit amnesty

= On 26 June 2019, the President signed a Decree "On Measures to Reduce the Debt Burden of Citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan" to provide timely assistance to citizens with financial difficulties. The credit amnesty was a one-time measure and affected families with many children, disabled people, and recipients of state-targeted social assistance. The amount of loans to be written off had to be no more than 3 million tenge (around $6,500) as of 1 June 2019.


= Education

= At the teacher's conference held in August 2019, Tokayev announced that the average salary for schoolteachers in Kazakhstan would be increased by double within four years. He also instructed the Ministry of Education and Science to develop and launch special programs to overcome the academic gap of children from low-income families and schools in socially troubled areas, noting the need of overcome educational inequality specially between rural and urban areas.


= Energy and cryptocurrency

= Tokayev expressed the need for Kazakhstan to have a nuclear power plant in April 2019, claiming that the country would face an electricity deficit by 2030. From early 2021, energy consumption in Kazakhstan sharply rose by 8% as a result of increase in cryptocurrency mining from miners fleeing China. In May 2021, Tokayev announced the Low-Carbon Development Concept, a national project which seeks to reduce Kazakhstan's dependency on coal by development electric power industry and the country's energy balance by 2035.


= Environment

= From the outset of his presidency, Tokayev signaled a commitment to addressing environmental challenges, describing them as "concerning" in his inaugural speech. To streamline environmental governance, he established the Ministry of Ecology, Geology, and Natural Resources in June 2019, appointing
Magzum Myrzagaliev Magzum Maratuly Mirzagaliev (; born 7 November 1978) is a Kazakh politician who has served as Ministry of Energy (Kazakhstan), Minister of Energy (2021–22). Prior to that, he was the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources (Kazakhstan ...
as its head. The Ministry was tasked with overseeing environmental protection, resource management, and waste treatment, reflecting Tokayev's broader agenda of sustainable development. One of the key environmental issues Tokayev addressed was air pollution in
Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...
, where he emphasized the need for decisive action. He directed the government, the city administration, and Samruk-Energy to expedite the transition of the Almaty-2 thermal power station to
natural gas Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
, citing its emissions as a major source of pollution. Tokayev warned against any delays in implementation, calling them "absolutely unacceptable." His administration also pursued legislative measures to protect Kazakhstan's natural resources. In 2021, the
Mäjilis The Mäjilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (; ), commonly shortened as Mäjilis or Mazhilis ( Kazakh Cyrillic: Мәжіліс , 'Assembly'), is the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, alongside the upper house Senate ...
ratified a protocol under the Caspian Sea Framework Convention, aimed at regulating pollution from land-based sources. Tokayev signed the law into effect on 4 October 2021, reinforcing Kazakhstan's commitment to regional environmental cooperation.


= Healthcare

= Tokayev supported a
health insurance mandate A health insurance mandate is either an employer or individual mandate to obtain private health insurance instead of (or in addition to) a national health insurance plan.D. Andrew Austin, Thomas L. Hungerford (2010). Market Structure of the He ...
in Kazakhstan as a way to improve the quality and accessibility of medical services as well as maintained funding for free medical care and the development of healthcare system. On 7 July 2020, Tokayev signed the new code "On public health and healthcare system" and law "On amendments and additions to certain legislative acts on healthcare issues" into place, which strengthened legal protection for medical personnel, introduced a differentiated approach to medical errors, and redefined a citizen's rights regarding vaccination. The code also restricted the consumption of e-cigarettes and introduced a ban on the import, production and distribution of snus and other non-smoking tobacco products, as well as introduced administrative responsibility for the sale of tobacco products to persons under the age of 21.


= Infrastructure

= Tokayev pledged for the government to continue in investing for the development of infrastructure so that Kazakh citizens would have an access for clean drinking water, natural gas and public transport and continue in monitoring the implementation of the Nurly Zhol programme, of which was enacted by Nazarbayev. He called for the officials along with the Parliament and Accounts Committee to ensure the efficient use of budget funds. During a visit to
Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...
in May 2020, Tokayev was presented with plans for the reconstruction of the
Almaty International Airport Almaty International Airport is an international airport in Almaty, Kazakhstan. It is larger than Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport (NQZ) in Astana and is the main international gateway into the country. It is a airline hub, principal ...
which included a new terminal, from there he expressed his desire that the Almaty Airport would become largest aviation hub in Central Asia.


= Political reforms

=


Listening State

One of the significant elements of the President's public policy was to propose the concept of a "Listening State", where the public administration would follow the basic principle of "not a citizen for the state, but a state for the citizen". Tokayev advocated political reforms that would promote the concept of a "state that listens" to civil society creating a constructive dialogue. Tokayev initiated the establishment of the new National Council of Public Trust to facilitate this dialogue. He also called for
direct election Direct election is a system of choosing political officeholders in which the voters directly cast ballots for the persons or political party that they want to see elected. The method by which the winner or winners of a direct election are chosen ...
s for the äkıms (local heads) of rural districts, townships, and villages to be held in 2021 to which he signed decree on 14 September 2020 of the implementation of National Plan of Measures which set tasks for the drafting of constitutional amendments that would allow for rural äkım direct elections as well as the development of local government and its functions. In May 2020, Tokayev signed the laws "On the procedure for organizing and holding peaceful assemblies in the Republic of Kazakhstan", "On introducing amendments to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan", "On Elections in the Republic of Kazakhstan", and "On introducing amendments and additions to the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Political Parties". The new laws are an important part of the measures to strengthen the state's democratic foundations, and enhance the role of civil society. In his State of the Nation Address, he emphasised that "Kazakhstan must create a
multi-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system where more than two meaningfully-distinct political parties regularly run for office and win elections. Multi-party systems tend to be more common in countries using proportional ...
to build a modern, effective state", also saying that the ruling
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
party should collaborate more with other parties. In January 2021, Tokayev at the opening first session of the 7th Parliament proposed to reduce the
electoral threshold The electoral threshold, or election threshold, is the minimum share of votes that a candidate or political party requires before they become entitled to representation or additional seats in a legislature. This limit can operate in various ...
from 7% to 5%, stating it would encourage more registered parties to participate in the future parliamentary elections as well as the vote option "Against all" to be re-included in the ballots once again. As the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
ratified Tokayev's proposed constitutional amendments, he signed the laws into place on 25 May 2021.


Foreign policy

In his first month as president, Tokayev met with four world leaders — Russian President
Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...
and Chinese President
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...
during trips abroad, and South Korean President
Moon Jae-in Moon Jae-in (, ; born January 24, 1953) is a South Korean politician and former lawyer who served as the 12th president of South Korea from 2017 to 2022. Before his presidency, he served as the senior secretary for civil affairs and the Chief ...
and Uzbek President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev (born 24 July 1957) is an Uzbek politician who has served as President of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan since 14 December 2016. Previously, Mirziyoyev led the gover ...
in
Nur-Sultan Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
— strengthening Kazakhstan's international relations. On 4 December 2019, on the eve of a state visit to Germany, he gave an interview to ''
Deutsche Welle (; "German Wave"), commonly shortened to DW (), is a German state-funded television network, state-owned international broadcaster funded by the Federal Government of Germany. The service is available in 32 languages. DW's satellite tele ...
'', in which he called Germany a "key European partner for Kazakhstan". In that same interview, he drew controversy by saying that he did not believe that the
annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation In February and March 2014, Russia invaded the Crimea, Crimean Peninsula, part of Ukraine, and then annexed it. This took place in the relative power vacuum immediately following the Revolution of Dignity. It marked the beginning of the Russ ...
was an invasion while also saying that he believed in the "wisdom of the Russian leadership", drawing condemnation from the Ukrainian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
, who issued a demarche in response. In April 2021, Tokayev signed a decree forming the Special Representative for International Cooperation, claiming that such post would increase attention of Kazakhstan's leadership to international cooperation concerns in the light of the dynamically changing global and regional agenda. He appointed Erzhan Kazykhanov to the post, whom was instructed to deal with issues of expanding international cooperation in the humanitarian sphere, climate diplomacy, as well as promoting Kazakhstan's key foreign policy initiatives. During the sixth meeting of the
Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia The Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA) is an inter-governmental forum for enhancing cooperation towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It is a forum based on the recognition that there i ...
held on 10–11 October 2021, Tokayev proposed turning the intergovernmental forum into a full-fledged organisation, outlining that the transformation would emphasise Asia's new role in global affairs which in turn give the member states commitment to create "a truly common, indivisible, and comprehensive security architecture on the largest continent".


= 2021 Taliban offensive

= Following the
2021 Taliban offensive The 2021 Taliban offensive was a Offensive (military), military offensive by the Taliban insurgent group and allied militants that led to the fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the end of the nearly 20-year War in Afghanistan (200 ...
, Tokayev urged to take measures in ensuring safety of Kazakhstani citizens and diplomats within
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan to the Durand Line, east and south, Iran to the Afghanistan–Iran borde ...
, in which Kazakhstan would closely follow its developments. During a meeting with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Tehri Hakala, Tokayev expressed concern in regards to the stability in Afghanistan, warning that entire region of Central Asian is facing a risk due to the conflict. On 18 August 2021, he instructed the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
to attempt to provide a maximum assistance in returning ethnic Kazakhs residing in Afghanistan, while noting that the issue of accepting Afghan refugees would not be considered.


= Russia

= According to political analyst Rico Isaacs, the decision in Tokayev replacing
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
was due to his own full will to not rapidly implement
democratic reforms Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...
, which would hurt Nazarbayev's legacy of stability and relations with Russia. Just two weeks after taking office, Tokayev visited
Moscow Moscow is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Russia by population, largest city of Russia, standing on the Moskva (river), Moskva River in Central Russia. It has a population estimated at over 13 million residents with ...
in his first foreign
state visit A state visit is a formal visit by the head of state, head of a sovereign state, sovereign country (or Governor-general, representative of the head of a sovereign country) to another sovereign country, at the invitation of the head of state (or ...
on 4 April 2019, meeting with Putin alongside other Russian officials. During the visit, Putin offered Russian assistance to Tokayev in the construction of a proposed
nuclear power plant A nuclear power plant (NPP), also known as a nuclear power station (NPS), nuclear generating station (NGS) or atomic power station (APS) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power st ...
in the country. In June 2019, Tokayev stated that the decision of constructing a nuclear power plants would be made on decision by local matter, if by means of a
referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
. In late 2020, Russian lawmakers
Vyacheslav Nikonov Vyacheslav Alekseyevich Nikonov (; born 5 June 1956) is a Russian political scientist. Early life Nikonov is a grandson of Vyacheslav Molotov, prominent Bolshevik and Soviet foreign minister under Joseph Stalin, whom he was named after, a ...
and Yevgeny Fyodorov made remarks on how the entire Kazakhstani territory was a gift given by the
Soviet Union The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR), commonly known as the Soviet Union, was a List of former transcontinental countries#Since 1700, transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 until Dissolution of the Soviet ...
and that was currently being leased by Russia. This sparked backlash from the Kazakh
Ministry of Foreign Affairs In many countries, the ministry of foreign affairs (abbreviated as MFA or MOFA) is the highest government department exclusively or primarily responsible for the state's foreign policy and relations, diplomacy, bilateral, and multilateral r ...
which warned about severing relations between both nations due to "provocative attacks". In response to controversial statements, Tokayev in response on '' Egemen Qazaqstan,'' wrote that such words from "some foreign citizens" are aimed at "spoiling" relations between two states, insisting that "nobody from outside gave Kazakhs this large territory as a gift."


= China

= Tokayev made a state visit to China in September 2019. There, he met with President
Xi Jinping Xi Jinping, pronounced (born 15 June 1953) is a Chinese politician who has been the general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (China), chairman of the Central Military Commission ...
in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
of which both leaders agreed to form a permanent comprehensive strategic partnership. Tokayev vowed to triple wheat exports to China to 2 million tonnes possibly including salt, dairy products, meat and poultry as well. During a visit to
Peking University Peking University (PKU) is a Public university, public Types of universities and colleges in China#By designated academic emphasis, university in Haidian, Beijing, China. It is affiliated with and funded by the Ministry of Education of the Peop ...
, he met with his long-term intern language teacher Liu Shiqing as well as Kazakhstani students. Shiqing described Tokayev as "sociable, active, quick" who became fluent in Chinese and as "one of the best students."


= Former Soviet republics

= On 14 April 2019, Tokayev visited neighboring
Uzbekistan , image_flag = Flag of Uzbekistan.svg , image_coat = Emblem of Uzbekistan.svg , symbol_type = Emblem of Uzbekistan, Emblem , national_anthem = "State Anthem of Uzbekistan, State Anthem of the Republ ...
for talks with President
Shavkat Mirziyoyev Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev (born 24 July 1957) is an Uzbek politician who has served as President of Uzbekistan and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan since 14 December 2016. Previously, Mirziyoyev led the gover ...
. On 16–17 May, Tokayev hosted foreign leaders such as
Armen Sarkissian Armen Vardani Sarkissian (; born 23 June 1952) is an Armenian politician, physicist, investor, businessman, and computer scientist who was the 4th president of Armenia from 2018 to 2022. He also was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1996 to 1997. ...
and Mamuka Bakhtadze in the capital for the 12th annual
Astana Economic Forum The Astana International Forum (AIF) is an international and regional wikt:platform#Noun, platform for dialogue and a non-profit organization headquartered in Astana, Kazakhstan. Previously called the Astana Economic Forum, it has been supported ...
, the first to be hosted by its pioneer, President Nazarbayev. He also hosted the regional leaders of Russia,
Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan, officially the Kyrgyz Republic, is a landlocked country in Central Asia lying in the Tian Shan and Pamir Mountains, Pamir mountain ranges. Bishkek is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Kyrgyzstan, largest city. Kyrgyz ...
,
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
,
Tajikistan Tajikistan, officially the Republic of Tajikistan, is a landlocked country in Central Asia. Dushanbe is the capital city, capital and most populous city. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan to the Afghanistan–Tajikistan border, south, Uzbekistan to ...
,
Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
and
Moldova Moldova, officially the Republic of Moldova, is a Landlocked country, landlocked country in Eastern Europe, with an area of and population of 2.42 million. Moldova is bordered by Romania to the west and Ukraine to the north, east, and south. ...
for the
Eurasian Economic Union The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU or EEU)EAEU is the acronym used on thorganisation's website However, many media outlets use the acronym EEU. is an economic union of five post-Soviet states located in Eurasia. The EAEU has an integrated single ...
and
Supreme Eurasian Economic Council The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (; ; ; ; ) is the highest supranational body of the Eurasian Economic Union. In the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council composed of the Heads of State or Government of member states of the Eurasian Economic U ...
summit on 29 May. During a visit to Kyrgyzstan in late 2019, he visited the House-Museum of Kyrgyz writer
Chingiz Aitmatov Chinghiz Torekulovich Aitmatov (12 December 1928 – 10 June 2008) was a Kyrgyz author who wrote mainly in Russian, but also in Kyrgyz. He is one of the best known figures in Kyrgyzstan's literature. Life He was born to a Kyrgyz father and Tat ...
in
Bishkek Bishkek, formerly known as Pishpek (until 1926), and then Frunze (1926–1991), is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kyrgyzstan. Bishkek is also the administrative centre of the Chüy Region. Bishkek is situated near the Kazakhstan ...
, where he met with the late writer's wife and reminisced about his first encounters with Aitmatov in
Beijing Beijing, Chinese postal romanization, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's List of national capitals by population, most populous national capital city as well as ...
in 1989. Following the breakout of the
2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war The Second Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict in 2020 that took place in the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding occupied territories. It was a major escalation of an unresolved conflict over the region, involvi ...
, Tokayev called on
Armenia Armenia, officially the Republic of Armenia, is a landlocked country in the Armenian Highlands of West Asia. It is a part of the Caucasus region and is bordered by Turkey to the west, Georgia (country), Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to ...
to withdraw from the disputed territory, citing the
United Nations Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
accordance to which he claimed that the Armenian government failed to fulfill for its past 30 years.


= United States

= After becoming president, Tokayev maintained strong relations with Kazakhstan's strategic allies, including the United States. On 2 February 2020, he met with U.S. Secretary of State
Mike Pompeo Michael Richard Pompeo (; born December 30, 1963) is an American retired politician who served in the First presidency of Donald Trump#Administration, first administration of Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) fr ...
during his visit to
Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
where both sides expressed the importance of deepening bilateral ties across the entire spectrum of cooperation, including trade, investment, IT technologies, promoting democratic values and combating international terrorism. Pompeo wished for Tokayev in his success in implementing political reforms with an
open skies The freedoms of the air, also called five freedoms of air transport, are a set of commercial aviation rights granting a country's airlines the privilege to enter and land in another country's airspace. They were formulated as a result of disag ...
agreement being signed which created a legal basis for launching direct regular flights between Kazakhstan and U.S. According to some analysists, Pompeo's visit to Kazakhstan was seen as an attempt to counter China's influence within the country as he had met with ethnic Kazakh families of whom were victims of the
Xinjiang internment camps The Xinjiang internment camps, officially called vocational education and training centers by the government of the People's Republic of China, are internment camps operated by the government of Xinjiang and the Chinese Communist Party P ...
and urged for Tokayev to pressure China over its persecution of ethnic Uyghur and Kazakhs. In June 2020, U.S. President
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
congratulated President Tokayev on his one-year anniversary of presidency. In his congratulatory letter, Trump expressed his support for the reforms that had been undertaken in Kazakhstan and reaffirmed his intention to further develop strategic partnership between the two countries.


2022 unrest and consolidation of power

In January 2022, protests erupted in Zhanaozen,
Mangystau Region Mangystau (), formerly known as Mangyshlak ( Russian: ) from 1973 until 1988, is a region of Kazakhstan. Its capital is Aqtau (a seaport), which has a population of 183,350 (2017); the entire Mangystau Province has a population of 745,909 (2022) ...
, following a sudden increase in
liquefied petroleum gas Liquefied petroleum gas, also referred to as liquid petroleum gas (LPG or LP gas), is a fuel gas which contains a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gases, specifically propane, Butane, ''n''-butane and isobutane. It can also contain some ...
(LPG) prices. In response to the sharp rise, Tokayev introduced
price controls Price controls are restrictions set in place and enforced by governments, on the prices that can be charged for goods and services in a market. The intent behind implementing such controls can stem from the desire to maintain affordability of go ...
on LPG, diesel, gasoline, and essential goods in an effort to stabilize the situation and address public concerns. However, the protests quickly escalated into large-scale nationwide civil unrest, driven by grievances over economic inequality, corruption, and political stagnation under Tokayev's administration and the long rule of former president
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
. On 5 January 2022, Tokayev declared a
state of emergency A state of emergency is a situation in which a government is empowered to put through policies that it would normally not be permitted to do, for the safety and protection of its citizens. A government can declare such a state before, during, o ...
, imposed a
curfew A curfew is an order that imposes certain regulations during specified hours. Typically, curfews order all people affected by them to remain indoors during the evening and nighttime hours. Such an order is most often issued by public authorit ...
, and authorized security forces to use
deadly force Deadly force, also known as lethal force, is the use of force that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to another person. In most jurisdictions, the use of deadly force is justified only under conditions of extreme necessity a ...
against demonstrators, stating they would "shoot to kill, without warning." He labeled the protesters as "bandits and terrorists" and accused them of attempting to destabilize the country as part of an alleged
coup d'état A coup d'état (; ; ), or simply a coup , is typically an illegal and overt attempt by a military organization or other government elites to unseat an incumbent leadership. A self-coup is said to take place when a leader, having come to powe ...
attempt orchestrated by "foreign-trained militants". That same day, he dismissed Prime Minister
Asqar Mamin Asqar Uzaqbaiuly Mamin (, ; born 23 October 1965) is a Kazakh politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022, resigning due to pressure from the 2022 Kazakh unrest. He served as First Deputy Prime Minis ...
and assumed control of the
Security Council The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN) and is charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, an ...
, removing Nazarbayev from his long-held position as chairman. He also replaced
National Security Committee A national security council (NSC) is usually an executive branch governmental body responsible for coordinating policy on national security issues and advising chief executives on matters related to national security. An NSC is often headed by a na ...
(NSC) chairman
Karim Massimov Karim Qajymqanuly Massimov (, , ; born 15 June 1965)Kazakhstan moves to ...
with Ermek Sagimbayev. To restore order, Tokayev requested military assistance from the Russian-led
Collective Security Treaty Organization The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO, ) is an Intergovernmental organization, intergovernmental military alliance in Eurasia consisting of six post-Soviet states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. Th ...
(CSTO), marking the first deployment of CSTO forces in a member state as part of a peacekeeping operation. Later, Massimov was arrested on charges of
high treason Treason is the crime of attacking a state authority to which one owes allegiance. This typically includes acts such as participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its d ...
. The aftermath of the unrest resulted in significant mass detentions, civilian casualties and property damage, prompting Tokayev in an address given to the Parliament on 11 January 2022 to initiate sweeping political and economic reforms, which included a focus on economic justice, political decentralization, anti-corruption measures, and enhanced security. As part of this shift policy, several of Nazarbayev's close relatives lost key positions. On 15 January, the sovereign wealth fund
Samruk-Kazyna Joint-stock company «Sovereign Wealth Fund «Samruk-Kazyna» (, ), officially known as the National Welfare Fund "Samruk-Kazyna" (), is a sovereign wealth fund and joint stock company in Kazakhstan which owns, either in whole or in part, a num ...
announced the resignations of Qairat Sharipbaev as CEO of QazaqGaz and Dimash Dosanov as head of
KazTransOil KazTransOil JSC () is the national oil transporter in Kazakhstan accounting for 53% of all oil transported in the country. The company operates more than 8000 km of oil pipelines and 3,140 km of water pipelines. KazTransOil is a subsidia ...
, both sons-in-law of Nazarbayev. On 17 January, Timur Kulibayev, Nazarbayev's son-in-law and one of Kazakhstan's wealthiest individuals, resigned as chairman of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. That same day, Tokayev dismissed Nazarbayev's nephew, Samat Abish, from his role as deputy chairman of the NSC. This marked a move in Tokayev's consolidation of power and his shift toward greater political independence from Nazarbayev's influence, setting the stage for a reshaped political hierarchy in Kazakhstan.


First Smaiylov government

Amidst the 2022 unrest, Tokayev dismissed the government of
Asqar Mamin Asqar Uzaqbaiuly Mamin (, ; born 23 October 1965) is a Kazakh politician and economist who served as the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2022, resigning due to pressure from the 2022 Kazakh unrest. He served as First Deputy Prime Minis ...
and appointed
Älihan Smaiylov Älihan Ashanūly Smaiylov (; , ; born 18 December 1972) is a Kazakh politician who served as the prime minister of Kazakhstan from 2022 to 2024. Previously, he served as the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan under PM Asqar Mamin. He ...
as acting prime minister on 5 January 2022. Smaiylov, a technocrat who had previously served as First Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Finance A ministry of finance is a ministry or other government agency in charge of government finance, fiscal policy, and financial regulation. It is headed by a finance minister, an executive or cabinet position . A ministry of finance's portfolio ...
under Mamin, was confirmed as Prime Minister on 11 January 2022 following unanimous parliamentary approval by the
Mäjilis The Mäjilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (; ), commonly shortened as Mäjilis or Mazhilis ( Kazakh Cyrillic: Мәжіліс , 'Assembly'), is the lower house of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, alongside the upper house Senate ...
. Tokayev endorsed his nomination, citing Smaiylov's economic expertise and governance experience as essential for ensuring stability and implementing reforms in the aftermath of the unrest. Smaiylov's appointment during a period of post-turmoil marked a political transition, with his cabinet comprising a mix of established officials and new ministers, maintaining continuity while implementing Tokayev's reform agenda. The reliance on existing bureaucratic structures largely suggested that systemic changes under Tokayev would be gradual.


Amanat chairmanship

On 28 January 2022, at the 21st Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress, Tokayev was unanimously elected as the chairman of the
Nur Otan Amanat (; ; officially stylized in all caps), previously known as Nur Otan (; ), is a Ruling party, ruling List of political parties in Kazakhstan, political party of Kazakhstan and the largest political association in the country, with around 8 ...
party, succeeding
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
, who had held the position since 1999. In his speech, Tokayev outlined his priorities, including strengthening societal unity, addressing socio-economic issues, fighting corruption, and improving public reception. He also suggested that he might step down from the party by the end of 2022 to maintain presidential impartiality. During Tokayev's tenure, several key changes occurred shortly after within the Nur Otan party ranks. Nurlan Nigmatullin, a prominent Nur Otan deputy, resigned as
chairman of the Mäjilis The Chairman of the Mäjilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan (; ) is a presiding officer of the lower house Mäjilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan, and is responsible for opening sessions, preside over regular and extraordinary ...
, and
Erlan Qoşanov Erlan Jaqanūly Qoşanov (, ; born 14 August 1962), sometimes romanized as Yerlan Koshanov, is a Kazakh politician who is serving as the member and Chairman of the Mäjilis, chairman of the Mäjilis since 2022. Prior to that, he served as the Pres ...
, Tokayev's former chief of staff, took over the position. Additionally,
Dariga Nazarbayeva Dariğa Nūrsūltanqyzy Nazarbaeva (; born 7 May 1963) is a Kazakh businesswoman and politician who is the daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev who was the President of Kazakhstan from 1990 to 2019. She was a member of the Mäjilis from 2004 to 200 ...
, a key figure in the party and the daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev, stepped down from her deputy seat. At the 22nd Nur Otan Extraordinary Congress on 1 March 2022, Tokayev supported a proposal to rename the party to Amanat. He emphasized decentralizing the party, improving voter engagement, and addressing real issues. During the congress, Nigmatullin was removed from the Amanat political council. On 26 April 2022, at the 23rd Amanat Extraordinary Congress, Tokayev resigned as party chairman and withdrew from Amanat membership to maintain presidential neutrality and separation of powers. The delegates unanimously approved Tokayev's proposal to have Erlan Qoşanov take over as party chairman.


Constitutional reforms

On 16 March 2022, Tokayev unveiled his concept of
New Kazakhstan New Kazakhstan (; ) is a concept developed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev that represents a forward-looking national aspiration for progress, renewal, and modernization in various aspects of Kazakhstan's governance and society. It was first pro ...
and proposed package of constitutional reforms to reduce presidential powers and strengthen parliament, transitioning from a "superpresidential" system to a "presidential republic with a strong parliament". The reforms amended 33 out of 99 articles—one-third of the Kazakh Constitution—introducing measures such as barring the president from party membership, prohibiting relatives from holding top government positions, and limiting presidential control over appointing regional governors (akims) by requiring regional assemblies (maslihats) to approve akim nominees. Other key changes included reducing presidentially appointed seats in the
Senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...
, introducing a
mixed electoral system A mixed electoral system is one that uses different Electoral system, electoral systems to elect different seats in a legislature. Most often, this involves a First Past the Post combined with a Proportional representation, proportional component ...
, restoring the
Constitutional Court A constitutional court is a high court that deals primarily with constitutional law. Its main authority is to rule on whether laws that are challenged are in fact unconstitutional, i.e. whether they conflict with constitutionally established ru ...
, and removing Nursultan Nazarbayev's constitutional title of "Elbasy" (Leader of the Nation). A referendum on 5 June 2022 approved these amendments with a majority of voters. The constitutional amendments were later signed into law by Tokayev on 5 November 2022. On 15 February 2023, Tokayev signed a law repealing Elbasy status, formally ending Nazarbayev's status as Leader of the Nation. On 14 June 2022, Tokayev signed a decree establishing the National Kurultai, a new civic institution designed to have broader and more relevant functions than its predecessor, the National Council of Public Trust. The first meeting of the National Kurultai took place on 16 June in Ulytau Region. In September 2022, Tokayev introduced nonrenewable seven-year presidential term and renamed the capital back to
Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
from Nur-Sultan.


Administrative-territorial reforms

On 4 May 2022, President Tokayev signed a decree creating three new regions — Ulytau,
Jetisu Jetisu ( ) or Semirechye ( rus, Семиречье, p=sʲɪmʲɪˈrʲetɕje) or Heptopotamia is a historical region in Central Asia corresponding to the southeastern part of modern Kazakhstan. Name Jetisu is also transcribed Jeti-Suu (, ), Zh ...
, and
Abai Region Abai Region (, ) is a Regions of Kazakhstan, region of Kazakhstan. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on 16 March 2022 that the region would be created. The area split off from East Kazakhstan Region when Tokayev's bill came into force on 8 ...
— and moving the administrative center of
Almaty Region Almaty Region ( ), formerly known as the Alma-Ata Region until 1993, is a region in Kazakhstan, located in the southeastern part of the country. It surrounds, but does not include, the eponymous city of Almaty. Its capital is Qonaev. Geography ...
to the city of
Qonayev Qonayev ( ), also known as Konaev () and by other names, is a city in southeastern Kazakhstan. It is the seat of government for the Almaty Region. The population was and Names is the Latin form of the Kazakh name ; is the romanizatio ...
as part of administrative reforms aimed at improving public administration and regional development. As a result, Kazakhstan consisted of 17 regions and three cities of national significance, totaling 20 territorial units.


2022 snap presidential election

On 1 September 2022, during his State of the Nation Address, Tokayev announced snap presidential elections, citing the need for a new mandate of trust from the people and officially declared his bid for re-election. He later signed a decree on 21 September, officially scheduling the election for 20 November. Tokayev promised that the election would be a major reset of Kazakhstan's political system and assured it would be fair and transparent, with both domestic and international observers taking part. In his bid for presidency an
independent Independent or Independents may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Artist groups * Independents (artist group), a group of modernist painters based in Pennsylvania, United States * Independentes (English: Independents), a Portuguese artist ...
, Tokayev expressed his interest in being nominated by "a broad coalition of socio-political forces". On 6 October 2022, a People's Coalition (HK) consisting of the parliamentary parties of Amanat, Aq Jol, and People's, as well as several public associations was formed in support of Tokayev's candidacy. During the forum, the HK nominated Tokayev as their presidential candidate, stating that the election would shape Kazakhstan's future. Tokayev's campaign programme, ''Fair State'' ''– Fair Economy – Fair Society'' (), focused on political reforms, economic development, and social investments to build a Fair Kazakhstan. On 20 November 2022, Tokayev was re-elected as president in an electoral landslide, winning 81.3% of the vote in the first round, with little serious opposition. The presidential election featured an "
against all "None of the above" (NOTA), or none for short, also known as "against all" or a "scratch" vote, is a ballot option in some jurisdictions or organizations, designed to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of the candidates in a voting system ...
" option, which received 6% of the vote share, and most of Tokayev's challengers were viewed as " pocket candidates" with low recognition and limited support. While the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the p ...
praised the election's preparation, it criticized the lack of real competition and called for legal reforms to ensure greater political pluralism.


Presidency since 2022


2023 snap legislative election


Second Smaiylov government


Bektenov government


Domestic policy

Tokayev's domestic policy, emphasized economic modernization, anti-corruption measures, and strengthening governance, with a focus on national security and decentralization. He highlights reducing inequality, promoting political accountability, fair wealth distribution, and creating job opportunities for youth, alongside reforms in education and technological innovation with an aim to foster a more inclusive society, national unity, and social stability. In June 2024, Tokayev announced that a
referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...
on whether or not a
nuclear power plant A nuclear power plant (NPP), also known as a nuclear power station (NPS), nuclear generating station (NGS) or atomic power station (APS) is a thermal power station in which the heat source is a nuclear reactor. As is typical of thermal power st ...
should be built in Kazakhstan would be held in the autumn of 2024.


Foreign policy

Tokayev has pledged to continue the foreign policy initiated by
Nursultan Nazarbayev Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakhstani politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council of ...
, maintaining Kazakhstan's multi-vector approach. This strategy balances relations with global powers, including allied relations with
Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...
, an eternal strategic partnership with
China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...
, and a strategic partnership with the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, while prioritizing regional cooperation and expanding ties with Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Tokayev emphasizes Kazakhstan's neutrality, sovereignty, and commitment to international law, actively participating in organizations like the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is the Earth, global intergovernmental organization established by the signing of the Charter of the United Nations, UN Charter on 26 June 1945 with the stated purpose of maintaining international peace and internationa ...
,
Eurasian Economic Union The Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU or EEU)EAEU is the acronym used on thorganisation's website However, many media outlets use the acronym EEU. is an economic union of five post-Soviet states located in Eurasia. The EAEU has an integrated single ...
, and
Shanghai Cooperation Organisation The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a Eurasian politics, political, economy, economic, international security and Defence (military), defence organization of ten member states. It was established in 2001 by the China, People's Republic ...
. Since 2022, he has reinforced Kazakhstan's independent foreign policy, focusing on economic diplomacy, security, and regional stability amidst global tensions. During the October 2022 Council of Heads of State of the CIS summit in
Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
, Tokayev proposed the creation of an International Organisation for the Russian Language (IORL) to strengthen cultural and humanitarian ties among CIS countries, using the
Russian language Russian is an East Slavic languages, East Slavic language belonging to the Balto-Slavic languages, Balto-Slavic branch of the Indo-European languages, Indo-European language family. It is one of the four extant East Slavic languages, and is ...
to foster regional cooperation and intercultural dialogue. On 12 October 2023, Tokayev approved a draft treaty for the creation of the IORL, which was later ratified by the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
on 20 November 2024. In September 2023, Tokayev emphasized the need for a new global movement for peace, highlighting Kazakhstan's role in the Astana Process for Syria and the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions as key platforms for fostering inter-civilizational dialogue. Writing in ''
The Jerusalem Post ''The Jerusalem Post'' is an English language, English-language Israeli broadsheet newspaper based in Jerusalem, Israel, founded in 1932 during the Mandate for Palestine, British Mandate of Mandatory Palestine, Palestine by Gershon Agron as ''Th ...
'', he stressed the role of religious leaders in promoting global stability, healing conflicts, and countering extremism. Tokayev called for diplomacy to address global crises and warned against the risks of a new arms race, nuclear threats, and escalating geopolitical rivalries reminiscent of the
Cold War The Cold War was a period of global Geopolitics, geopolitical rivalry between the United States (US) and the Soviet Union (USSR) and their respective allies, the capitalist Western Bloc and communist Eastern Bloc, which lasted from 1947 unt ...
.


Russia

After Russia invaded its neighboring Ukraine, Tokayev and Kazakh foreign minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi refused to recognize the Russian puppet states of
Donetsk People's Republic The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR; , ) is Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine, occupied territory in Ukraine that the Russian Federation has claimed to annex and declared as a Republics of Russia, republic of Russia, comprising parts o ...
and
Luhansk People's Republic The Luhansk People's Republic (LPR; , ) is a disputed territory administered as a republic of Russia in the occupied parts of eastern Ukraine's Luhansk Oblast, with its capital in Luhansk. The LPR was proclaimed by Russian-backed paramilitar ...
. He said that "we recognize neither
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia. The main geography of Taiwan, island of Taiwan, also known as ''Formosa'', lies between the East China Sea, East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocea ...
, nor
Kosovo Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, is a landlocked country in Southeast Europe with International recognition of Kosovo, partial diplomatic recognition. It is bordered by Albania to the southwest, Montenegro to the west, Serbia to the ...
, nor
South Ossetia South Ossetia, officially the Republic of South Ossetia or the State of Alania, is a landlocked country in the South Caucasus with International recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, partial diplomatic recognition. It has an offici ...
and
Abkhazia Abkhazia, officially the Republic of Abkhazia, is a List of states with limited recognition, partially recognised state in the South Caucasus, on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, at the intersection of Eastern Europe and West Asia. It cover ...
. In all likelihood, this principle will be applied to quasi-state entities, which, in our opinion, are Luhansk and Donetsk." He refused to accept the
Order of Alexander Nevsky The Order of Alexander Nevsky () is an Order (distinction), order of merit of the Russia, Russian Federation named in honour of saint Alexander Nevsky (1220–1263) and bestowed to civil servants for twenty years or more of highly meritorious ser ...
from Putin. Tokayev also emphasized that Kazakhstan would comply with Western sanctions imposed on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, and that the country "will abide by the restrictions imposed on Russia and
Belarus Belarus, officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe. It is bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Belarus spans an a ...
." In September 2022, Kazakhstan closed a loophole through which Russian and Belarusian trucks were able to import goods from the European Union into the country without the necessary paperwork. Following Tokayev's electoral victory in November 2022, international observers expect him to maintain Kazakhstan's pivot towards the EU and China, and away from Russia. In September 2022, Tokayev said that Kazakhstan would help Russians fleeing the 2022 Russian mobilization, mobilization and war in Ukraine, saying that "most of them are forced to leave because of the current hopeless situation." However, in December 2022, Kazakhstan deported back to Russia a Russian citizen who fled mobilization. In January 2023, Kazakhstan announced they were tightening visa rules, a move that is expected to make it more difficult for Russians to remain in the country. On 9 May 2023, he attended the Victory Day (9 May), Victory Day parade in Moscow and met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.


China

Tokayev embraces ties with China, which as of 2024 is Kazakhstan's most important trading partner and foreign investor.


United States

Tokayev has sought to strengthen Kazakhstan's ties with the United States, emphasizing a "friendly and predictable" relationship. Tokayev highlighted the importance of expanding economic and business relations with the US, particularly in energy, agriculture, and IT sectors, during his September 2022 visit to New York City. In February 2023, Tokayev met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, where he thanked the United States for its support of Kazakhstan's territorial integrity following the 2022 Kazakh unrest, 2022 unrest. Later in August 2023, he met with US Senator Gary Peters, reaffirming Kazakhstan's commitment to the US as a strategic partner, particularly in areas like nuclear non-proliferation and global security. The most notable diplomatic moment came on 19 September 2023, during the first-ever US presidential hosted C5+1 summit, where Tokayev met President Joe Biden. He emphasized the importance of the US's security guarantees for Central Asia and Kazakhstan's nuclear-free stance, underscoring the region's role in global efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation.


Political positions

Tokayev is described as a "moderate conservative" with years of political experience domestically and internationally. Nevertheless, in an interview with ''The Wall Street Journal'', Tokayev referred himself as a "reformer", stressing that without political reforms, there wouldn't be progress in economic reforms. According to ''The Diplomat (magazine), The Diplomat'', Tokayev's political capital was seen to not extend beyond the support by Nazarbayev, which enabled him to garner support and trust from business elites, civil servants, and political institutions. Because of that, Tokayev has been described as "Nazarbayev's political birthchild", while his opponents and critics referred him as "furniture" (Russian language, Russian: мебель, ''mebel''), a ridicule term first coined by exiled Kazakh businessman Mukhtar Ablyazov in 2019.


Authoritarianism

Tokayev expressed his point of view on the political system of Kazakhstan in which he favoured a "strong President, authoritative Parliament, accountable Government." In 2005, at the business conference of the Asian Society held in
Almaty Almaty, formerly Alma-Ata, is the List of most populous cities in Kazakhstan, largest city in Kazakhstan, with a population exceeding two million residents within its metropolitan area. Located in the foothills of the Trans-Ili Alatau mountains ...
, Tokayev clashed with George Soros after his remarks about Kazakhstan sliding towards authoritarianism, calling it "unreasonable to demand from a country that recently celebrated its 13th anniversary to achieve the democratic values inherent in states with centuries-old traditions of building a free society."


Climate change

Tokayev expressed support for the tackling of climate change, calling it "urgent and existential." At the Climate Ambitions Summit in which was held remotely on 12 December 2020, Tokayev pledged for Kazakhstan to reach carbon neutrality by 2060 with a development and adoption of a long-term development strategy to lower emissions and de-carbonisation of the economy. He said that Kazakhstan is "highly Climate change vulnerability, vulnerable to climate change as a landlocked and developing state" with a heavy reliance on fossil fuels and proposed for the planting for two billion trees within the country in order increase carbon absorption and curb looming desertification problems.


Corruption

Tokayev described his vision regarding corruption, calling it a "direct damage to national security" and advocated for the need of accountability for implementation of state programs and the use of budget funds by äkıms. On 28 November 2019, he signed the "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Civil Service and Anti-Corruption Issues" law into place, which obliged government ministers and äkıms to resign if the top officials within institutions are found guilty of corruption.


Islam

In the aftermath of the Orlando nightclub shooting, 2016 Orlando nightclub shooting event, Tokayev proclaimed the incident as a "signature dish", calling it "another manifestation of Islamic fundamentalism, Islamic radicalism." At the Forum of Muslim Scientists of Eurasia which was held in
Astana Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan. With a population of 1,423,726 within the city limits, it is the second-largest in the country after Almaty, which had been the capital until 1997. The city lies on the banks of the Ishim (river), Ishim ...
in March 2018, Tokayev addressed the audience the need for the country to have "enlightened Islam" by strengthening science and cultural traditions in the Islamic civilization.


Relations with EU

As a foreign minister, Tokayev visited Berlin, Germany on 3–4 October 2006, where he addressed the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee on 3 October in an attempt to gain support amongst members of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for Kazakhstan's bid to lead the organisation in 2009. In his address he discussed the "fierce" competition between the European Union, China, and India to secure energy sources, saying that Kazakhstan is "one of the very few countries capable of boosting its Petroleum, oil production and thus becoming an important alternative energy supplier to global and European markets." He expressed interest in the Burgas-Alexandroupoli pipeline, Burgas-Alexandroupoli and Odesa–Brody pipeline, Odesa-Brody-Gdansk pipeline projects, asking the EU for $80 billion in investment from 2006 to 2021. Tokayev criticised Lithuania for opposing a Russian offer for its Mažeikių Nafta, Mažeikių oil refinery. He also reaffirmed Kazakhstan's desire to join the European Neighbourhood Policy. Tokayev also rejected the proposed construction of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline to Azerbaijan, in which the EU officials desired due to the likelihood of opposition from other nations bordering the Caspian Sea. Gernot Erler, an official in the Federal Foreign Office, German Federal Foreign Office, announced his support for Kazakhstan leading the
Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is a regional security-oriented intergovernmental organization comprising member states in Europe, North America, and Asia. Its mandate includes issues such as arms control, the p ...
(OSCE) for 2009. Portuguese Socialist MP Ana Gomes said to Tokayev, "Minister, you're bidding for the presidency of the OSCE. Yet, the OSCE gave a report on your last elections, on the observation of the elections, which said they failed to meet international standards for genuine elections in many important points. And we hear about political dissent being crushed, we hear even about religious groups being crushed." Tokayev replied that political opposition forces in Kazakhstan "cannot challenge the government" because of their own weaknesses, and that Kazakhstanis need to be "educated" about democracy because the concept is foreign, and the government considers religious tolerance a priority. He criticized the OSCE's election report for "technical irregularities" and biased targeting while calling for more of a "mutual understanding." He further stated that his government believes it would "contribute a lot as a representative, as a country which is located in Central Asia. The geographical dimension of the OSCE has changed [since Kazakhstan joined], this is a unique Eurasian, as well as Americas, Pan-American organization. So, the leadership, the presidency of this organization also must reflect this unique character, [this] unique dimension of the organization." He cited efforts to reform Kazakhstan's election process that included a "special program" to modernize the system and establishing "Political party, party dominance" in the
Parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...
so that "parties [that] win the parliamentary elections, obtain [a] majority in the parliament" and "will be able to establish their own governments." He called creating a
multi-party system In political science, a multi-party system is a political system where more than two meaningfully-distinct political parties regularly run for office and win elections. Multi-party systems tend to be more common in countries using proportional ...
in Kazakhstan a "huge step forward in the process of democratization."


Relations with United States

Tokayev met with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Barry Lowenkron, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Human Rights, on 25 September 2006 in Rice's suite at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. According to Anne Gearan, a diplomatic writer for the ''Associated Press'', the U.S. wanted to improve its relations with Kazakhstan. Kazakh oil output was expected to significantly increase, along with other Central Asian countries whom were "more authoritarian, too unstable, too poor, or a combination of all three." Prior to her meeting with Tokayev, when Rice was asked whether human rights or energy "would top the agenda" for the meeting with Tokayev, she refused to answer. The United States State Department released a statement saying the diplomats discussed Kazakhstan's cooperation in War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Afghanistan and War in Iraq, Iraq and expressed hope for "a multidimensional relationship with Kazakhstan, which includes U.S. encouragement for continuing reforms."


Middle-Eastern Affairs


Jordan

On February 19, 2025, His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan in Astana. During their discussions, both leaders agreed to expand mutual investments and enhance trade relations between their countries. President Tokayev congratulated King Abdullah II on the 25th anniversary of his reign, commending his efforts in promoting sustainable growth and elevating Jordan's international standing. This meeting followed President Tokayev's official visit to Jordan from February 18 to 19, 2025, at the invitation of King Abdullah II. The visit aimed to strengthen cooperation in trade, economic, and cultural-humanitarian sectors. The meeting commenced with President Tokayev extending his congratulations to Abdullah II of Jordan on the occasion of the 25th year of the latter's reign, wishing him continued success in creative initiatives aimed at ensuring sustainable growth and prosperity of the people of Jordan and increasing the authority of the country on the global scene. The Kazakh President expressed gratitude to the Jordanian leader for his contribution to enhancing friendship and cooperation ties between the two nations.


Russian language

As president, Tokayev encouraged the Kazakhstani public to learn Kazakh, calling it a "duty of every citizen of Kazakhstan". At the same time, he believed that strengthening the role of the Kazakh language shouldn't infringe on the Russian language, warning that improper handling of the issue would lead to "irreparable consequences" in which he compared to Ukraine that faced interethnic conflicts. During the 2021 State of the Nation Address, Tokayev noted that Russian is an official language within Kazakhstan, adding that its use can't be hindered in accordance with the law. He promised to punish any person practising discrimination on the basis of "linguistic and national grounds", a move that was viewed to have occurred as a result of a backlash by Russian officials after a viral incident on YouTube showing Kostanay native Quat Ahmetov visiting places and forcing employees to speak Kazakh, which led to a series of criminal cases by security agencies and Ahmetov fleeing the country.


LGBT+ rights

Tokayev has expressed a conservative stance on LGBTQ. In February 2024, he signed a law preventing LGBT+ individuals from adopting or mentoring orphans. In 2025, Tokayev criticized the promotion of LGBT+ rights by international organizations, accusing them of interfering in sovereign nations' affairs under the guise of advancing democratic values, while masking financial corruption.


Nationalism

Tokayev has had a nuanced stance on nationalism. Initially, he expressed concern about nationalism becoming a dominant global force, particularly after the 2016 United States presidential election and the rise of leaders like
Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...
. He criticized nationalism for exacerbating tensions between nations, particularly during the
COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, and warned it could undermine global cooperation and provoke conflict and economic losses, especially for countries like Kazakhstan. However, more recently, Tokayev has acknowledged the growing relevance of Statism, state nationalism, seeing it as a moral response to the diminishing influence of globalism and a key driver in the struggle for global spheres of influence by the deep state.


Honors


Kazakh

* Order of the Golden Eagle (2019) * Order of Otan (2014) * Order of Nazarbayev (2004) * Order of Parasat (1996) * Astana Medal * Medal "25 years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" * Medal "10 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" * Medal "10 years to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan" * Medal "10 years of Astana" (2018)


Foreign

* Order of Honour (Russia), Order of Honour (Russia, 2017) * Order of Friendship (Russia, 2004) * Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, III Degree (Ukraine, 2008) * Commonwealth Order (
Commonwealth of Independent States The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is a regional organization, regional intergovernmental organization in Eurasia. It was formed following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It covers an ar ...
, 2007) * Order of the Serbian Flag, 1st Class (2016) * Jubilee Medal "20 Years of the Federation Council" * Tree of Friendship Medal (CIS, 2003) * CIS Diploma * Bitaraplyk Order (Turkmenistan, 2021) * Jubilee Medal "300 Years Magtymguly Pyragy" (Turkmenistan, 2024)


Other

* Full member of the World Academy of Humanities and Natural Sciences, member of the "Council of Wise Men" of the Munich Security Conference. * Honorary Professor of Shenzhen University. * Honorary Professor and Honorary Doctor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, as well as a member of its board of trustees. * Honorary President of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations. * Diploma of the "Academicus" of the University of Geneva. * S. N. Roerich Memorial Medal. * According to the Russian Biographical Society, he entered the list of laureates of the "Person of the Year — 2018". * Ranked among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the annual edition of The Muslim 500.


Personal life

Now divorced, Tokayev was married to Nadezhda Tokayeva, with whom he had one son. His son Timur (born in 1984) is an oil entrepreneur who currently resides in Geneva, Switzerland. His brother-in-law Temirtai Izbastin (married to Tokayev's sister Karlygash Izbastina) is currently Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Bulgaria. Tokayev is a Multilingualism, polyglot, fluent in Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese and French. He was President of the Table tennis, Table Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan for 13 years. He has made it a point not to mark his birthday with celebrations, with his press secretary saying in 2020 that he "does not like to celebrate this day because his family has never celebrated the birthdays of either the children or parents".


See also

* Government of Kazakhstan *
Parliament of Kazakhstan The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan is the bicameral legislature of Kazakhstan, consisting of the upper house, the Senate, and the lower house, the Mäjilis. Both chambers conduct legislative sessions at the Parliament House in the cap ...
* Politics of Kazakhstan * Tokayev Cabinet


Notes


References


External links

* * , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Tokayev, Kassym-Jomart 1953 births Living people Nur Otan politicians People from Astana Prime ministers of Kazakhstan Chairmen of the Senate of Kazakhstan Presidents of Kazakhstan Acting presidents of Kazakhstan Government ministers of Kazakhstan Foreign ministers of Kazakhstan Kazakhstani Muslims Recipients of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 3rd class Recipients of the Order of Honour (Russia) Recipients of the Order of Parasat Deputy prime ministers of Kazakhstan Moscow State Institute of International Relations alumni Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 21st-century Kazakhstani politicians, 20th-century Kazakhstani politicians,