Nursultan Nazarbayev

Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev^[2][a] (born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakh politician who served as the first president of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2019. He also held the special title of Elbasy^[b] from 2010 to 2022 and chairman of the Security Council from 1991 to 2022.^[3][4][5]

Nazarbayev’s political career began in the Soviet era, where he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union in 1962 while working as a steel factory worker. Rising through the party ranks, he became Prime Minister of the Kazakh SSR in 1984 and First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan in 1989. In 1990, the Supreme Soviet elected him as the president of Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev played a key role in navigating Kazakhstan through the dissolution of the Soviet Union, leading to the country's independence in 1991. In the country’s first direct 1991 presidential election, Nazarbayev appeared on the ballot without opposition and secured an overwhelming victory. In 1995, ruling by decree, Nazarbayev extended his presidency through a referendum and adopted a new constitution that expanded his powers. He was re-elected in 1999, deemed eligible to run again in 2005 by a Supreme Court ruling, and benefited from a 2007 constitutional amendment solely exempting term limits for him, allowing re-elections in 2011 and 2015.

Under Nazarbayev's rule, Kazakhstan experienced substantial economic growth, driven by high oil prices and market-oriented reforms. His policies focused on modernizing infrastructure, attracting foreign investment, and positioning Kazakhstan as an economic hub in Central Asia. On the international stage, he prioritized strong ties with global powers and Kazakhstan's integration into regional and global organizations, including the Eurasian Economic Union and the World Trade Organization. Nazarbayev also gained recognition for his efforts in nuclear disarmament, renouncing Kazakhstan’s inherited nuclear arsenal, and closing the Semipalatinsk Test Site. However, his presidency was also marked by widespread corruption, nepotism, kleptocracy, and economic challenges, such as the Great Recession, the 2010s oil glut, and economic repercussions from the Russo-Ukrainian War. These issues contributed to inflation and the devaluation of the national currency, the tenge, while undermining transparency and governance.

In March 2019, following a wave of protests and increasing discontent, Nazarbayev announced his resignation, handing over power to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Tokayev was elected president in a snap election in June 2019. While Nazarbayev stepped down from the presidency, he remained a powerful figure in Kazakh politics, retaining influence through his leadership of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan and the Nur Otan party. He also chaired the Security Council until his dismissal in 2022.^[6] Nazarbayev’s power was diminished following the 2022 unrest, which led to a constitutional referendum that stripped him of many privileges and titles, including his membership in the Senate and the Constitutional Council. By 2023, he had lost most of his official titles, signaling the end of his political dominance.^[7]

Nazarbayev was one of the longest-ruling non-royal leaders in the world, having led Kazakhstan for nearly three decades, excluding chairmanship in the Security Council after the end of his presidency. He has often been referred to as a dictator due to his consolidation of power and autocratic rule. While he is credited with fostering economic growth and political stability in Kazakhstan, his tenure was marred by widespread authoritarianism, significant human rights abuses, and systemic corruption.^{[8][9][10][11]} His leadership was further characterized by a pervasive cult of personality, with his image and influence deeply entrenched in the nation’s political and social landscape.^[12][13][14]

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