Kosherbayev Rejects Claims of Kremlin Influence over Appointment

At Aqorda, newly appointed Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev addressed rumors that his appointment as the Minister of Foreign Affairs was allegedly lobbied by Moscow, Orda.kz reports.

Response to Speculation

Kosherbayev said he was unaware in advance of Murat Nurtleu’s resignation or of his own appointment.

How can the Kremlin influence the decisions of our head of state? We are a sovereign, independent state; the president makes all the decisions himself,
he told journalists.

He stressed that the ministry’s objectives remain the same: continuation of the course determined by the head of state.

View on His Predecessor

Asked about his predecessor’s performance, Kosherbayev replied:

I didn't come here to evaluate. I simply accept the job and am responsible for my own. And the president evaluates Murat Abdugalievich's work. But judging by the fact that he was appointed presidential aide, the evaluation is positive

Kosherbayev described Nurtleu’s new position as “trusted and responsible.”

The minister announced that President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev will visit Russia in November, with the exact date to be announced later.

On Criticism and Comparisons

Responding to political scientists’ criticism of the Foreign Ministry’s “weak performance,” Kosherbayev stated:

I don't think we're underperforming. That assessment is incorrect. The work will continue, and the course remains unchanged. Dear Ministry, I'm glad many of our guys have grown professionally

He also rejected comparisons with Uzbekistan, noting that diplomacy often requires working “in silence” rather than in public.

Yermek Kosherbayev was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan on September 26. He previously served as Deputy Prime Minister.

Original Author: Artyom Volkov