Toqayev Continues Personnel Changes

President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev continued the reshuffles that began last week.

New Appointment: Zhuldyz Suleimenova

On the morning of September 29, Toqayev relieved Gani Beisembayev of his post as Minister of Education. He had served since January 2023. His successor is Zhuldyz Suleimenova.

Suleimenova, 42, worked in parliament for two convocations. Before that, she spent nearly a decade at the Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools (NIS) and earlier taught at Kazakh universities.

During her time in the Majilis, Suleimenova gained attention for several initiatives:

• In 2021, she proposed canceling final exams and last bell ceremonies due to the risk of COVID-19.
  
• In November 2023, she called on the government to toughen penalties for domestic violence. This call is seen as a first step toward the “Saltanat Law” adopted in 2024.
  
• In autumn 2024, amid a wave of child suicides, she urged decisive measures against the harmful influence of social media.

We cannot remain indifferent when our children are in danger. Dangerous online games, quests, and the uncontrolled spread of content promoting violence and self-destruction pose a real threat to our younger generation. We are obliged to intervene to protect them,she said.

Although Suleimenova has no prior state service experience, in 2006–2007, she was deputy chair of the republican council of the youth wing of the Nur Otan party.

Over three years, Beisembayev repeatedly found himself at the center of scandals and public debates.

• School toilets: At a 2024 press conference, he said that three years earlier, there had been about 3,000 outdoor restrooms at schools; by then, only 10 remained, in remote villages. He admitted that even schools with indoor facilities kept outdoor toilets “just in case.”
  
• Kaselen tragedy: In 2025, one student killed another with a skewer at a graduation party. The school director was fired, but Beisembayev opposed the dismissal, arguing that teachers had fulfilled their duties and parents bore responsibility.
  
• Sexual assault case: In the Almaty region, a dombra teacher was accused of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old girl. Beisembayev called the case “outrageous and unacceptable” and promised tough measures. Later, it emerged that the suspect had never worked in schools.

A major blow came from teachers themselves: more than 130 signed an open letter to the president and the speaker of the Majilis demanding his resignation. They accused him of pressuring activists, dismissals, and police complaints over criticism. 

Beisembayev focused on corruption risks in schools, ordering audits of principals who had served more than seven years. He also drew controversy with statements on school uniforms and hijabs, reminding parents that the law sets unified requirements and violations carry responsibility.

The “Comfortable School” program was another disputed area. Originally, 401 schools were to be built for 800,000 students, but the number was revised down to 217.

Still, the minister claimed more than 420 new schools were built in two years and promised another 200 schools with 300,000 places in 2025.

New Ministry for Artificial Intelligence

On September 18, Toqayev signed a decree reorganizing the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry. A new body was created in its place.

The Majilis confirmed Zhaslan Madiev as Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. He effectively stayed in his previous position, having led the ministry since May 2024 after Bagdat Mussin moved to Kazakhtelecom.

Functions for innovation were transferred to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Both ministries are successors of the dissolved agency.

In his September 8 address, Toqayev said a separate ministry was needed for AI development and instructed the government to reallocate staff and implement the decree.

Reshuffles in the Prosecutor General’s Office

Deputy Prosecutor General Zhandos Umyraliev was promoted to First Deputy Prosecutor General. Born in 1978 in Shymkent, he graduated from Abay State University.

He has worked in the prosecutor’s office since 2000, holding posts including Deputy Prosecutor of Almaty (2011–2017) and head of the West Kazakhstan regional prosecutor’s office (2018–2022). Since June 2022, he has served as Deputy Prosecutor General.

Umyraliev is one of the office’s most visible figures, commenting publicly on high-profile cases. He spoke on the homicide of Saltanat Nukenova and, in June 2023, suggested that a large fire in the Abay region might have been arson. 

He has also warned against unauthorized rallies and exposed misinformation on social media.

His predecessor, Timur Tashimbayev, was dismissed without a new appointment. He had previously served as Deputy Prosecutor of Astana, Prosecutor of Aqmola region, and Deputy Secretary of the Security Council.

Original Authors: Zarina Fayzulina, Ruslan Loginov, Nikita Drobny, Igor Ulitin