Toqayev Discusses Nazarbayev's Words Concerning Kazakhstan's Power Crisis

President Toqayev also discussed whether he maintains contact with former President Nazarbayev, Orda reports.

In an interview with Ana Tili, Toqayev discussed his current relationship with Nazarbayev and reflected on the challenging events of 2021 that confronted Kazakhstan's leadership.

Toqayev acknowledged both positive and negative aspects of Nazarbayev's leadership, emphasizing the need for an objective historical assessment.

We cannot rewrite our history on the fly to suit political expediency, and, even more so, it is dangerous to rewrite history from scratch,  the President said.

He pointed out that Nazarbayev demonstrated little "political delicacy," continuing to meet with ministers, regional governors, the National Bank head, and the Prime Minister after stepping down.

There was even a joke: 'After his resignation, Nazarbayev was promoted and received the President as his subordinate.' But in life there was no time for jokes, Toqayev recalls.

This situation, he explained, created uncertainty among officials who were unsure whose orders to follow.

The landmark events that predetermined the real crisis of power were Nursultan Nazarbayev's statement at the Astana Club meeting in November 2021 about the possibility of returning to Aqorda with reference to 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the ex-president's participation in the CIS summit in St. Petersburg in December of the same year. The day before, he was given a provocative letter from a local political scientist justifying decisive measures to restore the 'Golden Era of Elbasy'. But now we need to show common sense and properly appreciate the historical merits of Nursultan Nazarbayev to Kazakhstan,  the President says.

Toqayev also mentioned Nazarbayev's December 2024 meeting with Putin, noting it was their second meeting that year, following an unreported encounter in the fall. He characterized these as friendly meetings between old colleagues.

We must not forget that, as the former Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR, party leader and then president of sovereign Kazakhstan, he is morally and politically closely connected to the Kremlin, Toqayev believes.

When asked about their current communication, Toqayev shared that they speak by phone approximately once a month.

Original Author: Igor Ulitin