Yerbolat Dosayev Expected to Step Down as Almaty Akim

Yerbolat Dosayev will indeed leave his post as Akim of Almaty. On May 24, the city maslikhat is scheduled to approve his resignation and the candidacy of his successor, Orda.kz reports.

The information about Dosayev’s departure has been confirmed by Orda.kz’s sources in both the Government of Kazakhstan and the Almaty Akimat. The identity of his replacement remains unknown.

Notably, the procedure for appointing a new Akim of a city of republican significance was abnormal.

According to the official process established by a presidential decree dated June 8, 2022, President Qasym-Jomart Toqayev must first relieve the current Akim of duty. Only after that are maslikhat deputies to convene and appoint a new Akim. This time, however, the announcement of a maslikhat meeting appeared before Dosayev’s official dismissal.

Preliminary reports suggest that Dosayev’s resignation may be linked to a promotion to a higher post.

Analysts have repeatedly speculated that he could become Prime Minister, and it is highly likely he will be entrusted with leading the government.

One version suggests that Dosayev will replace Olzhas Bektenov as Prime Minister, Bektenov will return to the security bloc as Prosecutor General, and current Prosecutor General Berik Asylov will move to the Security Council. This scenario is supported by Bektenov’s recent working visit to Almaty.

Other potential roles Dosayev could take include Head (or Deputy Head) of the Presidential Administration or Deputy Prime Minister. A complete departure from public office or a significant demotion appears unlikely.

Shymkent-based journalist Timur Kazmin noted that the next session of the Shymkent maslikhat has been postponed from May 28 to June 11, raising speculation that Shymkent Akim Gabit Syzdykbekov may be a candidate for the Almaty post.

As of now, there has been no official confirmation of Dosayev’s resignation, but the maslikhat’s website already features a notice of an extraordinary session to approve a new akim. Given that the meeting is scheduled for 12:00 on Saturday, May 24, it will likely concern the appointment of a new city head.

Original Author: Nikita Drobny