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ADVISORY: Kazakhstan Leader Nazarbayev Abruptly Resigns After Three Decades In Power


Kazakh President Nazarbaev Announces Resignation, But Will Retain Key Roles
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Kazakh President Nazarbaev Announces Resignation, But Will Retain Key Roles

WASHINGTON - Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev unexpectedly announced his resignation today, three decades after taking office, in what appeared to be the first step in a choreographed political transition that will see him retain considerable sway in the country.

In a televised address on Tuesday, the 78-year-old said he has made the "difficult" decision to terminate his authority as president, indicating that the speaker of the upper parliament chamber, Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, will succeed him until elections scheduled for 2020.

Radio Azattyq, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service (operating in Kazakh and Russian) has provided its audience in Kazakhstan comprehensive coverage of his resignation and reactions on the ground with the round-the-clock reporting by correspondents spanning throughout the country.

From 'Heavy Hearts' To 'It's Time': Kazakhs React To Nazarbaev's Resignation
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Radio Azattyq journalists are available for comment.

  • Torokul Doorov, Director of Radio Azattyq, in Prague (English, Russian)
    DoorovT@rferl.org -- ph: +420.221.122.406, Twitter: @Torokul

To schedule an interview with any of RFE/RL's experts, contact Muhammad Tahir in Washington (tahirm@rferl.org; +1.202.457.6920), or Joanna Levison in Prague (levisonj@rferl.org; +420.221.122.080).

Follow the latest developments on RFERL.org.

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