Nursultan Nazarbayev

Nazarbayev (front row, second from left) at the signing of the Alma-Ata Protocol, December 1991

In 1984, Nazarbayev became the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (Chairman of the Council of Ministers), under Dinmukhamed Kunayev, the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan.[19] At the sixteenth session of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan in January 1986, Nazarbayev criticized Askar Kunayev, head of the Academy of Sciences, for not reforming his department. Dinmukhamed Kunayev, Nazarbayev's boss and Askar's brother, felt deeply angered and betrayed. Kunayev went to Moscow and demanded Nazarbayev's dismissal while Nazarbayev's supporters campaigned for Kunayev's dismissal and Nazarbayev's promotion.

Kunayev was ousted in 1986 and replaced by a Russian, Gennady Kolbin, who despite his office had little authority in Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev was named party leader on 22 June 1989,[19] only the second Kazakh (after Kunayev) to hold the post. He was Chairman of the Supreme Soviet (head of state) from 22 February to 24 April 1990.

On 24 April 1990, Nazarbayev was elected as the first President of Kazakhstan by the Supreme Soviet. He supported Russian President Boris Yeltsin against the attempted coup in August 1991 by Soviet hardliners.[20] Nazarbayev was close enough to Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev for Gorbachev to consider him for the post of Vice President of the Soviet Union; however, Nazarbayev turned the offer down. However, on July 29, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, and Nazarbayev discussed and decided that once the New Union Treaty was signed, Nazarbayev would replace Valentin Pavlov as Premier of the Soviet Union.[21]

The Soviet Union disintegrated following the failed coup, though Nazarbayev was highly concerned with maintaining the close economic ties between Kazakhstan and Russia.[22] In the country's first presidential election, held on 1 December, he appeared alone on the ballot and won 95% of the vote.[23] On 21 December, he signed the Alma-Ata Protocol, taking Kazakhstan into the Commonwealth of Independent States.[24]

Nazarbayev (three rows from left) at the 1992 World Economic Forum chaired by Henry Kissinger in Davos

Nazarbayev renamed the former State Defense Committees as the Ministry of Defense and appointed Sagadat Nurmagambetov as Defense Minister on 7 May 1992.

The Supreme Soviet, under the leadership of Chairman Serikbolsyn Abdilin, began debating over a draft constitution in June 1992. Opposition political parties Azat, Jeltoqsan and the Republican Party, held demonstrations in Alma-Ata from 10 to 17 June 1992 calling for the formation of a coalition government, resignation of Sergey Tereshchenko's government and the Supreme Soviet which, at that time, was composed of former Communist Party legislators who had yet to stand in an election.[25] The Constitution, adopted on 28 January 1993, created a strong executive branch with limited checks on executive power.[26] Despite the changes, multiple unexpected dissolutions took place by the end of 1993 starting from local councils in Almaty. On 10 December 1993, the Supreme Council voted to dissolve itself and that same day, a presidential decree was signed which set changes in local representative and executive bodies with elections of the mäslihats (local legislatures) taking place every 5 years and äkims (local heads) being appointed by the president. In March 1994, Kazakhstan held for the first time since independence, held a legislative election which was boycotted by the Azat and Jeltoqsan parties. From there, the pro-presidential People's Union of Kazakhstan Unity party won a majority of 30 seats with independent candidates whom were on presidential-list won 42 seats. The OSCE observers called the elections unfair, reporting an inflated voter turnout.[27]

1993 Kazakhstani postage stamp of Nazarbayev

Throughout the 1990s, privatization and banking reforms took place in Kazakhstan. In June 1994, Nazarbayev amended the Parliament's Economic Memorandum for the next three years, which has been defined as an economic strategy. It included strict measures to reform the economy and establish macroeconomic stability and set the task of carrying out rapid and vigorous privatization. During the introduction of the National Bank of Kazakhstan in December 1993, significant changes were made in which all specialized banks were transformed into a joint stock company, and the National Bank was granted a number of powers. In March 1995, Nazarbayev signed decree setting the National Bank as an independent entity that is accountable only for the head of state.[28]

In 1994, Nazarbayev suggested relocating the capital city from Almaty to Astana, and the official changeover of the capital happened on 10 December 1997.[29]

In March 1995, the Constitutional Court ruled that 1994 legislative elections were held unconstitutionally and as a result, Nazarbayev dissolved the Supreme Council.[30] From that period, all bills were adopted on the basis of presidential decrees such as outlawing any civic participation in an unregistered and/or illegal public association whom would be punished with 15-day jail sentence or fines from 5–10 times the minimum monthly wage in an effort "to fight organized crime."[27] An April 1995 referendum extended Nazarbayev's term, originally set to end in 1996, to until 2000. In August 1995, a referendum was held which allowed for greater presidential powers and established a bicameral Parliament as well. Both the elections for Mazhilis (lower house) and the Senate (upper house) were held in December 1995 which convened in January 1996.[31] Nazarbayev dismissed the accusations from critics of him personally dissolving the legislature by claiming that it was under Constitutional Court's orders, saying "the law is the law, and the President is obliged to abide by the constitution, otherwise, how will we build a rule-of-law state?" and that the cancellation of the 1996 presidential elections was made by the decision of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan arguing that "Western schemes do not work in our Eurasian expanses."[27]

Nazarbayev with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, 2003

On 7 October 1998, a number of amendments were made to the Constitution of Kazakhstan in which the term of office of the president was increased from 5 to 7 years as well as term limits. The changes also removed restriction on the maximum required age of a presidential candidate.[32] The following day on 8 October, Nazarbayev signed decree setting the election date for January 1999. He was re-elected for 2nd term by winning 81% of the vote, defeating his main challenger and former Surpeme Council chairman Serikbolsyn Abdildin.[33]

In February 1999, several pro-presidential parties formed into one party named Otan.[34] At the Founding Congress of the party which was held on 1 March 1999, Nazarbayev was elected as the chairman. From there, he suggested that former PM Sergey Tereshchenko should take over the leading role, noting the constitutional limits on president's affiliation with political parties while Nazarbayev himself remained as de-facto party leader.[35] In July 1999, Nazarbayev signed decree setting the date for the legislative elections.[36] The Otan, for the first time, participated in the elections, winning 23 seats.

In June 2000, the Constitutional Council announced its resolution which declared that Nazarbayev's second term–was in fact–his first due to the adaptation of the new Kazakh Constitution which took place in 1995 during Nazarbayev's first term. This allowed gave him the opportunity to run for another election as his term was set to end in 2007.[37]

Nazarbayev appointed Altynbek Sarsenbayev, who at the time served as the Minister of Culture, Information and Concord, the Secretary of the Security Council, replacing Marat Tazhin, on 4 May 2001. Tazhin became the Chairman of the National Security Committee, replacing Alnur Mussayev. Mussayev became the head of the Presidential Security Service.[38]

Nazarbayev with US President George W. Bush at the White House in September 2006

On 4 December 2005, new presidential elections were held where Nazarbayev won by an overwhelming majority of 91.15% (from a total of 6,871,571 eligible participating voters). Nazarbayev was sworn in for another seven-year term on 11 January 2006.[39] In 2009, former UK Cabinet Minister Jonathan Aitken released a biography of the Kazakh leader entitled Nazarbayev and the Making of Kazakhstan. The book takes a generally pro-Nazarbayev stance, asserting in the introduction that he is mostly responsible for the success of modern Kazakhstan.[40]

In 2006, the Otan increased its ranks as all pro-presidential parties began merging into one. Nazarbayev supported the move, stating the need for there to be fewer, but stronger parties that "efficiently defend the interests of the population."[41] In December 2006, the Otan renamed itself into Nur Otan and on 4 July 2007, Nazarbayev was re-elected as the party's chairman.[42][34]

On 18 May 2007, the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a constitutional amendment which allowed the incumbent president—himself—to run for an unlimited number of five-year terms. This amendment applied specifically and only to Nazarbayev: the original constitution's prescribed maximum of two five-year terms will still apply to all future presidents of Kazakhstan.[43] That same year in August, legislative elections were held from which the Nur Otan won all the contested seats in the Mazhilis, eliminating any form of opposition which sparked controversy and criticism from international organizations and groups within the country.[44] In response, Kazakhstan introduced an amendment by allowing for a two-party system since any party that wins 2nd place in race regardless or not if it passes the 7% electoral threshold is guaranteed to have representation in the Parliament.[45]

Nazarbayev has always emphasized the role of education in the nation's social development. In order to make education affordable, on 13 January 2009, he introduced educational grant "Orken" for the talented youth of Kazakhstan. This decree was amended on 23 September 2016.[46]

In April 2011, Nazarbayev ran for a fourth term, winning 95.5% of the vote with virtually no opposition candidates. Following his victory, he announced the need in finding an "optimal way of empowering parliament, increasing the government's responsibility and improving the electoral process."[47]

On 11 June 2011, Daniel Witt, Vice Chairman of the Eurasia Foundation, acknowledged the role of Nazarbayev and his political reforms:

"[President] Nazarbayev has led Kazakhstan through difficult times and into an era of prosperity and growth. He has demonstrated that he values his U.S. and Western alliances and is committed to achieving democratic governance."[48]

In December 2011, opponents of Nazarbayev rioted in Mangystau, described by the BBC as the biggest opposition movement of his time in power.[49] On 16 December 2011, demonstrations in the oil town of Zhanaozen clashed with police on the country's Independence Day.[50] Fifteen people were shot dead by security forces[51] and almost 100 people were injured. Protests quickly spread to other cities but then died down. The subsequent trial of demonstrators uncovered mass abuse and torture of detainees.[49]

In December 2012, Nazarbayev outlined a forward-looking national strategy called the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy.[52]

In 2014, Nazarbayev suggested that Kazakhstan should change its name to "Kazakh Eli" ("Country of the Kazakhs"), for the country to attract better and more foreign investment, since "Kazakhstan" by its name is associated with other "-stan" countries. Nazarbayev noted Mongolia receives more investment than Kazakhstan because it is not a "-stan" country, even though it is in the same neighborhood, and not as stable as Kazakhstan. However, he noted that decision should be decided by the people on whether the country should change its name.[53][54]

Goh Chok Tong with Nazarbayev at the Akorda Palace

In midst of an economic downturn caused by low oil prices and devaluation of the tenge, Nazarbayev for the last time ran again in the 2015 presidential election for the fifth term. From there, he gathered 97.7% of the vote share, making it the largest in Kazakhstan's history.[55] In his victory speech, he empathized the top priority in Nurly Zhol stimulus package that was designed in softening the social blow caused by an economic troubles.[56] The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe criticized the election as falling short of international democratic standards.[57]

In early 2016, it was announced that 1.7 million hectares of agricultural land would be sold at auction. This sparked rare protests around the country which called for Nazarbayev to stop the momentum on land sales and solve the nation's problems as well. In response to the fears of the lands being sold to foreigners especially Chinese, Nazarbayev fired back at claims, calling them "groundless" and warned that any provocateur would be punished.[58] On 1 May 2016, at the Kazakhstan People's Unity Day, Nazarbayev warned that without unity and stability, a crisis similarly in Ukraine would happen.[59] In June 2016, armed attacks in Aktobe took place resulting in deaths of 25 people. Nazarbayev called the incident as terrorist attacks which were orchestrated from abroad to destabilize the country similarly in a colour revolution to which he accused of being infiltrated by the ISIS militants.[60]

On 8 September 2016, Nazarbayev appointed Karim Massimov as the National Security Committee chairman and Bakhytzhan Sagintayev to the post of the PM.[61] Days later on 13 September, Nazarbayev's daughter Dariga was appointed as the member of the Senate. This suggested that Nazarbayev was preparing for his succession to be taken over by Dariga as the cabinet reshuffling had occurred after Uzbek President Islam Karimov's death which created political uncertainty in the neighboring country.[62] Nazarbayev dismissed the claims of hereditary succession in an interview to the Bloomberg News in November 2016, saying that the "transfer of power is spelled out by the Constitution."[63]

In January 2017, Nazarbayev proposed constitutional reforms, which would allow for the Parliament to have greater role in decision making, calling it "a consistent and logical step in the development of the state".[64] The Parliament approved several amendments to the Constitution on 5 March 2017, making the president no longer able to override parliamentary votes of no-confidence, while giving the legislative branch to form a government cabinet, implementing state programs and policies. The move was seen as way by Nazarbayev to ensure the potential of a peaceful transfer of power.[65]

Nazarbayev with Vladimir Putin and Shavkat Mirziyoyev

Nazarbayev, along with seventeen heads of state and government from around the world, which included Felipe VI of Spain and leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries, consisting of Russia, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan and India, attended the opening ceremony of Expo 2017 which was held in Astana.[66] An estimated 3.86 million people visited the site with Nazarbayev at the closing ceremony on 10 September 2017 calling it as "Kazakhstan's most brilliant achievements since its independence."[67]

Senate Chair Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in an interview to BBC News in June 2018, suggested that Nazarbayev's term presidential from 2015 was in fact, the last one as he hinted the possibility that Nazarbayev would not run for re-election which was scheduled for 2020.[68] Minister of Information and Communications Dauren Abaev responded to Tokayev's statements claiming that "there's still a lot of time" for Nazarbayev to decide on whether to run for re-election pointing out that the decision will be primarily based on his. He also added that the country would only benefit if Nazarbayev chooses to run for sixth term.[69]

On 19 March 2019, following unusually persistent protests in cities across the country,[70] Nazarbayev announced his resignation as President of Kazakhstan, citing the need for "a new generation of leaders".[4] The announcement was broadcast in a televised address in Astana after which he signed a decree ending his powers from 20 March 2019.[4] Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaker of the upper house of parliament, was appointed as president of the country until the end of the presidential term.[4]

His resignation as president notwithstanding, he continues to head the ruling Nur Otan party, remains a member of the Constitutional Council, and keeps his lifetime post as chairman of the Security Council. In his televised address Nazarbayev pointed out that he had been granted the honorary status of elbasy (leader of the nation, leader of the people[note 3]), the title bestowed upon him by parliament in 2010.[70][71]

Various colleagues of Nazarbayev reacted within hours of the announcement, with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev holding a telephone conversation with Nazarbayev, calling him a "great politician".[72][73] In a cabinet meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Nazarbayev's leadership, even going as far as to say that the Eurasian Economic Union was Nazarbayev's "brainchild".[74] Other world leaders who sent messages to Nazarbayev included Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan,[75] Alexander Lukashenko, President of Belarus, and Emomali Rahmon, President of Tajikistan.

Nazarbayev with Lee Myung-bak in Seoul, 2010

Over the course of Nazarbayev's presidency, an increasing number of accusations of corruption and favoritism have been directed against Nazarbayev and his circle. Critics say that the country's government has come to resemble a clan system.[76]

According to The New Yorker, in 1999 Swiss banking officials discovered $85,000,000 in an account apparently belonging to Nazarbayev; the money, intended for the Kazakh treasury, had in part been transferred through accounts linked to James Giffen.[77] Subsequently, Nazarbayev successfully pushed for a parliamentary bill granting him legal immunity, as well as another designed to legalise money laundering, angering critics further.[77] When Kazakh opposition newspaper Respublika reported in 2002 that Nazarbayev had in the mid-1990s secretly stashed away $1,000,000,000 of state oil revenue in Swiss bank accounts, the decapitated carcass of a dog was left outside the newspaper's offices, with a warning reading "There won't be a next time"; the dog's head later turned up outside editor Irina Petrushova's apartment, with a warning reading "There will be no last time."[78][79][80] The newspaper was firebombed as well.[80]

Nazarbayev with President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, President of Finland Tarja Halonen and Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in 2011

In May 2007, the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved a constitutional amendment which would allow Nazarbayev to seek re-election as many times as he wishes. This amendment applies specifically and only to Nazarbayev, since it states that the first president will have no limits on how many times he can run for office, but subsequent presidents will be restricted to a five-year term.[81]

As of 2015, Kazakhstan has never held an election meeting international standards.[7][8]

In May 2018, the Parliament of Kazakhstan passed a constitutional amendment allowing Nazarbayev to serve as Chairman of the Security Council for life. These reforms, which were approved by the Constitutional Council on 28 June, also expanded the powers of the Security Council, granting it the status of a constitutional body. The amendment states that, "The decisions of the security council and the chairman of the security council are mandatory and are subject to strict execution by state bodies, organisations and officials of the Republic of Kazakhstan."[82]

In December 2020, according to an investigative report by Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, it was identified at least $785 million in European and U.S. real estate purchases made by Nazarbaev’s family members and their in-laws in six countries over a 20-year span. This figure includes a handful of properties that have since been sold, including multimillion-dollar apartments in the United States bought by Nazarbaev’s brother, Bolat. It does not include a sprawling Spanish estate owned by Kulibaev, for which a purchase price could not be found. [83]

In 1994, Nazarbayev suggested the idea of creating a "Eurasian Union" during a speech at Moscow State University.[84][85][86] On 29 May 2014, Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan signed a treaty to create a Eurasian Economic Union which created a single economic space of 170,000,000 people and came into effect in January 2015. Nazarbayev said shortly after the treaty was signed, "We see this as an open space and a new bridge between the growing economies of Europe and Asia." Nazarbayev named Honorary Chairman of Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in May 2019.[87]

Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy logo

Nazarbayev unveiled in his 2012 State of the Nation the Kazakhstan 2050 Strategy, a long-term strategy to ensure future growth prospects of Kazakhstan, and position Kazakhstan as one of the 30 most developed nations in the world.[88]

President Nazarbayev unveiled in 2014 a multibillion-dollar domestic modernization and reformation plan called Nurly Zhol - The Path to the Future.[89] It was officially approved by the Decree of the President on 6 April 2015. The goal of the plan was for development and improvement of tourist, industrial and housing infrastructure, create 395,500 new jobs, and increase the GDP growth rate 15.7 by 2019.[90] In March 2019, it was announced that the program would be extended to 2025 with its new agenda being focused on developing road infrastructure.[91] According to Minister of Infrastructure and Development Beibut Atamkulov, it is planned that 27,000 kilometres of local roads will be repaired, with 21,000 kilometres of national roads being reconstructed and repaired.[92]

President Nazarbayev unveiled this technological modernization initiative to increase Kazakhstan's economic competitiveness through the digital ecosystem development.[93]

In his 1998 autobiography, Nazarbayev wrote that "The shrinking of the Aral Sea, because of its scope, is one of the most serious ecological disasters being faced by our planet today. It is not an exaggeration to put it on the same level as the destruction of the Amazon rainforest."[94] He called on Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and the wider world to do more to reverse the environmental damage done during the Soviet era.[95]

Kazakhstan inherited from the Soviet Union the world's fourth-largest stockpile of nuclear weapons. Within four years of independence, Kazakhstan possessed zero nuclear weapons.[96] In one of the new government's first major decisions, Nazarbayev closed the Soviet nuclear test site at Semipalatinsk (Semei), where 456 nuclear tests had been conducted by the Soviet military.[97]

Presidents Nazarbayev and Obama held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague.

During the Soviet era, over 500 military experiments with nuclear weapons were conducted by scientists in the Kazakhstan region, mostly at the Semipalatinsk Test Site, causing radiation sickness and birth defects.[98] As the influence of the Soviet Union waned, Nazarbayev closed the site.[99] He later claimed that he had encouraged Olzhas Suleimenov's anti-nuclear movement in Kazakhstan, and was always fully committed to the group's goals.[100] In what was dubbed "Project Sapphire", the Kazakhstan and United States governments worked closely together to dismantle former Soviet weapons stored in the country, with the Americans agreeing to fund over $800,000,000 in transportation and "compensation" costs.[101]

Nazarbayev encouraged the United Nations General Assembly to establish 29 August as the International Day Against Nuclear Tests. In his article he has proposed a new Non-Proliferation Treaty "that would guarantee clear obligations on the part of signatory governments and define real sanctions for those who fail to observe the terms of the agreement."[102] His foreign minister signed a treaty authorizing the Central Asian Nuclear Weapon Free Zone on 8 September 2006.[103]

In an oped in The Washington Times, Nazarbayev called for the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty to be modernized and better balanced.[104]

In March 2016, Nazarbayev released his "Manifesto: The World. The 21st century."[105] In this manifest the Kazakhstan President called for expanding and replicating existing nuclear-weapon-free zones and stressed the need to modernize existing international disarmament treaties.[106]

In a speech given in December 2006 marking the fifteenth anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence, Nazarbayev stated he wished to join with Iran in support of a single currency for all Central Asian states and intended to push the idea forward with the President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, on an upcoming visit. The Kazakh president also reportedly criticised Iran as a terrorism-supporting state. The Kazakh Foreign Ministry released a statement on 19 December, saying the reports were mistaken and contradictory to what the president actually meant.[107]

During a visit to the central mosque of the Aktobe Region.

Nazarbayev put forward the initiative of holding a forum of world and traditional religions in Astana. Earlier the organisers of similar events were only representatives of leading religions and denominations. Among other similar events aimed at establishing interdenominational dialogue were the meetings of representatives of world religions and denominations held in Assisi, Italy, in October 1986 and January 2002.[108] The first Congress of World and Traditional Religions which gathered in 2003 allowed the leaders of all major religions to develop prospects for mutual cooperation.

Nazarbayev initially espoused anti-religious views during the Soviet era;[109] he later made attempts to support Muslim heritage by performing the Hajj pilgrimage,[109] and supporting mosque renovations.[110]

Under the leadership of Nazarbayev, the Republic of Kazakhstan enacted some degrees of multiculturalism in order to retain and attract talents from diverse ethnic groups among its citizenry, and even from nations that are developing ties of cooperation with the country, in order to coordinate human resources onto the state-guided path of global market economic participation. This principle of the Kazakh leadership has earned it the name "Singapore of the Steppes".[111]

However, in 2012 Nazarbayev proposed reforms, which were later enacted by the parliament, imposing stringent restrictions on religious practices.[112] Religious groups were required to re-register, or face closure.[113] The initiative was explained as an attempt to combat extremism. However, under the new law, many minority religious groups are deemed illegal. In order to exist on a local level, a group must have more than 50 members: more than 500 on a regional level, and more than 5,000 on the national level.[112]

Nazarbayev made critical remarks against the veil, choosing to highlight Turkic traditions over Islam by claiming that "We are Turks, not Arabs" in an open reference to the Turkic heritage while attacking Arab heritage.

In 2014, Vladimir Putin's remarks regarding the historicity of Kazakhstan, in which he stated that Nazarbayev "created a state on a territory that never had a state ... Kazakhs never had any statehood, he has created it"[114][115][116][117][118][119] led to a severe response from Nazarbayev.[120][121][122][123][124][125][126][127][128]

In February 2018, Reuters reported that "Kazakhstan further loosened cultural ties with its former political masters in Moscow ... when a ban on speaking Russian in cabinet meetings took effect ... [Nazarbayev] has also ordered all parliamentary hearings to be held in Kazakh, saying those who are not fluent must be provided with simultaneous translations."[129]

Kazakhstan's human rights situation under Nazarbayev is uniformly described as poor by independent observers. Human Rights Watch says that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion. In 2014, authorities closed newspapers, jailed or fined dozens of people after peaceful but unsanctioned protests, and fined or detained worshippers for practicing religion outside state controls. Government critics, including opposition leader Vladimir Kozlov, remained in detention after unfair trials. In mid-2014, Kazakhstan adopted new criminal, criminal executive, criminal procedural, and administrative codes, and a new law on trade unions, which contain articles restricting fundamental freedoms and are incompatible with international standards. Torture remains common in places of detention."[130]

Kazakhstan is ranked 161 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, compiled by Reporters Without Borders.[131]

According to a US government report released in 2014, in Kazakhstan:

Meeting with the Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev in 2008 in Astana

The law does not require police to inform detainees that they have the right to an attorney, and police did not do so. Human rights observers alleged that law enforcement officials dissuaded detainees from seeing an attorney, gathered evidence through preliminary questioning before a detainee’s attorney arrived, and in some cases used corrupt defense attorneys to gather evidence. [...] The law does not adequately provide for an independent judiciary. The executive branch sharply limited judicial independence. Prosecutors enjoyed a quasi-judicial role and had the authority to suspend court decisions. Corruption was evident at every stage of the judicial process. Although judges were among the most highly paid government employees, lawyers and human rights monitors alleged that judges, prosecutors, and other officials solicited bribes in exchange for favorable rulings in the majority of criminal cases.[132]

Kazakhstan's global rank in the World Justice Project's 2015 Rule of Law Index was 65 out of 102; the country scored well on "Order and Security" (global rank 32/102), and poorly on "Constraints on Government Powers" (global rank 93/102), "Open Government" (85/102) and "Fundamental Rights" (84/102, with a downward trend marking a deterioration in conditions).[133] Kazakhstan's global rank in the World Justice Project's 2020 Rule of Law Index rose and was 62 out 128. Its global rank on "Order and Security" remained high (39/128) and low on "Constraints on Government Powers" (102/128), "Open Government" (81/128) and "Fundamental Rights" (100/128).

The National plan "100 concrete steps" introduced by President Nazarbayev included measures to reform the court system of Kazakhstan, including the introduction of mandatory jury trials for certain categories of crimes (Step 21)[134] and the creation of local police service (Step 30).[135] The implementation of the national plan resulted in Kazakhstan's transition from a five-tier judicial system to a three-tier one in early 2016 yet it severely restricted access to the cassation review of cases by the Supreme Court.[136] However, the expansion of jury trials has not been implemented. Furthermore, President Nazarbayev abolished the local police service in 2018 following the public outrage over the murder of Denis Ten in downtown Almaty.[135]

Nazarbayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin after the Moscow Victory Day Parade in 2016

During Nazarbayev's presidency the main principle of Kazakhstan's international relations was multi-vector foreign policy, which was based on initiatives to establish friendly relations with foreign partners.[137] Kazakhstan under Nazarbayev became co-founders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation in 2001.[138] U.S. President-elect Donald Trump lauded Nazabayev's leadership and called Kazakhstan's achievements under his presidency a "miracle" during their phone call on 30 November 2016.[139]

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted his first ever visit to Kazakhstan in mid-December 2016, when he met with Nazarbayev. The two countries signed agreements on research and development, aviation, civil service commissions and agricultural cooperation, as well as a declaration on establishing an agricultural consortium.[140]

Nazarbayev with Nikol Pashinyan, Anna Hakobyan, Igor Dodon and Dmitry Medvedev at the FIFA World Cup in Russia

In January 2019, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa conducted a state visit to Astana to meet with Nazarbayev, in the first visit by an African leader to the country in years. This would be the last foreign head of state that Nazarbayev would receive while in office.[141] Nazarbayev's last state visit to a foreign country took place five days prior to his resignation, visiting the United Arab Emirates to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed.[142]

On 20 March 2019, after Nazarbayev's resignation, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed renaming the capital Astana to Nur-Sultan (Kazakh: Нұр-Сұлтан/Russian: Нур-Султан)[162] in honor of Nazarbayev. The parliament of Kazakhstan officially voted in favour of the renaming.[163]

Nazarbayev created the Biz Birgemiz ("We are Together" in Kazakh) Fund in March 2020 “to fight the pandemic COVID-19 effectively while supporting the economy.”[164] As of June 2020, the fund gathered over 28 billion tenge (US$69.3 million) to provide financial aid to more than 470,000 families in 23 cities as part of the fund's three waves of assistance.[164] Upon his diagnosis with COVID-19 in mid-June, he received calls and telegrams of support from world leaders, including Vladimir Putin and King Abdullah II of Jordan[165] as well as former President of Croatia Stjepan Mesić.[166]

He recovered from the virus on 3 July,[167] in time to the celebrations of his 80th birthday. It also coincided with the Day of the Capital City. Among the leaders giving congratulations were Armenian President Armen Sarkissian,[168] Russian President Vladimir Putin, former Tatar President Mintimer Shaimiev[169] and former Turkish President Abdullah Gül.[170] Former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia Grigory Karasin described Nazarbayev an interview honoring his birthday as "the few world politicians who has a vision of political processes".[171] The celebratory events were held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.[172] A statue of Nazarbayev in military uniform was unveiled at the National Defense University (an institution that itself which bears his name).[173]

As Chairman of Nur Otan, Nazarbayev signed a decree in the preparation of the 2021 legislative elections on 4 June 2020 setting the date of closed primaries would be held within the party "for open and political competition, promote civic engagement in the political process, and empower women and the youth of the country" to which he instructed for the party to include 30% of women and 20% of people under the age of 35 in its list.[174] The primaries were held from 17 August to 3 October 2020 where Nazarbayev himself voted online.[175][92]

• Collar of the Order of the Golden Eagle[186]
• Collar of the Order of the First President of Kazakhstan – Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev
• Recipient of the Medal "Astana"
• Recipient of the Medal for "10 Years of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Recipient of the Medal for "10th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Recipient of the Medal for "10th Anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Recipient of the Medal "In Commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Railway of Kazakhstan"
• Recipient of the Medal for "10 Years of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Recipient of the Medal for "50 Years of the Virgin Lands"
• Recipient of the Jubilee Medal "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945"
• Recipient of the Medal for "10 Years of the City of Astana"
• Recipient of the Medal for "20 Years of the Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Algys Order[187]

• Recipient of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
• Recipient of the Order of the Badge of Honour
• Recipient of the Medal "For the Development of Virgin Lands"
• Recipient of the Jubilee Medal "70 Years of the Armed Forces of the USSR"

Nazarbayev with leaders of China, Russia and India during the Moscow Victory Day Parade, 9 May 2015

Postage stamp with Nazarbayev, Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev

•  Russia:
  • Knight of the Order of St. Andrew the Apostle the First-Called[188]
  • Recipient of the Order of Alexander Nevsky[189]
  • Recipient of the Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan"
  • Recipient of the Medal "In Commemoration of the 300th Anniversary of Saint Petersburg"
  • Recipient of the Medal "In Commemoration of the 850th Anniversary of Moscow"
•  Chechnya:
  • Recipient of the Order of Akhmad Kadyrov
•  Tatarstan:
  • Recipient of the Order "For Merits to the Fatherland"[190]

•  Afghanistan:
  • Recipient of the Amir Amanullah Khan Award[191]
•  Austria:
  • Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria
•  Azerbaijan:
  • Heydar Aliyev Order[192]
•  Belarus:
  • Recipient of the Order of Friendship of Peoples[193][194]
•  Belgium:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
•  China:
  • Recipient of the Order of Friendship[195][196]
•  Croatia:
  • Grand Cross of the Grand Order of King Tomislav
•  Egypt:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile
•  Estonia:
  • First Class with Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
•  Finland:
  • Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
  • Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland
•  France:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Legion of Honour
•  Greece:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer
•  Hungary:
  • Grand Cross with Chair of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
•  Italy:
  • Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
•  Japan:
  • Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum[197]
•  Kyrgyzstan:
  • Golden Order in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Manas[198]
•  Latvia:
  • Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of the Three Stars[199]
•  Lithuania:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great (5 May 2000)[200]
•  Luxembourg:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
•  Monaco:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles[201]
•  Poland:
  • Knight of the Order of the White Eagle
•  Qatar:
  • Collar of the Order of Independence
•  Romania:
  • Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania
•  Serbia:
  • First Class of the Order of the Republic of Serbia[202][203]
•  Slovakia:
  • First Class of the Order of the White Double Cross (2007)[204]
•  South Korea:
  • Recipient of the Grand Order of Mugunghwa
•  Spain:
  • Knight of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (2017)[205]
•  Tajikistan:
  • Recipient of the Order of Ismoili Somoni
•  Turkey:
  • First Class of the Order of the State of Republic of Turkey (22 October 2009)[206]
•  Ukraine:
  • Member of the Order of Liberty
  • First Class of the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise
•  United Arab Emirates:
  • Collar of the Order of Zayed
•  United Kingdom:
  • Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George
•  Uzbekistan:
  • Recipient of the Gold Medal of Uzbekistan

• Jordan: A street in Amman is named after him.
• World Turks Qurultai: Turk El Ata (Spiritual Leader of the Turkic People).[207]
• Russia: A street in the central part of Kazan was named after him.