Erlan Karin, who has served as a top aide to Tokayev since he took over the presidency in ۲۰۱۹, becomes first in line to succeed his Tokayev as the leader of the Central Asian country.
Published On ۳۱ Aug ۲۰۲۶
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed longtime adviser Erlan Karin as vice president, the office created under a new constitution adopted earlier this year.
The move on Monday makes Karin, who has served as a top aide to Tokayev since taking over the presidency in ۲۰۱۹, first in line to succeed him as leader of the Central Asian country.
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Tokayev described Karin as an experienced public servant with extensive knowledge of state governance, local media reported.
“He has worked in the system of public administration for many years. One can say that he is a person of broad outlook, with rich experience and a true patriot,” Tokayev was quoted as saying.
The ۵۰-year-old has a background in “counter-terrorism” and has positioned himself as a key figure in promoting Tokayev’s ideology, which he has dubbed “New Kazakhstan”.
Tokayev also proposed reappointing Olzhas Bektenov as prime minister, a position he has held since ۲۰۲۴.
Both appointments were swiftly approved by parliament, which is dominated by the pro-Tokayev Adilet party.
Tokayev, ۷۳, is eligible to run for another seven-year term as president under the new constitution, according to Kazakhstan’s supreme court. His current term ends in ۲۰۲۹. presidents are otherwise limited to a single term in office under Kazakh basic law.
Tokayev, a former Soviet diplomat and top United Nations official, took office as the chosen successor of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s founding president, who ruled from ۱۹۹۱ to ۲۰۱۹.
Tokayev broke from his predecessor, whom he had served as prime minister and foreign minister, in ۲۰۲۲ after a bout of nationwide unrest that left hundreds dead and which he cast as a coup attempt by Nazarbayev-era figures.
Kazakhstan is a major exporter of energy and minerals, including uranium for nuclear power, and maintains warm ties with Russia, the West and China.
