Nursultan Nazarbayev laid down the powers of the head of Kazakhstan.
The President of the Republic announced today, March 19, during a televised address to the nation.
«I made the decision to stop his powers as President. This year will mark 30 years I have held the highest office. People gave me the opportunity to be the first President of independent Kazakhstan,» Nazarbayev is quoted by «Interfax».
Nazarbayev added that the duties of the President of Kazakhstan to new elections of the head of state will carry out the speaker of the Senate Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev.
Nursultan Nazarbayev has been President of Kazakhstan since April 24, 1990. At last, the fifth presidential term, he was re-elected during the presidential elections in 2015, scoring 97.75% of the votes.
Earlier, in 2007, the Parliament granted Nazarbayev, as the first President the right to run for the highest office an unlimited number of times.
The current presidential term of Nazarbayev expires in April 2020.
Many foreign media, including the New York Times and The Guardian have repeatedly cited the comments of international observers, who noted that the presidential elections in Kazakhstan cannot be called «free and fair».
According to preliminary information, after the resignation of 78-year-old Nazarbayev will head the security Council of Kazakhstan. This position, under the act of may 2018, he may take for life.
Nazarbayev also remain at the head of the party «Nur Otan» and is a member of the constitutional Council of the Republic.
