Kassym-Jomart Tokayev facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Қасым-Жомарт Тоқаев
Tokayev in 2024
2nd President of Kazakhstan
Incumbent
Assumed office 12 June 2019 Acting: 20 March – 12 June 2019
Prime Minister	Asqar Mamin Alihan Smaiylov Roman Sklyar (acting) Oljas Bektenov
Preceded by	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan
Incumbent
Assumed office 5 January 2022
Preceded by	Nursultan Nazarbayev
State Secretary of Kazakhstan
In office 29 January 2002 – 13 June 2003
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Preceded by	Abish Kekilbayev
Succeeded by	Imangali Tasmagambetov
4th Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 1 October 1999 – 28 January 2002 Acting: 1 October 1999 – 12 October 1999
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Deputy	Aleksandr Pavlov Daniyal Akhmetov
Preceded by	Nurlan Balgimbayev
Succeeded by	Imangali Tasmagambetov
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 15 March 1999 – 1 October 1999
Prime Minister	Nurlan Balgimbayev
Chairman of the Assembly of People
Incumbent
Assumed office 28 April 2021
Preceded by	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Chairman of Amanat
In office 28 January 2022 – 26 April 2022
Preceded by	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Succeeded by	Erlan Qoşanov
Senate career 6th Chair of the Senate In office 16 October 2013 – 19 March 2019 Deputy Qairat Işçanov Asqar Beisenbaev Sergey Gromov Bektas Beknazarov Preceded by Kairat Mami Succeeded by Dariga Nazarbayeva In office 11 January 2007 – 15 April 2011 Deputy Muhammed Kopeev Aleksandr Sudin Preceded by Nurtai Abykayev Succeeded by Kairat Mami Member of the Senate In office 16 October 2013 – 19 March 2019 Appointed by Nursultan Nazarbayev In office 11 January 2007 – 15 April 2011
Appointed by	Nursultan Nazarbayev
Diplomatic positions Minister of Foreign Affairs In office 29 January 2002 – 11 January 2007 Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov Daniyal Akhmetov Karim Massimov Preceded by Erlan Idrissov Succeeded by Marat Tajin In office 13 October 1994 – 12 October 1999 Prime Minister Akejan Kajegeldin Nurlan Balgimbayev Preceded by Kanat Saudabayev Succeeded by Erlan Idrissov 11th Under-Secretary General and Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva In office 12 March 2011 – 16 October 2013 Preceded by Sergei Ordzhonikidze Succeeded by Michael Møller
Personal details
Born	Qasym-Jomart Kemelevich Tokayev (1953-05-17) 17 May 1953 (age 72) Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Almaty, Kazakhstan)
Political party	Independent (1991–1999, 2022–present)
Other political affiliations	CPSU (before 1991) Amanat (1999–2022)
Spouse	Nadezhda Tokayeva ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 2020)​
Children	1
Education	Moscow State Institute of International Relations Beijing Language and Culture University
Signature

Kassym-Jomart Kemeluly Tokayev (born on May 17, 1953) is a Kazakh politician and diplomat. He has been the President of Kazakhstan since March 20, 2019.

Tokayev was born in Alma-Ata (now Almaty). He studied at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. After finishing his studies in 1975, he worked as a diplomat in Singapore and China. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Tokayev became the deputy foreign minister of independent Kazakhstan in 1994. He worked on nuclear disarmament issues in former Soviet countries.

In 1999, Tokayev became the deputy prime minister. In October of that year, President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed him as prime minister. From 2002, Tokayev served as foreign minister and state secretary. He continued his work on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. He was the director-general of the UN Office at Geneva from 2011 to 2013. He also served twice as the chairman of the Kazakh Senate from 2007 to 2011 and from 2013 to 2019.

In 2019, Tokayev became the acting president after Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned. He was a member of the ruling Amanat party. He won a special election in June 2019 with Nazarbayev's support. As president, he has made several changes. These include increasing workers' salaries and making local government more independent. In 2022, Tokayev announced changes to the constitution. These changes would limit his powers and give more power to the Parliament. Voters strongly supported these changes in a referendum. This also removed Nazarbayev's special powers in making policies after his presidency.

Since becoming president, Tokayev's role in Kazakhstan has grown. He took over several important positions that Nazarbayev used to hold. This started with leading the Assembly of People in 2021. In January 2022, he declared a nationwide state of emergency. He also removed the government led by Asqar Mamin. He ordered security forces to use force during violent protests. Soon after, Tokayev took charge of the Security Council and the ruling Amanat party from Nazarbayev.

Early Life and Education

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev was born into a Muslim Kazakh family in Alma-Ata (now Almaty). His father, Kemel Tokayev (1923–1986), was a World War II veteran. He was also a famous writer who started Kazakh detective stories. His mother, Turar Shabarbayeva (1931–2000), worked at the Alma-Ata Institute of Foreign Languages. Tokayev was named after his uncle, Kemel Tokayev, who was a Red Army soldier and died during the Battle of Rzhev.

Tokayev spent some of his childhood in the village of Kälpe [kk]. His family had lived there for many generations. From 1970, Tokayev studied Mandarin at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. In his fifth year, he spent six months training at the Soviet embassy in China.

Early Career

After graduating in 1975, Tokayev joined the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was sent to work at the Soviet Embassy in Singapore.

In 1979, Tokayev returned to the Soviet Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1983, he went to China for training at the Beijing Language Institute. From 1984 to 1985, he worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He then worked at the Soviet embassy in Beijing until 1991. In 1991, he studied at the Soviet Diplomatic Academy in Moscow for senior diplomats.

Political Career

Deputy Foreign Minister (1992–1994)

In March 1992, Tokayev became a Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan. He worked on issues related to nuclear disarmament in former Soviet countries like Belarus and Ukraine. He helped with negotiations under the United Nations Security Council. He called this a "significant success" for Kazakh diplomacy.

In 1993, he became First Deputy Foreign Minister. On October 13, 1994, Tokayev was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan (1999–2002)

In March 1999, Tokayev became Deputy Prime Minister. In October 1999, President Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed him as Prime Minister. During his time as Prime Minister, the country's economy grew. The GDP growth rate was 13.5% in 2001.

On January 28, 2002, Tokayev resigned from his position. He called it a "normal event" because of "a strong presidency." He was then appointed as State Secretary and Minister of Foreign Affairs at the same time.

Foreign Minister and State Secretary (1994–1999, 2002–2007)

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tokayev worked actively on preventing the spread of nuclear weapons. He took part in conferences for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in New York City in 1995 and 2005. In 1996, he signed the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) in New York. In 2005, he signed the Treaty on a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone in Central Asia (CANWFZ) in Semipalatinsk.

He was chosen to lead the Council of Foreign Ministers for the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. Tokayev attended ten sessions of the United Nations General Assembly. He held the diplomatic rank of Ambassador.

Chairman of the Senate (2007–2011, 2013–2019)

As Chair of the Senate of Kazakhstan, Tokayev was chosen as a vice-president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2008. He held this position until April 15, 2011. He left the role after being appointed as Director-General of the United Nations. President Nursultan Nazarbayev thanked Tokayev, saying he was "absolutely committed to the path of reforms that I am pursuing."

On October 16, 2013, he was again appointed as the Senate Chair. All Senate members confirmed this.

During the 2016 Protests against land reforms in Kazakhstan, Tokayev said that land lease issues needed careful attention.

After Kazakhstan showed its first Latin alphabet version in 2017, many people criticized it. They did not like the use of apostrophes for accent marks.

In a June 2018 interview with BBC News, Tokayev suggested that Nazarbayev might not run for re-election in 2020.

Director-General of the U.N. Office at Geneva

In March 2011, the United Nations Secretary-General appointed Tokayev as Under-Secretary-General. He also became the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva. He was also the personal representative of the UN Secretary-General to the Conference on Disarmament. He served as secretary-general of the Conference on Disarmament. He was also in charge of safety and security for U.N. staff in Switzerland.

2019 Presidential Campaign

On April 9, 2019, Tokayev announced that early elections would be held on June 9, 2019. He promised fair elections. He said Kazakhstan is a democratic state where the president should be chosen by the "will of the people."

Tokayev became a candidate for president with the support of former president Nazarbayev. He was nominated by the ruling Amanat party (then called Nur Otan) on April 23, 2019. His campaign focused on continuing existing policies, justice, and progress. He said he wanted to ensure Nazarbayev's policies would continue. He won the election on June 9 with 71% of the votes. Many foreign leaders congratulated him.

Presidency

Inauguration

On March 19, 2019, President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his resignation. According to Kazakhstan's Constitution, the Senate Chairman becomes president until the end of the previous term. On March 20, Tokayev officially became president. Right after his inauguration, Tokayev suggested renaming the capital city after his predecessor. The same day, the Parliament of Kazakhstan approved renaming Astana to Nur-Sultan.

After winning the 2019 presidential election, Tokayev was fully sworn in as Kazakhstan's second president on June 12, 2019. The ceremony took place at the Palace of Independence in Nur-Sultan. High-ranking Kazakh officials, including former president Nazarbayev, attended. Tokayev promised to serve the nation fairly. He said "different opinions, united nation" would be his presidency's slogan.

Term

2019

In June 2019, there was a military ammo blast in Arys. This led to evacuations and many injuries. Tokayev started a criminal investigation. He ordered the Interior and Defence ministries to prevent more explosions. He promised that those responsible would be punished. Tokayev visited Arys on June 25. He toured damaged buildings and met with injured people in the hospital.

Tokayev gave his first major speech to the nation on September 2, 2019. He talked about strengthening society, improving social security, supporting local businesses, and economic growth.

After the Bek Air Flight 2100 crash, Tokayev declared December 28, 2019, a national day of mourning. He said that "all those responsible will be severely punished." He also ordered the airline's flights to be stopped.

2020

After the 2020 Dungan–Kazakh ethnic clashes in February 2020, Tokayev fired the governor and police chief of the Jambyl Region. Tokayev blamed "two criminal groups" fighting over illegal goods for the violence.

On May 2, 2020, Tokayev removed Nazarbayev's daughter, Dariga Nazarbayeva, from her role as Senate chair. Many thought this showed Tokayev gaining more political power.

In his second speech to the nation on September 1, 2020, Tokayev announced seven reforms. Most of these focused on helping the economy recover. He spoke about improving Kazakhstan's social system and increasing productivity.

2021

In late 2020, Tokayev announced the date for the 2021 legislative elections. He said that the election process had become more open for civil society. He stated that the new parliament would focus on supporting social and economic reforms. On election day, Tokayev said the government would resign as required by law. He would then talk with newly elected members of parliament and party leaders about appointing a Prime Minister and cabinet members.

On April 28, 2021, former president Nazarbayev resigned as chairman of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan (QHA). He suggested Tokayev should take his place, and the QHA members supported this. Tokayev, in turn, suggested Nazarbayev be named "Honorary Chairman." He said this status "rightfully belong[s]" to him because of his "historical merit."

On November 23, 2021, it was announced that former president Nursultan Nazarbayev would hand over his powers as the Nur Otan party chair to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

2022

After the 2022 Kazakh unrest, Tokayev dismissed Prime Minister Asqar Mamin and his cabinet. He tried to calm the public by promising reforms and price controls for fuel and goods. However, Tokayev later ordered the army to use "lethal force" against protesters. He appointed Alihan Smaiylov as the new Prime Minister.

On March 16, 2022, Tokayev suggested changes to the constitution. These changes would limit the president's powers. He said the country needed to change from a "superpresidential" system to a presidential republic with a strong parliament.

Domestic Actions

After becoming president, Tokayev set out main goals for Kazakhstan. These included increasing people's incomes and creating new jobs. He also focused on solving housing issues and fair social policies. In his first month, Tokayev made several changes in the government.

Political Reforms

In May 2020, Tokayev signed new laws about organizing peaceful gatherings and elections. These laws aim to strengthen democracy and civil society. He said that "Kazakhstan must create a multi-party system to build a modern, effective state."

The "Listening State"

President Tokayev introduced the idea of a "Listening State." This means the government should focus on serving citizens. Tokayev wanted political changes that would help the government listen to society. He started the National Council of Public Trust to help with this. He also called for direct elections for local leaders (äkıms) in rural areas. He signed a decree in September 2020 to make this happen.

After the 2021 legislative elections, Tokayev suggested reducing the electoral threshold from 7% to 5%. This would allow more parties to enter parliament. He also proposed adding a "Against all" option back to ballots. The Parliament approved these changes, and Tokayev signed them into law on May 25, 2021.

Resignation from the Amanat Party

On April 26, 2022, Tokayev resigned from the Amanat party. Later, in a referendum on June 5, 2022, a new rule was added to the Constitution. It states that the President of Kazakhstan must not belong to a political party while in office.

The Establishment of the National Kurultai

On June 14, 2022, the President signed a decree to create the National Kurultai. This new group replaced the National Council of Public Trust. Its first meeting was held on June 16, 2022, in Ulytau.

Early Presidential Election, November 20, 2022

On November 20, 2022, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev won the early presidential election. He received 81.31% of the votes and was re-elected as President. His inauguration ceremony was held on November 26, 2022.

Capital Punishment

In December 2019, Tokayev announced that Kazakhstan would join the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This protocol aims to abolish the death penalty. Tokayev asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to start the process of joining this protocol.

At the Seventy-fifth session of the United Nations General Assembly, Tokayev said his decision was to protect "a fundamental right to life and human dignity." Kazakhstan signed the protocol on September 23, 2020. On January 2, 2021, Tokayev signed a decree to officially abolish the death penalty in Kazakhstan.

Economic Reforms and Policies

During Tokayev's first months, he worked to help people facing financial difficulties. Government help for banks was stopped, and a loan forgiveness system was put in place. In 2020, salaries for teachers, doctors, and social workers were increased.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Tokayev told the government to create a plan to help the economy. This plan aimed to help businesses with cheaper loans and tax breaks. It also focused on creating jobs. As the pandemic continued, prices for goods increased. Tokayev urged the government and central bank to reduce inflation.

In September 2021, Tokayev called for an increase in the national minimum wage. This was the first increase since 2018. He said the pandemic affected people's buying power. He believed raising wages would help the economy.

Credit Amnesty

On June 26, 2019, the President signed a decree to help citizens with financial problems. This "credit amnesty" was a one-time measure. It helped families with many children, disabled people, and those receiving state aid. Loans up to 3 million tenge (about $6,500) were written off.

Education

At a teacher's conference in August 2019, Tokayev announced that teachers' salaries would double within four years. He also told the Ministry of Education and Science to create programs. These programs would help children from low-income families and schools in difficult areas. He stressed the need to reduce differences in education between rural and city areas.

Energy and Cryptocurrency

Tokayev said Kazakhstan needed a nuclear power plant in April 2019. He believed the country would face an electricity shortage by 2030. From early 2021, energy use in Kazakhstan increased sharply. This was partly due to more cryptocurrency mining.

In May 2021, Tokayev announced the Low-Carbon Development Concept. This plan aims to reduce Kazakhstan's reliance on coal by 2035. It focuses on developing electric power.

In June 2024, Tokayev announced a referendum. This vote would decide if a nuclear power plant should be built in Kazakhstan. It is planned for autumn 2024.

Environment

In his first speech, Tokayev called environmental issues "concerning." He suggested a new policy to protect the environment. On June 17, 2019, he created the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources. This Ministry was given power to protect the environment and manage natural resources.

Tokayev addressed the problem of air pollution in Almaty. He ordered the government to change the Almaty-2 thermal power station to natural gas. This would reduce harmful emissions from the plant.

On October 4, 2021, Tokayev signed a bill to protect the Caspian Sea ecosystem. This bill aims to regularly check the sea's health and pollution levels.

Healthcare

Tokayev supported health insurance in Kazakhstan. He believed it would improve medical services. He also kept funding for free medical care and healthcare system development.

On July 7, 2020, Tokayev signed a new healthcare code and law. These laws strengthened legal protection for medical staff. They also restricted e-cigarettes and banned certain tobacco products.

Infrastructure

Tokayev promised that the government would continue to invest in infrastructure. This would ensure citizens have access to clean drinking water, natural gas, and public transport. He also called for officials to ensure money is used wisely.

During a visit to Almaty in May 2020, Tokayev saw plans for the Almaty International Airport. The plans included a new terminal. He hoped the airport would become the largest aviation hub in Central Asia.

Foreign Policy

Tokayev promised to continue the foreign policy started by his predecessor, Nursultan Nazarbayev. This means attracting foreign investments and ensuring security in the region. In his first month, he met with four world leaders.

In April 2021, Tokayev created the Special Representative for International Cooperation. He said this role would help Kazakhstan's leadership focus on international cooperation. He appointed Erzhan Kazykhanov to this position.

During a meeting in October 2021, Tokayev suggested turning the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia into a full organization. He said this would show Asia's new role in global affairs.

Afghanistan

Following the 2021 Taliban offensive, Tokayev urged measures to keep Kazakhstani citizens and diplomats safe in Afghanistan. He said Kazakhstan would watch developments closely. During a meeting, Tokayev expressed concern about stability in Afghanistan. He warned that the entire Central Asian region was at risk. On August 18, 2021, he told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to help ethnic Kazakhs return from Afghanistan. He noted that accepting Afghan refugees would not be considered.

Russia

Two weeks after becoming president, Tokayev visited Moscow on April 4, 2019. He met with Putin and other Russian officials. During the visit, Putin offered Russia's help to build a proposed nuclear power plant in Kazakhstan. In June 2019, Tokayev said the decision to build a nuclear power plant would be made by Kazakhstan, possibly through a referendum.

In late 2020, some Russian lawmakers made comments about Kazakhstan's territory. They said it was a gift from the Soviet Union. This caused strong reactions from Kazakhstan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They warned that such "provocative attacks" could harm relations. Tokayev wrote that such words were meant to "spoil" relations. He insisted that "nobody from outside gave Kazakhs this large territory as a gift."

After Russia invaded Ukraine, Tokayev and Kazakh foreign minister Mukhtar Tleuberdi refused to recognize the Russian-backed regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. He said that "we recognize neither Taiwan, nor Kosovo, nor South Ossetia and Abkhazia." He also refused to accept an award from Putin.

Tokayev also said Kazakhstan would follow Western sanctions against Russia. In September 2022, Kazakhstan closed a loophole that allowed Russian and Belarusian trucks to import goods from the European Union without proper documents.

After Tokayev's election victory in November 2022, experts believe he will continue to strengthen ties with the EU and China, moving away from Russia.

In September 2022, Tokayev said Kazakhstan would help Russians fleeing the mobilization and war in Ukraine. He said "most of them are forced to leave because of the current hopeless situation." However, in December 2022, Kazakhstan sent a Russian citizen who fled mobilization back to Russia. In January 2023, Kazakhstan announced stricter visa rules. This is expected to make it harder for Russians to stay in the country.

On May 9, 2023, he attended the Victory Day parade in Moscow. He also met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

China

Tokayev made a state visit to China in September 2019. He met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Both leaders agreed to form a strong partnership. Tokayev promised to triple wheat exports to China. He also mentioned possibly exporting salt, dairy products, meat, and poultry. During a visit to Peking University, he met his former Chinese language teacher.

Tokayev supports strong ties with China. As of 2024, China is Kazakhstan's most important trading partner and foreign investor.

Former Soviet Republics

On April 14, 2019, Tokayev visited neighboring Uzbekistan to talk with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. On May 16–17, Tokayev hosted foreign leaders in the capital for the 12th annual Astana Economic Forum. He also hosted leaders from Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Tajikistan, Armenia, and Moldova for the Eurasian Economic Union summit on May 29.

During a visit to Kyrgyzstan in late 2019, he visited the museum of Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov in Bishkek. He met with the writer's wife and remembered meeting Aitmatov in Beijing in 1989.

Following the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, Tokayev called on Armenia to leave the disputed territory. He referred to the United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Europe

As foreign minister, Tokayev visited Berlin, Germany, on October 3–4, 2006. He spoke to the European Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee. He wanted support for Kazakhstan to lead the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in 2009. He talked about the competition for energy sources. He said Kazakhstan could be an important energy supplier to global and European markets. He also expressed interest in pipeline projects.

On December 4, 2019, before a state visit to Germany, he gave an interview to Deutsche Welle. He called Germany a "key European partner for Kazakhstan."

United States

Tokayev met with United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on September 25, 2006. The U.S. wanted to improve its relations with Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan's oil production was expected to increase significantly. The United States State Department said they discussed cooperation in Afghanistan and Iraq. They hoped for a strong relationship with Kazakhstan.

After becoming president, Tokayev kept strong relations with Kazakhstan's allies, including the United States. On February 2, 2020, he met with U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in Astana. Both sides said it was important to deepen ties in trade, investment, and technology. They also discussed promoting democratic values and fighting terrorism. An "open skies" agreement was signed, allowing direct flights between Kazakhstan and the U.S.

In June 2020, U.S. President Donald Trump congratulated President Tokayev on his one-year anniversary as president. Trump supported the reforms in Kazakhstan. He also said he wanted to continue developing the partnership between the two countries.

Political Positions

Tokayev is described as a "moderate conservative" with much political experience. However, in an interview, Tokayev called himself a "reformer." He said that without political changes, economic changes would not progress.

Tokayev's political influence was seen as depending on Nazarbayev's support. This helped him gain trust from business leaders and government officials. Because of this, some called Tokayev "Nazarbayev's political birthchild."

Authoritarianism

Tokayev believes in a political system with a "strong President, authoritative Parliament, accountable Government."

In 2005, Tokayev disagreed with George Soros. Soros said Kazakhstan was moving towards authoritarianism. Tokayev called this "unreasonable." He said it was too much to ask a young country to have the same democratic values as older nations.

Climate Change

Tokayev supports dealing with climate change. He called it "urgent and existential." At a climate summit on December 12, 2020, Tokayev promised Kazakhstan would become carbon neutral by 2060. He said Kazakhstan is "highly vulnerable to climate change." He also suggested planting two billion trees to absorb carbon and fight desertification.

Corruption

Tokayev sees corruption as "direct damage to national security." He believes officials should be held responsible for how they use state money. On November 28, 2019, he signed a law. This law requires government ministers and local leaders (äkıms) to resign if their top officials are found guilty of corruption.

Islam

At a forum in Astana in March 2018, Tokayev spoke about the need for "enlightened Islam." He said this means strengthening science and cultural traditions in Islamic civilization.

Russian Language

As president, Tokayev encouraged the public to learn Kazakh. He called it "a duty of every citizen of Kazakhstan." At the same time, he believes strengthening Kazakh should not harm the Russian language. He warned that mishandling this issue could lead to "irreparable consequences." He compared it to Ukraine, which faced ethnic conflicts.

In his 2021 speech to the nation, Tokayev noted that Russian is an official language in Kazakhstan. He said its use cannot be stopped by law. He also said he would punish anyone who discriminates based on language or nationality.

Nationalism

In an article, Tokayev warned that nationalism is becoming a "dominant global phenomenon." He said it could strongly impact world politics.

Tokayev has a negative view of nationalism. He said it has grown during the COVID-19 pandemic. He criticized it for causing conflict between nations, leading to economic losses for Kazakhstan.

Honors

Kazakh

• Order of the Golden Eagle (2019)
• Order of Otan (2014)
• Order of Nazarbayev (2004)
• Order of Parasat (1996)
• Astana Medal
• Medal "25 years of independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Medal "10 years of Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Medal "10 years to the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan"
• Medal "10 years of Astana" (2018)

Foreign

• Order of Honour (Russia, 2017)
• Order of Friendship (Russia, 2004)
• Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, III Degree (Ukraine, 2008)
• Commonwealth Order (Commonwealth of Independent States, 2007)
• Order of the Serbian Flag, 1st Class (2016)
• Jubilee Medal "20 Years of the Federation Council"
• Tree of Friendship Medal (CIS, 2003)
• CIS Diploma
• Bitaraplyk Order (Turkmenistan, 2021)
• Jubilee Medal "300 Years Magtymguly Pyragy" (Turkmenistan, 2024)

Other

• Full member of the World Academy of Humanities and Natural Sciences.
• Honorary Professor of Shenzhen University.
• Honorary Professor and Honorary Doctor of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
• Honorary President of the Kazakhstan Council on International Relations.
• Diploma of the "Academicus" of the University of Geneva.
• S. N. Roerich Memorial Medal.
• Listed among the "Person of the Year — 2018" by the Russian Biographical Society.
• Ranked among The 500 Most Influential Muslims in The Muslim 500.

Personal Life

Tokayev is now divorced. He was married to Nadezhda Tokayeva, and they have one son. His son, Timur (born in 1984), is an oil businessman living in Geneva, Switzerland. His brother-in-law, Temirtai Izbastin, is Kazakhstan's Ambassador to Bulgaria. Tokayev is a polyglot. He speaks Kazakh, Russian, English, Chinese, and French fluently.

He was the President of the Table Tennis Federation of Kazakhstan for 13 years.

He prefers not to celebrate his birthday. His press secretary said in 2020 that his family "has never celebrated the birthdays of either the children or parents."

Images for kids

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  Tokayev's signature

See also

In Spanish: Kasim-Yomart Tokáev para niños

• Government of Kazakhstan
• Parliament of Kazakhstan
• Politics of Kazakhstan
• Tokayev Cabinet