In a ceremony rife with symbolism, Nursultan Nazarbayev has been sworn into office as Kazakhstan’s president for another five years, ushering in his third decade in power after an election that came under fire from international observers.
“It’s a great honor for me to be the nationally elected head of state in the year of the 20th anniversary of our independence and continue the mission of leader of our unique, multiethnic homeland,” Nazarbayev intoned triumphantly, after kissing the Kazakh flag and taking oath standing on a piece of white felt, as the Kazakh khans of old once did.
In a ceremony broadcast live on television, Nazarbayev seemed keen to emphasize his long rule in a year notable for sweeping long-serving Arab autocrats from power, reminding his adoring public of the strides made since 1991. “We were in the ruins of a collapsed superpower… Today it’s hard to imagine that all this was just 20 years ago,” he said.
A huge crowd welcomed the Leader of the Nation as he arrived at the Palace of Independence, and inside the hall a “who’s who” of Kazakhstan solemnly watched the ceremony.
Among them were many of those sometimes tipped to one day succeed the 70-year-old president, including Kayrat Kelimbetov, chairman of the Samruk-Kazyna sovereign wealth fund, and Kazakhstan’s two most powerful mayors, Imangali Tasmagambetov of Astana and Akhmetzhan Yesimov of Almaty.
Nazarbayev’s daughter Dariga, once a powerful political player but now a marginal figure, also watched the ceremony, which wouldn’t have been complete without the three political lightweights who legitimized Nazarbayev’s crushing 95.5 percent victory: Gani Kasymov, Zhambyl Akhmetbekov and Mels Yeleusizov. They saved Nazarbayev the embarrassment of standing uncontested after real opposition politicians refused to participate.
The poll was slammed by international observers for rampant fraud, but Nazarbayev remains unfazed. The elections “were the best in terms of organization and their democratic nature in the history not only of modern Kazakhstan but, experts believe, all of Central Asia,” he said.
This isn’t a region noted for free elections, but as Nazarbayev embarked on his fresh term of office, that wasn’t going to spoil his moment of glory.
Joanna Lillis is a journalist based in Almaty and author of Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan.
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