Nursultan Nazarbayev

Nursultan Nazarbayev has been the president of Kazakhstan since the fall of Soviet Union. He has declared it a priority to end the corruption in Kazakhstan; however; he has been accused of oppressing dissent. The parliament passed a resolution that allows him to stay in power for an unlimited number of terms. The latest election in 2005, when he was elected to a second term, was criticized. Opposition leaders said it was rigged and the international organization OSCE said the election did not meet international standards.

Nazarbayev moved the capital from Almaty to Astana. He favors both Russia and United States. He allowed international oil companies in Kazakhstan. The construction for a pipeline to carry oil to the west through Caspian Sea is also began under his leadership.

Narsultan Nazarbayev was born on July 6, 1940 in the Chemolgen village. He has a doctorate in Economic Sciences. He held positions as honorary professor of Kazakh State university and Moscow state University He also held positions as party committee secretary of Karaganda Metallurgical Industrial complex and secretary of Karaganda regional party committee, chairman of the Ministers Council of Kazakhstan and chairman of the High Council of Kazakhstan. In 1990 he became the first president of the independent Kazakhstan. He is married to Sara Nazarbayeva and has three daughters.

On April 29, 1995, the President's powers were extended till 2000. Under his presidency Kazakhstan began to draft a constitution in 1992. He was re-elected in 1999 and 2005. He is also the Chairman of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan and the supreme commander in chief of the military forces of Kazakhstan. Without sacrificing the membership in the Organization of Islamic Conference, he improved the diplomatic relations with Israel. He advocates for Commonwealth of Independent states.