Kazakhstan's President Appoints Erlan Karin as Vice President

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has appointed Erlan Karin, who has served as a top aide since Tokayev assumed the presidency in 2019, as vice president. This appointment was made on Monday and follows the adoption of a new constitution earlier this year, which established the vice presidency. Karin is now first in line to succeed Tokayev as the leader of Kazakhstan. Tokayev characterized Karin as an experienced public servant with extensive knowledge of state governance, according to local media reports. '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 stated. Karin, 50, has a background in counter-terrorism and has been a significant figure in promoting Tokayev’s ideology, referred to as 'New Kazakhstan'. Additionally, Tokayev proposed the reappointment of Olzhas Bektenov as prime minister, a position he has held since 2024. Both appointments received swift approval from parliament, which is dominated by the pro-Tokayev Adilet party. Tokayev, who is 73 years old, is eligible to run for another seven-year term as president under the new constitution, as confirmed by Kazakhstan’s supreme court. His current term is set to end in 2029. Tokayev, a former Soviet diplomat and top United Nations official, succeeded Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s founding president, who ruled from 1991 to 2019. Tokayev distanced himself from Nazarbayev following a period of nationwide unrest in 2022 that resulted in hundreds of deaths, which he described as a coup attempt by figures from the Nazarbayev era. Kazakhstan is a significant exporter of energy and minerals, including uranium for nuclear power, and maintains strong relations with Russia, the West, and China.