Kazakhstan scraps some privileges for country's 1st president

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Kazakhstan's parliament on Friday officially scrapped a number of privileges that were given to the nation’s founding president but not his successors, including paying for his living expenses and making his property “inviolable.”

“During a period of deep political transformations, when Kazakhstan is moving towards democracy and pluralism, it is important not to allow any mechanisms leading to the usurpation of power by certain groups,” lawmaker Yerlan Sairov said about the measure ending the privileges, which passed the nation’s parliament, or Majilis.

The annulled privileges had been given exclusively to Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan’s first president, who ruled from the country’s independence in 1991 until he stepped down in 2019.

The "first president" law, passed in 2000, has given Nazarbayev and his family members immunity from arrest or prosecution, as well as made their property inviolable, made the state pay for his and his family’s living expenses, and gave him the power to deliver addresses on important issues.

Under the changes, Nazarbayev still retains privileges such as immunity, in addition to being provided social security, protection, transport services, a service cottage and an apartment, according to Justice Minister Azamat Eskaraev.

On Wednesday, the Kazakh Constitutional Court annulled the "first president" law, saying it was inconsistent with constitutional changes approved in a referendum last June.

Nazarbayev also lost his status of honorary senator on Thursday as the upper house of the parliament, the Senate, removed the title from its bylaws.​​​​​​​