Throughout its recent history, the Republic of Kazakhstan has known only one leader – Nursultan Nazarbayev. After the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991, Nazarbayev was the last to withdraw his republic from the Soviet Union and, with over 91% of the vote, secured his place as a democratic leader in Kazakhstan’s first elections – though he ran unopposed.
The snap elections scheduled for 26 April are not Kazakhstan's first 'premature' referendum. In 1996, 2000, and 2011, either Kazakhstan’s parliament or President Nazarbayev moved up elections by several months, citing the watchwords of stability and progress. When the 2011 election was contested, parliament was dissolved and 2012 elections were a victory for the ruling Nur Ortan (Radiant Fatherland) party. Now 74, Nazarbayev is looking ahead – far ahead – as he tries to leave a legacy.
Don't call it compulsion
The announcements haphazardly taped-up on the back of the office door are not usually of any importance to anyone at this university. That's why nobody reads them.
