- 2007 Kazakh political shakeup
The Kazakh political change in hierarchy of 2007 began on
8 January 2007 when Prime MinisterDaniyal Akhmetov unexpectedly resigned and ended with the Senate's confirmation ofKarim Masimov as his replacement on11 January . Akhmetov did not say why he resigned, but political analysts noted increasing criticism from PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev of his oversight of the economy. [http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/956424 Kazakhstan appoints new PM] TVNZ]Appointments
Kanat Saudabayev ,Kazakhstan 'sambassador to the United States, became the secretary of the Kazakh Security Council, replacingMarat Tazhin . [http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658497 Saudabayev appointed Kazakh Security Council secretary] Interfax] Tazhin became theForeign Minister , replacingKassym-Jomart Tokayev . [http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658475 Kazakhstan to remain committed to multifaceted foreign policy - Nazarbayev] Interfax] Tokayev became the Chairman of theSenate of Kazakhstan , replacingNurtai Abykayev . Abykayev became Kazakhstan's ambassador to Russia, [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/1/840800a1-fe28-4dad-9e7c-8be9ef8b0b59.html New government formed in Kazakhstan] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty] a position he previously held from January 2002–2003, [http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/03/8aaf810f-f040-44b5-9a9b-4903eecb384f.html Kazakhstan: Abikayev is suddenly the number-two man] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty] replacingZhanseit Tuymenbayev . Tuymenbayev became the Education and Science Minister, replacingByrganym Aytimova . [http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11146337&PageNum=0 Nurtai Abykayev appointed Kazakh Ambassador to Russia] ITAR-TASS] [http://www.azertag.com/en/index.shtml?language=english&catid=&news_year=&news_month=&news_day=&newsid=216365&themes_viewing=&themes_page=&themeid=&news_page= President of Kazakhstan forming cabinet] AzerTaj] Aytimova became Kazakhstan's ambassador to the United Nations. [http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=149421 Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan under the UN delivered credentials to UN Secretary-General] Kazinform]President
Nursultan Nazarbayev appointed Economy MinisterAslan Musin to Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Karim Masimov. Masimov replaced Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister. Akhmetov replacedMukhtar Altynbayev as Defense Minister. President Nazarbayev demoted Altynbayev to Deputy Minister of Defense.Galym Orazbakov replacedVladimir Shkolnik as the Minister of Industry and Trade. Yerbol Orynbayev, a close aide to Nazarbayev, became Masimov's chief-of-staff. [http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav011207a.shtml A political shake-up in Kazakhstan strengthens presidential authority] EurasiaNet] Shkolnick became the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President. [http://www.kazakhembus.com/011607.html First Civilian Defense Minister, New Heads of Education, Industry and Trade, and Emergency Situations] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada]Effects
Foreign Minister Tazhin said Kazakhstan would continue "to pursue a multi-vector policy governed by the economic and political interests of our country," but Prime Minister Masimov is expected to take Kazakhstan's foreign policy farther in the direction of China based on his past political service and education background. Joanna Lillis of "EurasiaNet" has speculated that the shuffle may be tied to Kazakhstan's campaign to chair the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe in 2009.The lingering scandals over the suspicious deaths and trials of opposition leaders
Altynbek Sarsenbayev andZamanbek Nurkadilov had little impact on the shakeup as Interior MinisterBaurzhan Mukhamedzhanov , who received a considerable amount of criticism, maintained his position.References
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