Tokayev: Putin told me he would receive Nazarbayev at his insistent request
Tengrinews.kz – President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev commented in an interview with the newspaper Turkistan on the meeting between First President Nursultan Nazarbayev and Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on the eve of the New Year.
During the interview, the journalist noted that there are many opinions and rumors surrounding this meeting, up to and including claims that a power transit in Kazakhstan in 2029 was discussed, and that Nazarbayev allegedly wants to play a key role in this process, supposedly with Putin’s personal support.
“The meetings, which have become regular, are informal in nature. President Putin himself emphasizes this point. During our recent meeting in St. Petersburg, Vladimir Putin told me that he would receive Nursultan Nazarbayev at his insistent request,” the Head of State said.
According to him, the Russian president is distinguished by his benevolent attitude toward his friends and colleagues.
“On a Saturday, despite an extremely heavy workload, he still found time for an unhurried conversation with the First President of Kazakhstan. He values him as an experienced politician who stood at the origins of Eurasian integration, where Russia holds a leading position. This meeting speaks to the high human qualities of Vladimir Putin,” the President said.
The Head of State noted that he is not interested in the content of such conversations and never asks questions on this topic.
“As for the personality of Nursultan Nazarbayev, I have repeatedly spoken of him as the founder of modern Kazakh statehood. His contribution to the creation of state institutions, market mechanisms in the economy, and the construction of the new capital is obvious. You know that we want to turn Kazakhstan into a territory of Justice, Law and Order. Therefore, the work of every citizen should be evaluated fairly, without personal bias. This also applies to Nursultan Nazarbayev, the First President of our country,” the Head of State added.