Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed the political significance of recent private meetings between Vladimir Putin and former Kazakh leader Nursultan Nazarbayev, describing them as purely personal exchanges.
Speaking in an interview with the Turkestan newspaper, Tokayev said he was unconcerned by the content of the discussions, amid speculation that Nazarbayev may still wield behind-the-scenes influence years after stepping down.
The remarks appeared aimed at reinforcing Tokayev’s authority and dispelling rumours of parallel diplomatic channels involving his predecessor, who ruled the Central Asian state for nearly three decades before resigning in 2019.
Tokayev said the meetings took place at Nazarbayev’s personal request and framed Putin’s participation as a gesture of loyalty rather than political calculation.
"The Russian President is known for his benevolent attitude towards friends and colleagues," Tokayev said. "On a Saturday, despite an extremely busy work schedule, he still found time for an unhurried conversation with the first president of Kazakhstan."
He added that Putin regarded Nazarbayev as "an experienced politician who stood at the origins of Eurasian integration", a project in which Russia continues to play a leading role.
"This meeting speaks to Vladimir Putin’s strong personal qualities," Tokayev said.
Tokayev’s assertion that he was "not interested in the content" of the talks is widely seen as a signal of confidence following the political upheaval that followed violent unrest in January 2022.
After the unrest, Tokayev moved to dismantle the system of privilege built around Nazarbayev, stripping him of his lifetime chairmanship of the Security Council and removing the honorary title of Elbasy, or Leader of the Nation.
At the same time, Tokayev has sought to maintain a respectful tone towards the 83-year-old former leader, continuing to describe him publicly as the "founder of modern Kazakh statehood".
Geopolitical implications
Relations between Kazakhstan and the Kremlin are closely watched by Western governments amid Russia’s war in Ukraine.
While Nazarbayev maintained a close alliance with Moscow for decades, Tokayev has pursued a more multi-vector foreign policy, balancing ties with Russia, China and the West.
By portraying the Putin–Nazarbayev meetings as informal conversations between old acquaintances rather than political coordination, Tokayev appears to be signalling that power in Astana has firmly shifted, and that Moscow recognises this reality.
The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united respon...
An explosion at a steel plate factory in China's northern region of Inner Mongolia killed two people and injured 84, Inner Mongolia Baotou Steel Union...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has been invited to join his U.S. counterpart's Gaza Board of Peace, the Kremlin says. Moscow says it is studying the...
Kazakhstan has agreed to become a founding member of the proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza launched by U.S. President Donald Trump....
A fresh consignment of precision-guided munitions has departed from the Indian city of Nagpur bound for Yerevan, marking the latest phase in the rapid...
Kazakhstan has agreed to become a founding member of the proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The Regional Environmental Summit 2026 will be held in Astana from 22-24 April, bringing together Central Asian countries to strengthen regional dialogue on climate and environmental challenges.
Kazakhstan has begun recalibrating its oil export logistics amid ongoing restrictions affecting the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), a vital conduit for the country’s crude supplies to global markets.
Kazakhstan and Iran have held fresh talks aimed at strengthening economic ties, with senior officials discussing ways to boost cooperation in trade, transport and logistics.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Saturday (17 January) that concerns over security in Greenland should be addressed within the framework of NATO, describing a ground military intervention as highly unlikely.
Elon Musk is seeking up to $134 billion from OpenAI and Microsoft, arguing that the companies profited unfairly from his early support of the artificial intelligence firm, according to a court filing made public on Friday.
European leaders voiced growing alarm on Sunday over U.S. threats to impose tariffs on eight NATO allies, warning the move could destabilize transatlantic relations and heighten tensions in the Arctic.
Trump administration officials held months-long discussions with Venezuela’s hardline interior minister Diosdado Cabello before the U.S. operation that led to the seizure of President Nicolás Maduro, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has signed a decree recognising Kurdish language rights, as government forces advanced against U.S.-backed Kurdish-led fighters despite U.S. calls for restraint.
The German and French finance ministers said on Monday that European powers would not be blackmailed and that there would be a clear and united response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats of higher tariffs over Greenland.
Kazakhstan has agreed to become a founding member of the proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza launched by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Five skiers were killed in a pair of avalanches in Austria’s western Alpine regions on Saturday, with two others injured, one critically.
Media accreditation has opened for the 13th session of the World Urban Forum, the United Nations’ flagship conference on sustainable urban development, which will be held in Baku from 17 to 22 May 2026.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev visited the Alley of Martyrs to honour the memory of those killed on 20 January.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment