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.
U.S. President Donald Trump said a preliminary agreement to end the war in the Gulf has been signed by the U.S. and Iran, though details have yet to b...
More than 8,300 participants from 100 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan's capital for the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026...
Seven people have been arrested in Italy over suspected sabotage attacks on high-speed railway lines during the Winter Olympics earlier this year....
Pakistan's heavy reliance on imported energy was laid bare by the U.S.-Iran conflict, which disrupted regional supplies, drove up costs and exposed vu...
Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’...
Kazakhstan has signed a $10 billion agreement with Firebird and NVIDIA to build one of Central Asia's largest AI computing hubs, as governments increasingly compete for the infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence.
The Trans-Caspian East-West International Transport Corridor, commonly known as the Middle Corridor, is a multimodal trade route linking China and the European Union via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, the Caucasus and Türkiye.
Trade routes through Afghanistan took centre stage in Almaty as the European Union, Central Asian states and the United Nations discussed the country's role in shaping regional security and economic connectivity.
Kazakhstan’s ruling Amanat party has announced it will merge with a party launched only a month ago by allies of the country’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
Details of a reported draft memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran offer the clearest picture yet of how both sides plan to end months of conflict and move towards a longer-term settlement.
The U.S. and Iran say they have reached a deal to end their conflict, with an immediate ceasefire and reopening of the Strait of Hormuz after the lifting of the U.S. naval blockade. Talks will continue over the next 60 days to finalise the agreement
A senior U.S. official said on Monday that the memorandum of understanding linked to the U.S.-Iran agreement had been signed by President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel does not consider itself bound by a Lebanon-related provision in an emerging agreement with Iran, according to Israeli officials.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck Indonesia's Sulawesi island early Tuesday, killing at least one person and injuring four, according to emergency authorities.
More than 8,300 participants from 100 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan's capital for the fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026), bringing together investors, policymakers and business leaders from around the world.
Following Armenia’s parliamentary vote, AnewZ spoke to people in Yerevan about the mood in the capital, relations with Azerbaijan and the country’s future. The full vox-pop report premieres on Tuesday (16 June) at 22:30 AZT / 20:30 CET.
France has continued activities that undermine the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process, including espionage and information campaigns targeting Baku, according to Azerbaijan’s State Commission Against Foreign Interference and Hybrid Threats.
QatarEnergy is prepared to rapidly restore liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan complex once shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz return to normal, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Israel has formally assumed planning and construction powers at one of the most sensitive religious sites in the occupied West Bank, ending an arrangement that had been in place for nearly three decades.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment