"Tokayev on Nazarbayev: He was not known for his political tact."

The interviewer asked Tokayev how often he communicates with Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"Every historical era has its bright and dark sides. In our recent history, however, there have been significantly more positive aspects. This is a fact. In a relatively short time, a stable statehood was established, power institutions were formed, a new capital was built, the state border was legally fixed, beneficial cooperation was established with many countries, and foreign investments were attracted to the economy.

It would be incorrect to deny such achievements. If we are building a fair state, we must treat history and those who created it in the same way. This is essential for the future of our nation. Without an honest and objective assessment of the past, we cannot confidently move forward. It is dangerous to reshape our history on the fly for the sake of political circumstances, and even more so to rewrite history from scratch.

Of course, during Nursultan Nazarbayev's long presidential tenure, there were shortcomings, but those who do not work do not make mistakes. After his resignation, while remaining the chairman of the Security Council, he, to be frank, did not demonstrate political delicacy, regularly holding meetings with the participation of the Prime Minister, the Chairman of the National Bank, ministers, and akims. Even foreign leaders and diplomats looked on in surprise, not to mention our public. There was even a joke: "Nazarbayev went for a promotion after his resignation and got the president under his command." But in reality, there was no time for jokes.

This situation gave rise to a wave of rumors about dual power. The bureaucratic class was thrown into confusion, visiting one office or the other and getting tangled in directives. Some officials even tried to legally justify this abnormal situation, claiming that the Elbasy institution should stand above the presidential authority. The pivotal events that predetermined the real crisis of power were Nursultan Nazarbayev's statement at the Astana Club meeting in November 2021 about the possibility of returning to Akorda, referencing the 92-year-old Mahathir Mohamad, as well as the former president's participation in the CIS summit in St. Petersburg in December of the same year. The day before, a provocative letter from a local political scientist was delivered to him, justifying decisive measures to restore the "Golden Age of Elbasy."

But now it is necessary to show common sense and duly appreciate Nursultan Nazarbayev's historical contributions to Kazakhstan. As president, I must be guided by state interests and think about the unity of our people.

Regarding your question, we currently communicate by phone approximately once a month," the head of state noted.

You can read the extensive interview with the head of state, which he referred to as a special address to the people of Kazakhstan, here.

We remind you that in the interview, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev also spoke about a phone conversation with the elected U.S. President Donald Trump, commented on the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Kazakhstan, and denied rumors about his appointment as UN Secretary-General.