Kazakhstan to Restore Capital’s Old Name

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Facts

  • Kazakhstan's Pres. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has agreed to restore the former name of the country's capital back to 'Astana' after he renamed it 'Nur-Sultan' in honor of his predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev three years ago.
  • The capital was named 'Akmolinsk' by imperial Russian settlers, 'Tselinograd' in the early 1960s, 'Akmola' after Kazakhstan's independence, and Astana (meaning 'capital') a year later in 1998.
  • In early Sept., Tokayev agreed to a proposal by lawmakers to rename the capital back to Astana. Earlier, protests against increased fuel prices evolved into a broader expression of anger over decades of corruption and misrule with frustration directed at Nazarbayev and his family.
  • At least 230 people were killed and hundreds injured during the violent protests in Jan. The uprisings were described as the most disruptive since independence in 1991. Following the riots, Tokayev deposed Nazarbayev as head of Kazakhstan's Security Council.
  • Meanwhile, Tokayev announced early presidential elections in the fall and said he wanted to limit the president's term in Sept. to a single seven-year term.
  • Nazarbayev, who resigned in 2019 after nearly 30 years in power, was also known as the 'leader of the nation,' a status that entitled him to maintain influence over domestic and foreign affairs after stepping down as president.

Sources: Guardian, Eurasianet, Bloomberg, and Caspian.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by RFERL. The name 'Nur-Sultan' lacked popular appeal, and while Nazarbaev enjoyed genuine popularity during his time as president, the change back to 'Astana' is a gesture toward Kazakstan's citizens. Given the recent riots, demands for reform, and constitutional changes, this is a welcome change.
  • Narrative B, as provided by Eurasianet. This change is mostly cosmetic. While Nazarbayev has fallen from grace with extreme speed, Kazakhstan is still led by the former leader's cronies and relatives. Despite the name change of the country's capital, it is unlikely that the power structure of this Central Asian nation will change significantly.