New Assistant to Kazakh President appointed

Several high profile personnel changes have been announced on Friday in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews reports citing the official website of president Nazarbayev.

Nurlan Onzhanov was appointed as Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan. Previously, he simultaneously served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Germany and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Denmark. Onzhanov replaced Yerzhan Kazykhanov, who was dismissed to be transferred to another job.

In addition, the President appointed Berik Sholpankulov as Deputy Minister of Defense. 

Former Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Askar Musinov was appointed Deputy Head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Abdrashid Zhukenov is now Deputy Chairman of the Agency for Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police). Aivar Bodanov had been dismissed from the position of Deputy Head of the Financial Police of Kazakhstan.

The day before, Anuar Sadykulov was appointed as the new Chief of Arystan special unit, concurrently Deputy Chairman of the National Security Committee. Previously, he served as Chief of the State Security Service of Kazakhstan. Amantay Kurenbekov is to replace him.