President Nazarbayev on Kazakhstanis’ identity

Kazakhstanis’ identity should be based on the citizenship, the incumbent President Nursultan Nazarbayev stated in his election program run in the country’s media today.

“The country’s constitution safeguards equality of all citizens regardless of their race, ethnic, religion or social background. Kazakhstanis’ identity should be further strengthened, with the identity being deeply rooted in the citizenship”, the program document reads.

According to President Nazarbayev, “Kazakhs bears a special responsibility as a major nation-forming ethnic group. The Kazakhs are assigned an important integrating role in shaping Kazakhstanis’ identity”.

“Our key goal is to make sure Kazakhstanis place the new values such as rule of law, protection of private property, national traditions, achievements made since the country gained its independence over their ethnic behavior models”, the document reads.