22 January 2012 | 16:36

PHOTO: Reshuffling in Kazakhstan

Administrative center of Astana. Photo courtesy of astana.kz

Kazakhstan has reshuffled and reorganized its government, Tengrinews.kz reports. One of its ministries – the Ministry of Communication and Information – has been eliminated altogether. After the opening ceremony of the first session of the Parliament of the fifth convocation on January 20 the renewed Majilis (lower chamber) voted for the chamber’s new speaker vice chairman of Nur Otan party Nurlan Nigmatulin. They elected Baktykozha Izmukhambetov and Sergey Dyachenko Vice-Speakers of the Majilis. After that they gave a vote of confidence to the government led by Karim Massimov. By doing so they left the current Prime-Minister Karim Massimov in office. But the cabinet itself got largely reshuffled. The President signed a decree eliminating the Ministry of Communication and Information. Instead, the Ministry of Culture was renamed to the Minister of Culture and Information and the Agency for Sports and Physical Culture has been created. The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and Ministry of Transport and Communications got new fuctions. Heads of several ministries and government agencies were release from their positions and new ones were appointed. Karat Kelimbetov left his position of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade and became Vice-Prime Minister. Bakhytzhan Sagintayev left his position of the Akim (Governor) of Pavlodar Oblast and became Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Member of the Academy of Sciences Yerlan Aeyn replaced him as Akim (Governor) of Pavlodar Oblast. Former Akim (Governor) of Karaganda Oblast Serik Akhmetov was appointed First Vice-Prime-Minister replacing Umirzak Shukeyev at this positions. Abelgazy Kusainov replaced him as Akim (Governor) of Karaganda Oblast. Agency for Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police) got a new head: Rashid Tusupbekov replaced Kairat Kozhamzharov. Ex-Senator Berik Imashev was appointed Minister of Justice instead of Rashid Tusupbekov. Nurlan Kapparov was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection instead of Nurgali Ashim who became a member of the Majilis (lower chamber of the parliament). Head of the Presidential Adiministration Aslan Mussin introduced the new Akim (Governor) of Kostanay region Nuraly Saduakasov who used to be Vice Akim (Vice Governor) of the oblast’s former head Sergey Kulagin. Sergey Kulagin became a Senator. Nurlan Nogayev was made Akim (Governor) of West-Kazakhstan Oblast replacing Baktykozha Izmukhambetov who was chosen a Vice-Speaker of the Majilis (lower Chamber). Talgat Donakov was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. Onalsyn Zhumabekov was released from this position and became a member of the Majilis (lower chamber). On January 21 ex-head of the Financial Police Kairat Kozhamzharov was appointed Akim (Governor) of Akmola Oblast replacing Sergey Dyachenko who was chosen a Vice-Speaker of the Majilis (lower chamber). Ex Aid to the President Bakhyt Sultanov was made vice head of the Presidential Administration. Agency for Management of Land Resources also got a new head: Kadirkhan Otarov. Prime-Minister Karim Massimov introduced him on January 21. Former head of the eliminated Ministry of Communication and Information Askar Zhumagaliyev became Minister of Transport and Communications. Berik Kamaliyev was released from this position, same as Talgat Yermegiyaev was release from being Minister of the transformed Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Asset Issekeshev retained his positions of the Minister of Industry and New Technologies but was released from the position of Vice-Prime Minister.

Kazakhstan has reshuffled and reorganized its government, Tengrinews.kz reports. One of its ministries – the Ministry of Communication and Information – has been eliminated altogether. After the opening ceremony of the first session of the Parliament of the fifth convocation on January 20 the renewed Majilis (lower chamber) voted for the chamber’s new speaker vice chairman of Nur Otan party Nurlan Nigmatulin. They elected Baktykozha Izmukhambetov and Sergey Dyachenko Vice-Speakers of the Majilis. After that they gave a vote of confidence to the government led by Karim Massimov. By doing so they left the current Prime-Minister Karim Massimov in office. But the cabinet itself got largely reshuffled. The President signed a decree eliminating the Ministry of Communication and Information. Instead, the Ministry of Culture was renamed to the Minister of Culture and Information and the Agency for Sports and Physical Culture has been created. The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies and Ministry of Transport and Communications got new fuctions. Heads of several ministries and government agencies were release from their positions and new ones were appointed. Karat Kelimbetov left his position of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade and became Vice-Prime Minister. Bakhytzhan Sagintayev left his position of the Akim (Governor) of Pavlodar Oblast and became Minister of Economic Development and Trade. Member of the Academy of Sciences Yerlan Aeyn replaced him as Akim (Governor) of Pavlodar Oblast. Former Akim (Governor) of Karaganda Oblast Serik Akhmetov was appointed First Vice-Prime-Minister replacing Umirzak Shukeyev at this positions. Abelgazy Kusainov replaced him as Akim (Governor) of Karaganda Oblast. Agency for Fighting Economic and Corruption Crimes (Financial Police) got a new head: Rashid Tusupbekov replaced Kairat Kozhamzharov. Ex-Senator Berik Imashev was appointed Minister of Justice instead of Rashid Tusupbekov. Nurlan Kapparov was appointed Minister of Environmental Protection instead of Nurgali Ashim who became a member of the Majilis (lower chamber of the parliament). Head of the Presidential Adiministration Aslan Mussin introduced the new Akim (Governor) of Kostanay region Nuraly Saduakasov who used to be Vice Akim (Vice Governor) of the oblast’s former head Sergey Kulagin. Sergey Kulagin became a Senator. Nurlan Nogayev was made Akim (Governor) of West-Kazakhstan Oblast replacing Baktykozha Izmukhambetov who was chosen a Vice-Speaker of the Majilis (lower Chamber). Talgat Donakov was appointed Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council. Onalsyn Zhumabekov was released from this position and became a member of the Majilis (lower chamber). On January 21 ex-head of the Financial Police Kairat Kozhamzharov was appointed Akim (Governor) of Akmola Oblast replacing Sergey Dyachenko who was chosen a Vice-Speaker of the Majilis (lower chamber). Ex Aid to the President Bakhyt Sultanov was made vice head of the Presidential Administration. Agency for Management of Land Resources also got a new head: Kadirkhan Otarov. Prime-Minister Karim Massimov introduced him on January 21. Former head of the eliminated Ministry of Communication and Information Askar Zhumagaliyev became Minister of Transport and Communications. Berik Kamaliyev was released from this position, same as Talgat Yermegiyaev was release from being Minister of the transformed Ministry of Tourism and Sports. Asset Issekeshev retained his positions of the Minister of Industry and New Technologies but was released from the position of Vice-Prime Minister.

Prime-Minister Government governor Karim Masimov Karim Massimov Kazakh Kazakhstan Majilis news Parliament Akim