Moving away from Soviet times, Kazakhstan renames capital to Astana

Robert Besser
22 Sep 2022, 06:59 GMT+10

In the latest effort from politicians to distance themselves from the former Soviet republic's first president, Kazakhstan's parliament renamed the country's capital city from Nur-Sultan to Astana
The steppe city, known as Tselinograd in the Soviet era, became the capital in 1997 and was renamed Astana the following year
Kazakhstan's former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said at the time that he wanted the capital to be located closer to the country's geographical center

ASTANA, Kazakhstan: In the latest effort from politicians to distance themselves from the former Soviet republic's first president, Kazakhstan's parliament renamed the country's capital city from Nur-Sultan to Astana.

The steppe city, known as Tselinograd in the Soviet era, became the capital in 1997 and was renamed Astana the following year.

Kazakhstan's former president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, said at the time that he wanted the capital to be located closer to the country's geographical center, as the previous capital, Almaty, is located in the country's southeast.

When Nazarbayev resigned after three decades in power in 2019, his successor, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, renamed Astana as Nur-Sultan in his honor.

However, after violent street protests over fuel prices in January, Tokayev appeared to have a falling out with Nazarbayev, who resigned his remaining positions, while many of his relatives lost their government jobs.

Last week, the Kazakh parliament voted to change the country's constitution and revert to the earlier name of the capital, Astana.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to China National News.

More Information

13 ℃

Fair in Shanghai/Hongqiao

International

Section

Chinese court to examine disappearance of Malaysia Airlines jet

BEIJING, China: The Chaoyang District Intermediary Court in Beijing has begun compensation hearings for the Chinese relatives of those who ...

Israel ignores U.S., as civilian casualties start mounting in Gaza again

Israel resumed its military operation in the Gaza Strip on Friday with heavy bombardments. As strikes continue, the United States ...

Failed wheel bearing caused Kentucky train derailment: CSX

LIVINGSTON, Kentucky: CSX railroad said that a failed wheel bearing on a train car caused a derailment on November 22 ...

Finland says Russia to blame for migrant crowding eastern border

HELSINKI, Finland: After Finland joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) earlier this year, hundreds of migrants from the Middle ...

Heavy snowfall, blizzards reported in Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria

CHISINAU, Moldova: Over the weekend, heavy snowfall and strong blizzards in Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria left one person dead and ...

House Ethics Committee report results in Santos expulsion

WASHINGTON D.C.: After a House Ethics Committee report found substantial evidence that he broke the law, New York Republican representative ...

Asia Pacific

Section