Akezhan Kazhegeldin

Akezhan Kazhegeldin (Kazakh: Әкежан Мағжанұлы Қажыгелдин, Ákejan Maǵjanuly Qajygeldın, ٵكەجان ماعجانۇلى قاجىگەلدئن; born on 27 March 1952 in the Zharma District, Kazakh SSR)[1] served as the 2nd Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 12 October 1994 until his resignation on 10 October 1997, ostensibly for health reasons,[2] though many saw it as an act protesting authoritarianism in Kazakhstan.

Akezhan Kazhegeldin
2nd Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 14 October 1994 – 10 October 1997
President	Nursultan Nazarbayev
First Deputy	Nygmetjan Esengarin (1994–1997) Akhmetzhan Yessimov (1996–1997)
Preceded by	Sergey Tereshchenko
Succeeded by	Nurlan Balgimbayev
First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office 18 December 1993 – 14 October 1994
Prime Minister	Sergey Tereshchenko
Preceded by	Daulet Sembaev
Succeeded by	Nygmetjan Esengarin
Chairman of the Republican People's Party
In office 17 December 1998 – 25 December 2001
Deputy	Amirjan Qosanov
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
Personal details
Born	(1952-03-27) 27 March 1952 Georgiyevka, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
Military service
Allegiance	Soviet Union
Years of service	1974–1978

Biography

He now heads the Republican People's Party of Kazakhstan, but lives in the West in exile. Adam Albion of Radio Free Europe characterized Kazhegeldin's efforts at democratizing Kazakhstan as "defiant, confrontational, and openly scornful of the idea" that Nursultan Nazarbaev, the President of Kazakhstan, "will ever share power willingly."[3]

Digital Freedom Network credits Kazhegeldin's Prime Ministership with establishing a "stable currency, bank system, and privatization programs that led to growth. He worked at attracting foreign investment, and helped to lay groundwork for a stock market."[1]

In 1998 he was elected President of the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs of Kazakhstan.[1]

The publishing of his book, Kazakhstan: The Right to Choose, led to a political rift with President Nazarbayev. The rift widened when Kazhegeldin's 21st Century Freedom Foundation sponsored amendments to the constitution regarding free elections.[1] Kazhegeldin has since been barred from participating in presidential elections because of his participation in an unsanctioned demonstration, "an administrative offense."

In April 1998, after he had left the country, the government charged him with tax evasion and illegally buying real estate in Belgium. In December 1998, Kazhegeldin founded the Republican People's Party (QRHP) and attempted to challenge Nazarbayev in the 1999 Kazakh presidential election. During the campaign, Kazhegeldin, along with his associates were beaten, harassed, and stalked. An assassination attempt was made towards him by a gunfire outside the city of Almaty. Kazhegeldin was eventually barred from participating in the elections due to his involvement in an unregistered organization of the Movement for Honest Elections.[4]

Kazhegeldin attempted to return to Kazakhstan to attend his father-in-law funeral and to campaign for the 1999 Kazakh legislative election. At the request of the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, he was detained by the Russian police in the Sheremetyevo Airport on 10 September 1999 and was held in custody for 9 hours until Kazhegeldin complained of heart pains. He was taken to a Kremlin hospital for treatment and was held there for 4 days until Kazhegeldin was transferred to a Barvikha Sanatorium on 15 September. Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan Yuri Khitrin and his officials attempted to visit him but were barred at the request of Kazhegeldin. A telephone conversion instead was held between the two parties where Khitrin told Kazhegeldin that he could return to Kazakhstan "voluntarily".[5] Later that day, Kazhegeldin was freed of charges and was allowed to leave Russia. According to Kazhegeldin himself, the reason for his attempted return was due to the fact that the Kazakhstan's Ambassador to United States Bolat Nurgaliyev wrote an article for the Washington Times, stating that Kazhegeldin could return to Kazakhstan freely without having fears of being arrested.[6]

He denies the charges and said they were motivated by politics.

Kazhegeldin has accused President Nazarbayev of authoritarianism, nepotism, and indifference to violations of human rights.[2]

See also

• Government of Kazakhstan

References

1. "People in Prison, Akezhan Kazhegeldin]". Archived from the original on 2004-06-08. Retrieved 2009-07-23.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
2. Kazakhstan's Kazhegeldin conspicuous by his absence Asia Times
3. "Government pressure in run-up to Kazakh Council Elections". Archived from the original on 2007-09-30. Retrieved 2006-10-06.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link) RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty
4. "Detention of Kazakh Opposition Leader Condemned". Human Rights Watch. 1999-09-10. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
5. "Бывший премьер: арест, больница и другое..., 15 сентября 1999 года". www.neweurasia.info (in Russian). 1999-09-15. Retrieved 2020-05-04.
6. Hogan, Beatrice (1999-09-16). "Kazakhstan: Russian Detention Of Opposition Leader Ends". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2020-05-04.

Political offices
Preceded by Sergey Tereshchenko	Prime Minister of Kazakhstan 1994-1997	Succeeded by Nurlan Balgimbayev