New Kazakh president under pressure as youths demand reform

Nation elects first non-Soviet president, but Nazarbayev still holds reins

Kazakhstan's then-interim President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev takes the oath of office during a ceremony in a joint session of parliament in Nur-Sultan on March 20. © Getty Images

NAUBET BISENOV, Contributing writer

June 19, 2019 15:50 JST

ALMATY -- Amid widespread protests, Kazakhstan inaugurated its first non-Soviet president on June 12.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev assumed the post following a landslide win in a snap election after Nursultan Nazarbayev, the last strongman leader of the Soviet era, suddenly resigned on March 19.