Kazakhstan: Presidential inauguration in Nur-Sultan June 12

Event

The inauguration of President-elect Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev will be held in the capital Nur-Sultan on Wednesday, June 12. Toqaev announced his inauguration on Monday, June 10, after the Central Election Commission confirmed that he won the recent presidential election with 70 percent of the vote. The ceremony will start at 10:30 (local time) at the Palace of Independence. Heightened security measures, including an increase in checkpoints and security personnel and road closures, are expected in the area. Traffic will be blocked on streets adjacent to the Palace of Independence during the ceremony and public transportation routes will also be altered. Residual traffic disruptions are anticipated following the inauguration. Associated protests are also possible.

Context

Political tensions are high in Kazakhstan after protests broke out on in Almaty and Nur-Sultan on Sunday, June 9, to denounce the snap presidential elections called by interim president Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev. Around 500 people were detained by the police during the demonstrations.

On March 19, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev announced his resignation from the office of the presidency effective March 20. In a televised address on March 19, Nazarbayev, who will remain chair of the country's Security Council and the ruling Nur-Otan party, named speaker of the upper parliament chamber Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev as interim president.

Advice

Individuals in Nur-Sultan are advised to avoid all political events as a precaution, allow additional time to travel, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.