At the end of last week, the most talked-about news in Kazakhstan was the latest reshuffle in the upper echelons of government. Just one day after returning from New York, where he participated in the UN General Assembly, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev signed a series of personnel decrees.
On Thursday, five presidential aides responsible for various portfolios were dismissed. The following day, Tokayev appointed former aide for international affairs Yerzhan Kazykhan as Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva. On the same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu was dismissed and reassigned as Assistant to the President for International Investment and Trade Cooperation. Yerzhan Ashikbayev, Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to the United States, was also relieved of his post.
As is customary in Kazakhstan, no official comments were made regarding the reshuffle in Akorda. And as is also typical, speculation exploded across social media, with journalists and bloggers debating the implications throughout the weekend.
Speculation regarding potential personnel changes at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had begun even before Tokayev’s trip to New York. On September 4, a local media outlet reported that Nurtleu had allegedly been arrested by the National Security Committee. Although Minister of Culture and Information Aida Balaeva promptly denied the claim, rumours persisted until September 8, when Nurtleu himself told journalists in parliament: “This is all a lie and absurd. There is nothing to comment on.” The supposed scandal shortly fizzled out.
Nevertheless, the official announcement of Nurtleu’s dismissal reignited debate, with local media linking the move to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s recent trip to New York. Commentators framed the visit as a diplomatic misstep, with Exclusive.kz writing that “domestic diplomacy… suffered a spectacular failure in the Big Apple.” Orda.kz noted that the “meeting between the President of Kazakhstan and the United States did not take place. Apparently, the negotiations reported by Akorda took place by telephone.” Former diplomat Kazbek Beisebayev, meanwhile, stressed that contact between the presidents was “limited to a phone call and congratulations. Meanwhile, Mirziyoyev managed to meet with Trump, and Uzbekistan signed a major contract with Boeing.” Questions were also raised over Kazakhstan’s $4.2 billion locomotive deal with U.S. firm Wabtec, with Orda.kz concluding that the “profitability of this deal remains unclear.”
These criticisms, however, overlook the fact that Tokayev’s trip was not a state visit to the United States but a working visit to participate in the 80th session of the UN General Assembly. As for the agreement with U.S. company Wabtec, critics neglected to mention the details of the long-term contract, which includes the purchase of 300 locomotives between 2027 and 2036 (30 units annually), the extension of service for 405 existing locomotives until 2058, and comprehensive maintenance until 2054.
So what actually prompted these seemingly unexpected resignations and appointments?
Well-known Central Asian political analyst and historian Daniyar Ashimbayev believes the changes are part of a broader effort to streamline the presidential administration. He pointed out that the growing number of assistants and advisers, 15 in total, had created duplication of functions and reduced overall efficiency. Speaking to InBusiness.kz, Ashimbayev explained: “It was decided to reduce the overly large team. These are not spontaneous decisions, but the continuation of work initiated after the president’s address.” He added that this year’s packed foreign policy agenda delayed the typical post-address reshuffle: “A structure is now being formed that is tailored to the implementation of the tasks announced by the head of state.”
Observers note that such appointments and resignations are subject to formal procedures and are rarely decided overnight. Diplomatic rotations are especially structured, with ambassadorial posts requiring agreement from host countries. Kazakhstan’s embassy in Washington is now temporarily without a head, but a new envoy is expected soon. Under Kazakh law, ambassadors serve five-year terms. Yerzhan Ashikbayev had been in Washington for more than four years, and while terms can be extended, the decision rests solely with the president.
Meanwhile, the newly appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yermek Kusherbayev, is a veteran diplomat whose career began in 1988 and who is well known within foreign policy circles.
On September 29, further cabinet changes were announced. Zhaslan Madiyev was appointed Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, and Zhuldyz Suleimenova became Minister of Education.
Taken together, the series of changes suggests a routine rotation of senior officials across government, aimed at improving efficiency and aligning the administration with Tokayev’s stated priorities, rather than any dramatic rupture in policy direction.