23 Nov 2016 11:06

Renaming of Kazakh capital in honor of Nazarbayev is not personality cult - information minister

ASTANA. Nov 23 (Interfax) - Perpetuating the name of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev in the name of the capital does not mean a cult of the personality of Yelbasy (Leader of the Nation), Information and Communications Minister Dauren Abayev said.

"No. I don't think it will happen," Abayev said in the lower house of the parliament when responding to questions from journalists as to whether renaming the capital in honor of the president will be a personality cult.

According to earlier reports, deputies suggested perpetuating Nursultan Nazarbayev's name in the name of the capital at a joint meeting of the parliament chambers on Wednesday during a presentation of the declaration on the 25th anniversary of Kazakhstan's independence.