Kazakh Majilis doesn't plan to revise law envisaging privileges for first president of Kazakhstan

NUR-SULTAN. March 2 (Interfax) - Kazakhstan's Majilis does not plan to revise the law On the First President of Kazakhstan, which gives Leader of the Nation Nursultan Nazarbayev and his family members some privileges, Yerlan Koshanov, speaker of the lower chamber of the parliament, said.

"The Majilis isn't planning to. And why should we repeal it? The law was adopted, as he is a historical person. I think no one is contesting the historical role of Yelbasy [Leader of the Nation], and the president has spoken more than once about that," Koshanov told reporters, responding to a question as to whether parliamentarians will revise the law that gives privileges to Nazarbayev.

"Some changes to the legislation have already been made. The Security Council is now chaired by the president. The Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan has also removed the provision [on Nazarbayev's chairmanship of the Assembly of the People of Kazakhstan]. Coordination of foreign and domestic policy with Yelbasy - this provision has also been removed. The provision on the status of Yelbasy remains. But it's a constitutional provision. And the issue [of cancellation] is not on the agenda, no one is raising the issue," the speaker said.

The law On the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in particular, outlines the political-legal status, prerogatives and guarantees of the first president after the end of the exercise of his presidential powers. In particular, the first president by his status has the People's Hero title and the restriction on the right to be elected president does not apply to him. Besides this law, the immunity of the Leader of the Nation is approved under that law. He cannot be held responsible for actions committed in the period in which he exercised the powers of president of Kazakhstan, he cannot be detained, arrested or held in custody, searched, questioned, or be subjected to personal search.

Immunity also applies to all property belonging to Nazarbayev and his family members who live with him, and also residential and office space used by them, service transport, means of communication, correspondence, and documents belonging to them.

The law also provides for ensuring the activities of the ex-president, and he is entitled to a monthly pension in an amount of 80% of the president's monthly wage.

Every member of the first president's family who lives with him gets a lifelong monthly benefit in an amount of ten minimal old age pensions established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan as of the day of his death.

The document contains a number of other privileges.