Status of Nazarbayev as founder of independent Kazakhstan to be enshrined in constitution

NUR-SULTAN. April 25 (Interfax) - The status of first Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev as the founder of independent Kazakhstan will be enshrined in the Kazakh constitution, Yermek Abdrasulov, member of the working group on constitutional amendments, said at a press briefing on Monday.

"As for the status of the first president, our constitution says it is regulated by the constitution itself and constitutional laws. The working group has decided that the status should be enshrined in the constitution, without reference to laws specified by this provision. I mean the first president of Kazakhstan is the founder of Kazakhstan, and this status will be established," Abdrasulov said.

Kazakhstan has a constitutional law, "On the First President of Kazakhstan," which defines the political and legal status, prerogatives and guarantees for the first president upon the expiry of his office. For instance, the status gives the first president the title of People's Hero, and there are no limitations on his right to be elected president. The law establishes the inviolability of the leader of the nation, who cannot be held responsible for actions taken in his office as the president of Kazakhstan, as well as detained, arrested, incarcerated, searched or questioned.

The inviolability applies to all property owned by Nazarbayev and family members who live together with him, as well as residential and office premises in their use, official transport, communication devices, correspondence and documents.

The law supports the former president's activity: he is entitled to a monthly pension at 80% of the presidential salary.

Every family member who lives together with the ex-president receives a lifetime monthly benefit in the 10-fold amount of the minimal old-age pension established by Kazakh laws as of the day of his death.