First Kazakh President Nazarbayev's heart surgery successful

ASTANA. Jan 20 (Interfax) - Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is now under medical observation after undergoing heart surgery, his press secretary Aidos Ukibai said on Friday.

"Nursultan Nazarbayev underwent heart surgery. The operation was successful. The first president's condition is not life-threatening. He is currently under medical observation," Ukibai said on Twitter.

The surgery was performed at the National Cardiac Surgery Research Center by well-known surgeon Yury Pya, he said.

Nazarbayev, who had been Kazakhstan's president for about 30 years and stepped down in March 2019, is now 82.