END OF AN ERA

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev Steps Down After 30 Years

Nazarbayev has led Kazakhstan since it was still part of the Soviet Union.

Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev has announced his resignation after nearly three decades in power. Nazarbayev has ruled the oil-rich ex-Soviet nation since 1989. He said in a televised address to the nation Tuesday that he has taken the “difficult” decision to terminate his term as president, effective Wednesday. He did not give a specific reason. The 78-year-old has led Kazakhstan since it was still part of the Soviet Union. He came to power as the Communist Party chief and was then elected president. In the country’s most recent election in 2015, he took nearly 98 percent of the vote, winning another five-year term. According to Kazakhstan’s constitution, the upper house speaker acts as head of state until a new president is elected.

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