View source for 2007 Kazakh political shakeup

{{Politics of Kazakhstan}}The '''Kazakh political change in hierarchy of 2007''' began on 8 January 2007 when [[Prime Minister of Kazakhstan|Prime Minister]] [[Daniyal Akhmetov]] unexpectedly resigned and ended with the [[Senate of Kazakhstan|Senate]]'s confirmation of [[Karim Masimov]] as his replacement on 11 January. Akhmetov did not say why he resigned, but political analysts noted increasing criticism from [[President of Kazakhstan|President]] [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] of his oversight of [[Economy of Kazakhstan|the economy]].<ref name=MASIMOV>{{cite web |url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411319/956424 |title=Kazakhstan appoints new PM |date=10 January 2007 |work=[[Television New Zealand]] |accessdate=14 September 2011}}</ref>

==Appointments==
[[Kanat Saudabayev]], [[Kazakhstan]]'s [[ambassador]] to the United States, became the secretary of the Kazakh Security Council, replacing [[Marat Tazhin]].<ref name=SAUD>[http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658497 Saudabayev appointed Kazakh Security Council secretary] Interfax</ref> Tazhin became the [[Foreign Minister]], replacing [[Kassym-Jomart Tokayev]].<ref name=FM>[http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658475 Kazakhstan to remain committed to multifaceted foreign policy - Nazarbayev] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928004714/http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=11658475 |date=September 28, 2007 }} Interfax</ref> Tokayev became the Chairman of the [[Senate of Kazakhstan]], replacing [[Nurtai Abykayev]]. Abykayev became Kazakhstan's ambassador to Russia,<ref name=ABYKAYEV>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2007/1/840800a1-fe28-4dad-9e7c-8be9ef8b0b59.html New government formed in Kazakhstan] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> a position he previously held from January 2002–2003,<ref name=PREVIOUS>[http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/03/8aaf810f-f040-44b5-9a9b-4903eecb384f.html Kazakhstan: Abikayev is suddenly the number-two man] RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty</ref> replacing [[Zhanseit Tuymenbayev]]. Tuymenbayev became the Education and Science Minister, replacing [[Byrganym Aytimova]].<ref name=ZHAN>[http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11146337&PageNum=0 Nurtai Abykayev appointed Kazakh Ambassador to Russia] ITAR-TASS</ref><ref name=REPLACEMENTS>[http://www.azertag.com/en/index.shtml?language=english&catid=&news_year=&news_month=&news_day=&newsid=216365&themes_viewing=&themes_page=&themeid=&news_page= President of Kazakhstan forming cabinet], [[AzerTaj]]</ref> Aytimova became Kazakhstan's ambassador to the United Nations.<ref name=AYTIM>[http://www.inform.kz/showarticle.php?lang=eng&id=149421 Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan under the UN delivered credentials to UN Secretary-General] Kazinform</ref>

[[President of Kazakhstan|President]] [[Nursultan Nazarbayev]] appointed Economy Minister [[Aslan Musin]] to Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Karim Masimov. Masimov replaced Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister. Akhmetov replaced [[Mukhtar Altynbayev]] as Defense Minister. President Nazarbayev demoted Altynbayev to Deputy Minister of Defense. [[Galym Orazbakov]] replaced [[Vladimir Shkolnik]] as the Minister of Industry and Trade.<ref name=REPLACEMENTS/> Yerbol Orynbayev, a close aide to Nazarbayev, became Masimov's chief-of-staff.<ref name=ANALYSIS>[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav011207a.shtml A political shake-up in Kazakhstan strengthens presidential authority] EurasiaNet</ref> Shkolnick became the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President.<ref name=SHKOLNICK>[http://www.kazakhembus.com/011607.html First Civilian Defense Minister, New Heads of Education, Industry and Trade, and Emergency Situations] Embassy of Kazakhstan to the USA and Canada</ref>

==Effects==
Foreign Minister Tazhin said Kazakhstan would continue "to pursue a multi-vector policy governed by the economic and political interests of our country," but Prime Minister Masimov is expected to take Kazakhstan's foreign policy farther in the direction of China based on his past political service and education background. Joanna Lillis of ''EurasiaNet'' has speculated that the shuffle may be tied to Kazakhstan's campaign to chair the [[Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe]] in 2009.<ref name=ANALYSIS/>

The lingering scandals over the suspicious deaths and trials of opposition leaders [[Altynbek Sarsenbayev]] and [[Zamanbek Nurkadilov]] had little impact on the shakeup as Interior Minister [[Baurzhan Mukhamedzhanov]], who received a considerable amount of criticism, maintained his position.<ref name=ANALYSIS/>

==References==
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[[Category:2007 in Kazakhstan|Political shakeup]]
[[Category:History of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Politics of Kazakhstan]]