Marat Tazhin

Marat Muhanbetuly Tazhin (Template:Lang-kk; born in 1960 in Aktobe) is a Kazakh politician. He served as the Foreign Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan from 2007 to 2009. He previously served as Secretary of the National Security Committee (NSC).<ref name=SCS>Kazakhstan interested in cooperation with US to promote Democracy NGO Watch</ref> In September 2009 he was named an advisor to President Nursultan Nazarbayev and secretary of Kazakhstan's Security Council.<ref name=BIO>Biography of Marat Tazhin Research Portal</ref>. Marat Tazhin was appointed First Deputy Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2017<ref name="kazworld">Kazakh Ambassador To Russia Gets New Appointment</ref>.

Education and early career

He graduated from the Almaty National Economic Institute and continued his post-graduate study at Kazakh State University, eventually becoming a senior lecturer there. From 1987 to 1988 he interned in London, United Kingdom. From 1991 to 1992 he served as a department head at Al-Farabi University in Almaty.<ref name=BIO/>

Political career

Tazhin began his service as chairman of the NSC in May 2001, succeeding Alnur Musaev. He was replaced shortly thereafter in December 2001 by Nartai Dutbayev.<ref name="Bzglyad">Template:Citation</ref>

Tazhin replaced Kassym-Jomart Tokayev as foreign minister on 10 January 2007 during a government shake-up. Tokayev became the Chairman of the Senate.<ref name=APPOINTMENT>Kazakhstan to remain committed to multifaceted foreign policy - Nazarbayev Interfax</ref><ref name=SHAKEUP>Kazakhstan FM elected as Chairman of the Senate ITAR-Tass</ref>

Tazhin assisted President Nursultan Nazarbayev in writing several books.<ref name=NAZAR>Nazarbayev - The Kazakhstan Way Neweurasia.net</ref>

Tazhin met with United States Senator Richard Lugar in Astana on 7 February 2006 to discuss biological weapon nonproliferation measures and cooperation with U.S. scientists.<ref name=US>Kazakhstan vows continued nonproliferation support Global Security Newswire</ref>

He has received the Order of Kurmet.

January 2013 Marat Tazhin was relieved of his duties as Aide to the President and Security Council Secretary and appointed Kazakhstan’s Secretary of State, replacing outgoing Mukhtar Kul-Mukhammed.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

February 2014 Marat Tazhin was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation.

January 2017 Marat Tazhin was appointed First Deputy Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.<ref name="kazworld"/>

Perception

Analysts have described him as a theoretician<ref name=THEORY>Kazakh paper Karavan analyses recent government Reshuffle Eurasianet</ref> and as a shadow who prefers to wield power behind the scene.<ref name=SHADOW>Марат Тажин: стратег, конспиратор и идеолог в одном флаконе Думаем.ру</ref> President Nazarbayev described him after appointing him foreign minister as a "scholar, a Ph.D., and has been my adviser, including on foreign policy questions. Since the international community attaches great importance to my choice for foreign minister, I appointed the person I know well and believe in. Most importantly, I believe he will succeed in his new job and will bring his own contribution to further foreign policy successes of our country.”<ref name=EMBUS>New Government in Kazakhstan Takes Shape Embassy of Kazakhstan</ref>