Categories: CoronavirusHeadlines

Kazakhstan’s First President Nazarbayev Tests Positive For COVID-19

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 18, 2018, Kazakhstan’s first President Nursultan Nazarbayev looks on as he arrives for an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) at the European Council in Brussels. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP

 

 

Kazakhstan’s 79-year-old former president and official ‘Leader of the Nation’ Nursultan Nazarbayev has tested positive for the coronavirus, a statement on his official website said Thursday.

“Currently, the First President of Kazakhstan is in self-isolation. Unfortunately, the last test… for the coronavirus infection showed a positive result. There is no cause for concern,” the statement said.

The statement said that Nazarbayev is “continuing to work remotely.”

Strongman Nazarbayev, who turns 80 next month, served as Kazakhstan’s president for close to three decades before handing the reins over to hand-picked successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev last year.

He retains a number of powerful positions in the authoritarian Central Asian country including the chairmanships of the national security council and the ruling party.

He is also constitutionally honoured as the ‘Leader of the Nation’ — a designation that provides him with unique policymaking privileges.

Other high-ranking Kazakh officials who said this month they tested positive for the coronavirus include Health Minister Yelzhan Birtanov and Nurlan Nigmatulin, who is the chairman of the lower house.

Berik Uali, President Tokayev’s spokesman, also tested positive for the virus.

Akinola Ajibola

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Akinola Ajibola

Recent Posts

NAFDAC Cracks Down On Fake Bottled Water Syndicate In Rivers

The illicit scheme involved affixing pre-printed Eva labels onto the bottles and sealing them with…

24 mins ago

New Senegal President’s Home Village Full Of Pride, Hope And Advice

The uncle of the new president and his namesake Diomaye Faye said that running as…

51 mins ago

‘Caution Wike’, Sekibo, Secondus, Omehia, Others Pledge Support For Tinubu

They expressed their displeasure at the direction of events unfolding politically in the state and…

59 mins ago

Sean Combs, The Rap Mogul Facing A Web Of Sex Crime Allegations

He has no major convictions but has long been trailed by allegations of physical assault,…

60 mins ago

Russian Military Jet Crashes Into Sea Off Crimea

"A military plane has fallen into the sea," Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said in a post…

1 hour ago

VIS Removes 50 Rickety ‘Danfo’ From Lagos Roads

He listed the enforcement locations to include Costain, Ikorodu Road, Ojuelegba, Yaba, Oyingbo, Ikeja, and…

1 hour ago