Aidos Ukibay, the spokesperson for Kazakhstan’s first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced that the former Kazakh leader underwent heart surgery. In a written piece, Ukibay conveyed the news to the public and confirmed the details shared earlier through various channels.
The spokesperson emphasized that the operation went smoothly and that Nazarbayev is not in immediate danger. He added that the former president is currently under medical supervision and receiving careful monitoring as part of his post-operative care.
According to Ukibay, the procedure took place at the National Scientific Center for Cardiac Surgery in Astana, under the oversight of a renowned cardiac surgeon, Yuri Pya. The medical team reportedly performed the surgery with precision, focusing on restoring heart function and ensuring stable recovery for the patient.
Earlier reports had indicated that Nazarbayev, who is now 82 years old, was hospitalized for heart-related concerns. Alexander Aksyutits, a former director of the Khabar 24 news channel, stated that Nazarbayev was admitted to a medical facility in Astana for a comprehensive cardiac assessment, during which doctors determined that surgical intervention was necessary.
In recent days, Kazakhstan’s Constitutional Court made a formal ruling regarding the legal framework surrounding the country’s leadership. The court invalidated a prior law that defined Nazarbayev as the nation’s leader forever, a label that has been historically used in reference to the country’s founding president. This decision marks a interpretation shift in the legal recognition of Nazarbayev’s role while he remains a prominent public figure in Kazakh politics.
Nazarbayev has been a central figure in Kazakhstan’s modern history since taking office as the chairman of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic in 1989, and he served as the country’s first president from December 16, 1991, until stepping down on March 20, 2019. His long tenure helped shape numerous political and economic reforms that influenced the nation’s trajectory for decades.