Kazakh court annuls law on first president

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Constitutional Court in Kazakhstan on Wednesday annulled the law on the first President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

A statement by the Constitutional Court said that it considered the appeal of certain lawmakers but the court viewed that the law “On the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan - Elbasy” is not consistent with the current constitution of Kazakhstan established by the referendum of June 5, 2022.

The statement also said that the Constitutional Court considers that in cases when the constitutional and legal grounds for the existence of a law cease to exist, the legal fate of a law should be decided upon.

“Laws and other regulatory legal acts are an integral part of the current law of the Republic of Kazakhstan if they comply with the Constitution of the Republic. The Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, as the highest representative body of the republic in exercising legislative power, must ensure compliance with this constitutional requirement,” it added.

The law’s annulment will not deprive former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev of immunity, as it is still guaranteed by the country’s current constitution, but will deprive his family members of such immunity.

Nazarbayev, 82, resigned from the presidency in 2019 after ruling the country for nearly 30 years.