Kazakhstan’s capital to also be named after leader

Trivia fanatics may once have known that Kazakhstan’s capital is called Astana, but that has suddenly changed. The city will now be known as Nursultan in honour of the country’s president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, who resigned this week after nearly 30 years in power, handing control to his friend and ally, Kassym Jomart-Tokayev.

Tokayev proposed the change in his first act as acting president after being sworn in on the March 27 and parliament unanimously approved it. He also awarded his predecessor the titles of People’s Hero and Hero of Labour, pinning a golden star to Mr Nazarbayev’s chest in front of politicians.

The former president will also continue to hold the title of leader of the nation and remains as head of the security council as well as the ruling party. Cities have also begun naming their main streets after the former ruler at the suggestion of the new president. Astana airport was already renamed after Nazarbayev in 2017.

He is also widely celebrated in film, music and art, including with a golden sculpture of him in the national museum and a museum in the capital is dedicated to his life. The country’s main university, national library, and a mountain peak are also named after him.

Established as Akmolinsk in 1830, Astana was renamed Tselinograd in 1961 during Khrushchev’s Soviet reign. It was changed to Astana in 1998.

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