2004

6 October 2004 -- Central Election Commission (CEC) reports Otan won 42 seats in Mazhilis, the election bloc AIST won 11 seats, Asar took four, the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan and Ak Zhol each took one seat, and independent candidates won the remaining 18 seats

6 October 2004 -- "Ekspress K" reports Madel Ismailov is planning to create a Communist Workers Party of Kazakhstan

5 October 2004 -- CEC reports Otan received 54.5 percent of the seats in the Mazhilis

4 October 2004 -- Ak Zhol releases statement saying the party "believes that President Nazarbaev and his administration bear personal responsibility for the mass breaches of the constitution and other laws for the mass manipulation of voters' will," statement adds that the runoff elections "surpassed by several times the dirty elections of 19 September"

3 October 2004 -- Second round of Mazhilis elections held in 22 districts

1 October 2004 -- Ak Zhol calls off planned 2 October rally to protest elections, co-Chairman Alikhan Baimenov says party failed to receive authorities' permission

30 September 2004 -- U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher says in a statement that there were serious shortcomings in voter lists, candidates' access to media, and tabulation of returns, says, "we urge the government of Kazakhstan to promptly and fairly address concerns...as well as complaints and appeals related to violations of the elections law"

29 September 2004 -- Former Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan leader and Energy Minister Mukhtar Abliyazov releases statement saying an assassination attempt is being prepared against him; Abliyazov moved to Moscow after he was released from jail in 2003, but says now he is afraid to go to Moscow as "a high-ranking official has ordered him killed"

28 September 2004 -- Otan releases statement saying the party's victory in the 19 September election was honest and the result of "painstaking work"; statement accuses the opposition of "deliberately straining the political situation" and attempting to "undermine the country's international image"

26 September 2004 -- National Security Committee (KNB) demands an apology from Ak Zhol for spreading false reports that KNB officers were "shadowing" leaders of the party

22 September 2004 -- Ak Zhol calls for nationwide rally to protest the Mazhilis elections, releases a statement saying: "We would like to state that the elections held in Astana's Sary-Arkinsky district were invalid. We are filing a lawsuit with judicial authorities asking them to invalidate the elections' results, and we are launching a campaign during which Astana's voters will be able to express their disagreement with the voting results"

21 September 2004 -- U.S. State Department says it shares the OSCE's assessment of Mazhilis elections that "the election process did not meet the international standards which Kazakhstan obliged itself to follow when it became a member of the OSCE"

20 September 2004 -- Ak Zhol files complaint with Supreme Court against the CEC, saying the commission failed to post in the media the list of electoral districts and polling stations using the electronic voting system, so that equipment could be installed three days in advance

20 September 2004 -- ITAR-TASS reports voter turnout of 53.7 percent, with 4.6 million of 8.5 million registered voters casting ballots

20 September 2004 -- "Kazakhstan Today" reports that three parties and one bloc -- Otan, Asar, Ak Zhol, and the AIST (Agrarian-Industrial Union of Workers, election bloc formed by Agrarian and Civic parties) -- crossed the 7 percent threshold needed for parliament seats from party lists, Otan received 147,531 votes (42.72 percent), Asar 67,217 votes (19.47 percent), Ak Zhol 55,648 votes (16.12 percent), and AIST bloc 28,903 votes (8.37 percent). Other parties' totals were given as the Communist Party-Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan 21,436 votes (6.21 percent), Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan 10,345 votes (3 percent), Democratic Party 4,403 votes (1.28 percent), Aul 4,020 votes (1.16 percent), Patriot's Party 3,941 votes (1.14 percent), and Rukhaniyat 1,074 votes (0.54 percent). The newspaper reports that of the 1,959,375 people who could have voted using the electronic Saylau system, 353,855 did so

20 September 2004 -- The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) releases preliminary report on Mazhilis elections, saying, "the 19 September parliamentary elections in Kazakhstan fell short of OSCE and Council of Europe standards in many respects," and reports confusion and inconsistency on election day, lack of transparency in the work of the CEC throughout the process, and discrepancy between the names on paper and the electronic voter lists

20 September 2004 -- Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev announces his resignation over parliamentary elections, saying: "The election was not fair, honest, or transparent; the authorities showed that from the beginning they didn't want honest elections. That's why I don't consider it possible to stay in the cabinet and be a part of an executive branch that actively interfered in the election campaign and took part in the falsification of election results"

20 September 2004 -- CIS Executive Secretary Vladimir Rushailo says CIS observer mission did not notice mass violations in Mazhilis elections

19 September 2004 -- Mazhilis elections held, 623 candidates run for 77 seats, 552 for the 67 seats available in single-mandate districts, eight parties and two election blocs take part. ITAR-TASS cites early returns showing Otan with 42.8 percent, Asar next with 19.2 percent

19 September 2004 -- Election results give pro-presidential parties a clear lead. Kazakh Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev, who is also the co-chairman of the moderate opposition party Ak Zhol, resigns in protest over what he described as unfair elections

10 September 2004 -- Police in Almaty detain 10 activists from the Communist Party and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan Party who were attempting to hold a political rally

8 September 2004 -- Ak Zhol party co-Chairman Altynbek Sarsenbaev, who is also minister of information, criticizes the government for "shamelessly" and "rudely" obstructing other parties' campaigning; he also says opposition parties are being denied access to media and prevented by authorities from putting up posters and billboards or meeting with voters

8 September 2004 -- Members of Communist Party and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan Party demonstrate outside the headquarters of state news agency Khabar, protesting use of agency to promote Asar political party, demonstrators chant "Khabar to the people," police break up protest and detain demonstrators

7 September 2004 -- Asar party leader Dariga Nazarbaeva says she is sorry voters were subjected to official pressure to vote for Otan party. "Don't ordinary Otan members have anything better to offer, and [do they] think they can win elections only through pressure, intimidation, and blackmail?" Nazarbaeva says

2 September 2004 -- Supreme Court rejects request from the Communist Party of Kazakhstan and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan to form a political bloc called the Opposition Bloc of Abdildin and Zhaqiyanov

1 September 2004 -- President Nazarbaev says Kazakhstan's electoral laws meet international standards, says legislation ensures "all the necessary prerequisites for the elections to take place in a purely democratic, honest, and transparent manner. We have all the capabilities for it, and we have to make this idea a reality"

31 August 2004 -- The opposition bloc of the Communist Party and Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan Party threaten to boycott elections if the authorities do not limit use of electronic voting in the country to just 2-3 percent of electorate; the bloc says authorities must also free DCK opposition leader Galymzhan Zhaqiyanov and provide equal access to mass media for all political parties during the election campaign

31 August 2004 -- Presidential adviser Yermukhamet Yertysbaev says the political elite is now split between Otan, Asar, and Ak Zhol

31 August 2004 -- OSCE recommends that Kazakhstan's Central Elections Commission conduct independent testing of the new electronic voting system

27 August 2004 -- John Penny, first secretary of the European Commission's office in Kazakhstan, says, "We view the upcoming elections as an important event for Kazakhstan." Ambassador Ivar Vikki, head of the OSCE center in Almaty, says the elections will play a major role for Kazakhstan as a young state that is establishing itself as a democratic, secular, and law-abiding country

25 August 2004 -- Murat Tungishbaev, the project director on election observation of the Republican Chain of Independent Observers Association, complains there are violations in the electoral commissions. "Many election commissions still work behind closed doors, and in some cases observers have been barred entry to commission sessions or have not been able to obtain accurate information about scheduling," Tungishbaev says

24 August 2004 -- Burikhan Nurmukhamedov, the director of the Kazakh Institute for National Studies, announces his organization has published a book explaining to deputy candidates what steps they need to take to succeed in the country's upcoming parliamentary elections

20 August 2004 -- Almaty court rejects appeal from Bolat Abilov of the Ak Zhol party (see 27 July)

19 August 2004 -- Central Elections Commission released registration figures: 623 candidates registered for elections to the Mazhilis; 49 candidates had their registrations rejected. Otan has 63 candidates, Asar 41, the Ak Zhol party 39, the Agrarian-Industrial Union of Workers 28, the opposition bloc the People's Union of Communists and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan party 26, Democratic Party of Kazakhstan 16, Aul 8, Communist People's Party 7, Patriots Party 10, Rukhaniyat 5

19 August 2004 -- Adviser to the Kazakh Embassy in Russia Yerlap Baizhanov says nearly 600 international observers will attend elections to the Mazhilis on 19 September

18 August 2004 -- Registration of candidates for the Mazhilis elections ends

10 August 2004 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan member Gulzhan Yergalieva says party leader Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov will be moved from the prison camp in the settlement of Kushmurun in the northern Kustanai region to a minimum-security penitentiary

9 August 2004 -- Nomination process for candidates in Mazhilis elections ends; Central Election Commission says 556 candidates nominated, 307 candidates are running as independents

7 August 2004 -- Central Election Commission Deputy Chairman Vladimir Foos confirms registration of opposition bloc formed by Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan and Communist Party

27 July 2004 -- Court finds Ak Zhol co-Chairman Bolat Abilov guilty of slander and gives him an 18-month suspended prison sentence; verdict bans Abilov from competing in September elections

21 July 2004 -- Asar announces at party congress session that leader Darigha Nazarbaeva will run for a seat in parliament; Asar spokesman Sholpan Zabikh says party will have 56 candidates running for seats in September

21 July 2004 -- Ak Zhol co-Chairman Bolat Abilov announces a new coalition of Ak Zhol, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, and Communist Party will work to challenge the political dominance of Otan and Asar, saying, "It's preposterous when the party of the president's daughter vies with her daddy's party."

21 July 2004 -- Nazarbaev tells meeting of editors in chief of Kazakh mass media that business people should concentrate on economics and stay out of politics

19 July 2004 -- Former Emergency Situations Agency Chairman Zamanbek Nurqadilov officially announces he will run for the presidency in 2006; he told RFE/RL about his plans the week before

19 July 2004 -- Almaty court hearing case against Ak Zhol leader Bolat Abilov rejects Abilov's motion to replace judge

18 July 2004 -- Otan holds party congress, names 65 candidates for seats in the Mazhilis including Mazhilis speaker Zharmakhan Tuyakbai, National Bank Chairman and former Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Pavlov, and Environment Minister Aitkul Samakova

18 July 2004 -- Communist People's Party holds first congress, nominates party leader Vladislav Kosarev, South Kazakhstan branch leader Ali Sabirov, Central Committee Secretary Aleksandr Kholodkov, Politburo member Zhabken Kushenov, Politburo member Magerram Magerramov, and 10 others as candidates for September parliamentary elections

18 July 2004 -- Nomination of candidates for Mazhilis election starts

15-16 July 2004 -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Elizabeth Jones visits, says it is important for the United States and the international community that the September Kazakh parliamentary elections be fair

14 July 2004 -- Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev says September elections will not be free or fair and only parties backed by President Nazarbaev have any chance

13 July 2004 -- Ak Zhol co-Chairman Bolat Abilov accuses the authorities of using a slander lawsuit to try to bar him from the September elections; Abilov is being sued by Mazhilis deputy Mukhtar Tinikeev for slander and insult

13 July 2004 -- Information Minister Altynbek Sarsenbaev orders withdrawal of two lawsuits against the opposition newspaper "Nachnem s Ponedelnika" and orders the Information Ministry to apologize to the newspaper for "groundlessly" prosecuting it

13 July 2004 -- More than 50 republican and regional noncommercial social organizations, among them the national association of peasants and farmers, form the social initiative For Fair Elections; chairwoman of the organization is Svetlana Savchenko

12 July 2004 -- Nazarbaev appoints Altynbek Sarsenbaev, a co-chairman of the Ak Zhol party, as minister of information

7 July 2004 -- Zmgali Kobenov, Ak Zhol branch leader in Aktyubinsk Oblast, says charges of hooliganism brought against him in June are fabrications by authorities to pressure the party ahead of September elections

24 June 2004 -- State Statistics Agency reports population of Kazakhstan was 15,000,065 as of 1 June

24 June 2004 -- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights (ODIHR) observer mission head Robert Barry tells Mazhilis speaker Zharmakhan Tuyakbai that the OSCE will monitor the election process in the Mazhilis race, that 20-30 OSCE observers will visit Kazakhstan to observe the run-up to the elections, and 200-300 OSCE observers will be in the country on election day

21 June 2004 -- Justice Ministry registers Communist People's Party led by Vladislav Kosarev

15 June 2004 -- Nazarbaev decree appoints Igor Rogov to be chairman of the Kazakh Constitutional Council, replacing Yurii Khitrin "due to his transfer to another post"

15 June 2004 -- Nazarbaev decree establishes a national commission to advise him on issues in developing democracy and civil society, also says country has had a negative experience with electing local officials and system of appointing governors (akims) will remain

15 June 2004 -- Nazarbaev announces at Otan party congress that date of Mazhilis election will be 19 September

14 June 2004 -- Asar and Ak Zhol say they will not present joint reform program before elections (see 23 May)

10 June 2004 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan releases statement saying authorities are not allowing its representatives to work on election commissions

9 June 2004 -- Justice Minister Onalsyn Zhumabekov warns political parties about party financing, saying, "The Justice Ministry and other agencies will use all the authority that they are given by the law to make certain that Kazakh laws on political parties are obeyed."

3 June 2004 -- Presidential administration demands apology from the opposition newspaper "Assandi-Times" for accusations that the presidential administration played a role in the distribution of fake editions of the newspaper

2 June 2004 -- Fake edition of opposition newspaper "Assandi-Times" hits newsstands with stories that allege Nazarbaev's involvement in Kazakhgate is plot by former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin to discredit Nazarbaev, also purported letter from jailed opposition leader Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov saying he wanted to distance himself from the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan party, "Assandi-Times" Editor in Chief Galina Syrdina says presidential administration behind it, while presidential adviser Yermukhamet Yertysbaev warns newspaper against making false accusations

1 June 2004 -- Interfax reports that Justice Ministry refuses to register the Communist People's Party of Kazakhstan because party had violated a number of Civil Code provisions

26 May 2004 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan releases statement criticizing top National Security Committee officials for "repeated violations of human rights and freedoms of committed at the Kushmurun prison by National Security Committee officials and law enforcement agencies against Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov," the party's leader

23 May 2004 -- Ak Zhol co-Chairman Alikhan Baimenov and Asar First Deputy Chairman Yerlan Karin say during interview on Channel 31 that the two parties have agreed to set up a working group to draw up a program of political reform

14 May 2004 -- Nazarbaev announces intention to seek reelection during an appearance on state television

4 May 2004 -- The leader of the movement For a Law-Based Kazakhstan and the (unregistered) Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, Maksut Narikbaev, says all nine registered political parties sign charter pledging to promote transparent, honest, and fair elections an avoid the use of slander or smearing among political rivals in the election campaigns

4 May 2004 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan party registered by Justice Ministry

2 May 2004 -- Presidential adviser Yermukhamet Yertysbaev says concerning the elections that "any chance of falsification [by the government], that is out of the question."

27 April 2004 -- U.S. Undersecretary of State Richard Armitage tells meeting of U.S.-Kazakh Business Association in Washington that Kazakhstan's fall parliamentary elections will be a key test of that country's commitment to reform

17 February 2004 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan holds founding congress as a party

31 January 2004 -- Asar holds founding congress (as registered party), leader Darigha Nazarbaeva says membership now 166,000

2003

19 December 2003 -- Asar party registered with Justice Ministry, documents show party has 77,000 members

18 December 2003 -- Members of the Republican People's Party will participate in parliamentary elections as independent candidates, Amirzhan Kosanov says

1 December 2003 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan supporters and members announce they will form a political party to be called the People's Party Kazakhstan's Democratic Choice; Asylbek Kazhakhmetov heads the organizational committee for the new party, says a 24-member initiative council has been set up

25 October 2003 -- Asar holds it founding congress in Almaty, elects Darigha Nazarbaeva to be party leader

1 October 2003 -- Investigating committee says Zhaqiyanov tape with plea for pardon is authentic

26 September 2003 -- Atyrau court upholds August ruling banning activities of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement

20 September 2003 -- Elections to local, regional, and city maslakhats, Central Election Commission says elections to take place in all 3,322 voting districts of the country, 550 provincial deputies will be elected, 2,147 regional, 625 city deputies, 7,026 candidates registered

18 September 2003 -- Darigha Nazarbaeva announces during visit to Turkestan that she will transform her Asar movement into a political party

17 September 2003 -- Mazhilis deputy Tolen Tokhtasynov says videotape of Zhaqiyanov asking for pardon was doctored

15 September 2003 -- National Security Committee shows videotape purportedly showing Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov asking to be pardoned, Zhaqiyanov's supporters claim tape is doctored

12 September 2003 -- Nazarbaev appoints Zautbek Turisbekov interior minister, replacing Kairbek Suleymenov

11September 2003 -- Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov asks deputy chairman of National Security Committee for pardon

10 September 2003 -- AFP and Interfax report that Darigha Nazarbaeva announces her Asar movement will become a political party

29 August 2003 -- Atyrau City Court suspends activities of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement

23 July 2003 -- Kazakh president's office says request from Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov to be pardoned has been turned down

16 July 2003 -- Agrarian Party Chairman Romin Madinov says more than 300 members will be running for places in the local, regional, and city maslakhats in September

3 July 2003 -- "Financial Times" reports Nazarbaev will run for reelection when his terms ends in 2006

14 June 2003 -- Nazarbaev appoints Kairbek Suleymenov interior minister and Mukhtar Altynbaev defense minister

13 June 2003 -- Nazarbaev appoints Daniyal Akhmetov as new prime minister, also appoints Aleksandr Pavlov, Sauta Mynbaev, and Akhmetzhan Esimov deputy prime ministers; Nazarbaev also names Qasymzhomart Toqaev foreign minister

11 June 2003 -- Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov resigns, Nazarbaev dismisses government

19 May 2003 -- Joint session of parliament votes confidence in government, automatically approving government version of the land law

16 May 2003 -- Joint session of Kazakh parliament meets to consider question of no confidence in government, puts off vote

17 April 2003 -- Police search Semipalatinsk office of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, confiscate movement's latest press release

15 April 2003 -- Deputy Justice Minister Yogann Merkell announces that of 19 political parties and movements that existed prior to 19 July 2002, 11 applied for registration, seven had their registration approved -- Ak Zhol, OTAN, Civic Party, Agrarian Party of Kazakhstan, Communist Party, Patriots Party, Aul Social Democratic Party; Four parties denied reregistration -- Alash, Compatriot's Party, El Dana, and Kazakhstan Revival Party; Six parties did not apply for reregistration -- People's Congress Party, Socialist Party, Justice Party, Republican People's Party, Azamat Party, Kazakh Eli National Unions Party; Two other parties joined with Otan

10 April 2003 -- Uraz Jondosov turns down offer to become chairman of national airline

10 April 2003 -- Justice Ministry announces it will not register Compatriots Party because party will not amend political program; party co-Chairman Zhaksybay Bazylbaev tells journalists party has more than 58,000 members

8 April 2003 -- Mukhtar Abliyazov petitions Nazarbaev asking to be pardoned

1 April 2003 -- U.S. State Department annual human rights report says Kazakhstan's human rights situation worsened with clear pattern of media harassment emerging after allegations of high-level corruption reported, and prosecution of opposition leaders noted

5 March 2003 -- Nazarbaev makes Gaziz Aldamzharov, co-chairman of the opposition Forum of Democratic Forces, ambassador to Belarus

18 January 2003 -- Petr Svoik of Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan says some opposition parties that were not registered will form a bloc called Democracy, Elections, Kazakhstan

8 January 2003 -- Uraz Jondosov, an Ak Zhol party leader, appointed presidential aide on economic matters

8 January 2003 -- Amirzhan Kosanov, the chairman of the Republican People's Party, tells press conference his lawyers have been invited to Almaty City Tax Police

2002

1 November 2002 -- Kazakh Deputy Prosecutor-General Onalsyn Zhumabekov says Interpol has put former Mazhilis deputy Kazhegeldin back on the wanted list

22 October 2002 -- Nazarbaev says Otan Executive Chairman Sergei Tereshchenko is moving to another position; Amangeldy Ermegiyaev replaces him

24 September 2002 -- Ak Zhol leaders Oraz Zhandosov, Bolat Abilov, and Alikhan Baimenov hold press conference to announce the party just registered member No. 52,000

12 August 2002 -- EU questions trail of Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov, reminds Kazakhstan "of their international obligations of respect for democracy, principles of international law, and human rights"

7 August 2002 -- Elections to Senate set for 8 October

2 August 2002 -- Pavlodar City Court finds Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov guilty of abuse of office and sentences him to seven years in prison

19 July 2002 -- New law on political parties comes into effect, all 19 registered parties need to be reregistered, requirement for number of members increased from 3,000 to 50,000

18 July 2002 -- Former Energy Minister Mukhtar Abliyazov found guilty of abuse of office and illegal financial dealings and sentenced to six years' imprisonment

15 July 2002 -- Nazarbaev signs the law on political parties

11 July 2002 -- Constitutional Council declares law on political parties constitutional

27 June 2002 -- OSCE releases a statement expressing deep concern about Kazakhstan's new law on political parties, says that "this would have grave consequences for political pluralism in Kazakhstan: practically it could mean the abolition of political parties"

25 June 2002 -- Senate passes bill on reregistration of political parties

24 June 2002 -- Trial of former Energy Minister Mukhtar Abliyazov starts at the Supreme Court in Astana, he is charged with embezzling $3.7 million from state-run power grid

20 June 2002 -- Mazhilis passes draft on registration of political parties

17 June 2002 -- Akezhan Kazhegeldin given "Passport of Freedom" at European Parliament in Strasbourg

11 June 2002 -- Interpol Secretary-General Ronald Noble sends a letter to Akezhan Kazhegeldin's lawyers informing them that their client had been taken off the "Red List," or arrest order

28 May 2002 -- Republican People's Party Executive Committee Chairman Amirzhan Kosanov calls on parliamentarians not to pass bill on political parties drafted by Otan

10 April 2002 -- Police arrest Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov in Almaty and fly him to Pavlodar despite agreement with ambassadors of EU countries that Zhaqiyanov would remain in Almaty and not be arrested

4 April 2002 -- Prime Minister Imangali Tasmagambetov tells parliament there was a "secret fund" that twice saved Kazakhstan from bankruptcy, says in 1996 the government sold 20 percent of its shares in Tengiz oil field to Mobil for about $1 billion and then the president secretly put that money into a Swiss bank; Tasmagambetov says in 1997 when pension arrears reached some $480 million the fund was used, and in 1998 when the Russian financial collapse occurred it was used again

3 April 2002 -- Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov leaves French Embassy after Kazakh officials give guarantees he will not be arrested, though he must remain under house arrest in Almaty

29 March 2002 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan leader Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov takes refuge inside the French Embassy building in Almaty; EU condemns attempt to drag its representations into political platforms

27 March 2002 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan leader Mukhtar Abliyazov taken into custody, charged with abuse of office and illegal business practices; Abliyazov was head of KEGOC state company from June 1997 to April 1998 and then energy, industry, and trade minister from April 1998 to October 1999

16 March 2002 -- Ak Zhol holds founding congress, previously Democratic Party of Kazakhstan, 252 delegates from 14 regions attend

28 January 2002 -- Prime Minister Qasymzhomart Toqaev resigns, Imangali Tasmagambetov named as his replacement, Toqaev returns to post as foreign minister

2001

11 December 2001 -- Nazarbaev dismisses head of the Security Council, Altynbek Sarsenbaev

8 December 2001 -- Nazarbaev relieves Sat Tokpakbaev as defense minister, appoints Mukhtar Altynbaev

22 November 2001 -- Nazarbaev decree makes Daniyal Akhmetov governor of Pavlodar Province, replacing Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov

22 November 2001 -- Nazarbaev sacks Labor Minister Alikhan Baimenov, monopolies regulator Berik Imashev, and Deputy Finance Minister Kairat Kelimbetov

21 November 2001 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan holds founding congress, Political Council named -- former Pavlodar Oblast Governor Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov, Temirbank Chairman Mukhtar Abliyazov, Labor Minister Alikhan Baimenov, parliamentarians Tolen Tokhtasynov and Zauresh Battalova, former Deputy Prime Minister Oraz Zhandosov, former Deputy Defense Minister Zhannat Yertlesova, Deputy Finance Minister Kairat Kelimbetov, and Kazcommerzbank Chairman Nurzhan Subkhanberdin

21 November 2001 -- Nazarbaev sacks Deputy Prime Minister Oraz Zhandosov, Deputy Defense Minister Zhannat Yertlesova, and northern Pavlodar Oblast Governor Ghalymzhan Zhaqiyanov; Prime Minister Toqaev says he would step down of they were not dismissed, all helped form Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement days earlier

18 November 2001 -- Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan formed as organizers hold press conference in Almaty

15 November 2001 -- Nazarbaev accepts resignation of Rakhat Aliev, his son-in-law, as first deputy chief of National Security Council, Aliev is replaced by General Nurtai Dutbaev

6 September 2001 -- Supreme Court sentences Akezhan Kazhegeldin to 10 years in prison after finding him guilty of tax evasion, illegal weapons possession, and abuse of office

15 August 2001 -- Trial against Kazhegeldin starts, defendant is not present

10 August 2001 -- Supreme Court rules Kazhegeldin can be tried in absentia, trial date set for 15 August

18 July 2001 -- Republican People's Party leader Akezhan Kazhegeldin is given a subpoena as he attends U.S. Congressional hearing

18 July 2001 -- National Security Committee apologizes for holding up Amirzhan Kosanov and Yermurat Bapi at airport, says they are free to travel to United States and that those responsible for the mistake have been severely punished

17 July 2001 -- National Bank says shadow capital amnesty brings back about $480 million to Kazakhstan

15 July 2001 -- Amirzhan Kosanov of the Republican People's Party and Yermurat Bapi of "SolDat" newspaper have their passports confiscated at Almaty airport as they attempt to leave for United States to attend U.S. Congressional hearings on human rights in Kazakhstan

3 July 2001 -- Republican People's Party Executive Committee acting Chairman Amirzhan Kosanov says authorities are bringing more and more criminal cases against heads of party branches, Kosanov says pressure comes ahead of 18 July U.S. Congress hearings on "Modern Kazakhstan: the Voice of the Opposition"

27 June 2001 -- Kazakh parliament extends amnesty of shadow capital by 10 days

14 June 2001 -- Shadow capital amnesty starts, 20 days to transfer money back to Kazakhstan, no questions asked

20 April 2001 -- Nazarbaev tells Otan congress that Kazakhstan needs a ruling party to bring discipline, says country does not have a full-fledged system of political parties yet

3 April 2001 -- Nazarbaev signs law on shadow-capital amnesty

7 March 2001 -- Mazhilis, the lower house of parliament, approves draft law on shadow-capital amnesty

31 January 2001 -- Deputy Chairman and head of Executive Committee of Republican People's Party Gaziz Aldamzharov resigns

2000

22 December 2000 -- Nazarbaev calls for shadow-capital amnesty

14 July 2000 -- Italian authorities allow Kazhegeldin to fly to London, as Italian justice minister ruled there were no grounds for holding him

12 July 2000 -- Former Prime Minister Akezhan Kazhegeldin detained at Rome airport on Interpol warrant

3 July 2000 -- Nazarbaev signs law on rights of first president of republic of Kazakhstan and sends it to constitutional council for approval

3 July 2000 -- "Newsweek" reports about James Giffen and his connection to payoffs to Kazakh officials, including, allegedly, Nazarbaev; "The Washington Post" reports the story on 2 July

27 June 2000 -- Joint session of parliament adopts law on first president of republic of Kazakhstan

22 June 2000 -- Joint session of parliament adopts new law on first president of the republic of Kazakhstan in first reading, second reading scheduled for 27 June; draft submitted by the Civic Party and gives Nazarbaev, among other things, lifetime rights to; address the nation, government bodies, and officials on key initiatives concerning the development of Kazakhstan; speak before the parliament and cabinet meetings when serious issues are being addressed; head the People's Assembly and be a member of the Kazakh Security Council; award an annual prize for peace and progress; make proposals to the president on official appointments and dismissals, and on declaring a state of emergency and war and the activation of armed forces

8 June 2000 -- Ust-Kamenogorsk court finds Russian separatist suspects guilty, sentences leader Viktor Kazimirchuk, also known as Viktor Pugachev after Emelyan Pugachev, to 18 years of "restricted freedom," first five in jail, for illegal possession of weapons, formation of an organized criminal group, and calling for the overthrow of the constitutional government of Kazakhstan; other suspects, given as "Chernyshev" and "Semenov," receive 17 years' imprisonment; other 19 imprisoned also for between 3-17 years, some have sentences suspended

4 April 2000 -- Aul Social Democratic Party registered; Chairman Gani Kaliev says party represents the interests of the agricultural sector, Kaliev says 80 percent of residents of villages live below the poverty line

29 February 2000 -- Criminal case opened against ex-Prime Minister Kazhegeldin

16 February 2000 -- Nazarbaev tells press conference Kazakhstan is not ready to elect local leaders

9 February 2000 -- Nazarbaev tells government meeting that an amnesty for capital could help Kazakhstan, uses example of similar amnesty in Turkey in 1999 that saw $20 billion returned

1999

19 November 1999 -- Kazakh National Security Committee (KNB) arrests 22 people in Ust-Kamenogorsk accused of plotting a coup to form an Eastern Kazakh Oblast connected to Russia; 12 of those arrested are Russian citizens

10 November 1999 -- Nazarbaev makes statement on OSCE in Central Asia, saying organization practices double standards, later OSCE representative in Kazakhstan Ulrich Schoening flatly rejects that on Channel 31

26 October 1999 -- Central Election Commission (CEC) official Tatyana Okhlopovka says second-round results show Otan gets 15 more seats, Civic Party three, Communist Party one, and Republican People's Party one

25 October 1999 -- OSCE's Hrair Balian tells press conference Kazakhstan's parliamentary elections might be defined as far short of international standards, says, "Kazakhstan failed to meet its obligations and promises given to the OSCE"

24 October 1999 -- Run-off elections held for remaining 47 seats in Mazhilis

18 October 1999 -- Nazarbaev's spokesman Lev Tarakov says Kazakh president does not have any personal accounts in Swiss banks; Tarakov is responding to 16 October article in "The New York Times," "Swiss Freeze Bank Account That May Be Linked to Kazakhstan President"

18 October 1999 -- CEC releases final election results -- of 8,411,757 eligible voters, 5,262,489 cast ballots (62.5 percent)

18 October 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva presents election results: Otan receives 30.89 percent, Communist Party 17.75 percent, Agrarian Party 12.63 percent, Civic Party 11.23 percent, Azamat Party 4.57 percent, People's Congress Party 2.83 percent, Alash (Patriot) Party 2.76 percent, Revival Party 1.97 percent, Labor Party 1.38 percent; by party lists Otan gets four of 10 seats in Mazhilis, Communists, Civic Party, and Agrarians two each; of 20 deputies elected in single-mandate districts, four are from Otan, seven are from Civic Party, three are from trade unions and six are independent; going through to the second round of voting are Otan with 19 candidates, trade unions with 15, Civic Party with seven, three from Republican People's Party, and one from both the Communist and Azamat parties, says turnout was 4,984,647, or 59.78 percent of eligible voters

14 October 1999 -- Nazarbaev appoints Kayirbek Suleymenov Interior Minister

13 October 1999 -- Nazarbaev appoints Yerlan Idrisov foreign minister and Sat Tokpakbaev defense minister

12 October 1999 -- CEC Secretary Yelena Kuleshova says in 70 percent of voting districts the 50 percent minimum turnout needed to consider voting valid was not reached, run-off elections set for 24 October in these districts

12 October 1999 -- Qasymzhomart Toqaev named prime minister; Daniyal Akhmetov, governor of North Kazakhstan Oblast, named second deputy prime minister

11 October 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says media reports about violations in some electoral precincts were "exaggerated"

11 October 1999 -- OSCE preliminary assessment of parliament elections says, "Kazakhstan failed to meet democratic standards during the parliamentary elections"; OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Deputy Chairman Igor Ostash says, "If Kazakhstan is to make further progress in its transition, interference by executive authorities in the broader electoral process must be halted and their resistance to international standards overcome"

10 October 1999 -- Elections to parliament held, 549 candidates competing for 67 seats from single-mandate districts in Mazhilis; 49 of those candidates are currently deputies, 17 candidates dropped out for various reasons; on party list basis -- Otan 18 candidates, Azamat Party 10 candidates, Civic Party nine candidates, Agrarian Party seven candidates, Communist Party six candidates, Republican Labor Party and Revival Party five candidates each, and People's Congress Party two candidates

7 October 1999 -- Civic Party leader Azat Peruashev tells journalists he is disappointed with CEC for warning party about distributing food and other items to voters in an attempt to buy votes

6 October 1999 -- Respublika bloc -- Communist Party, Kazakh Republican People's Party, Orleu, Association of Kazakhstan's Slavs and Unity of Kazakh Cossacks and Officers Union -- holds meeting in Almaty

6 October 1999 -- Police come to office of Republican People's Party parliamentary candidate Ghaziz Aldamzharov and search office, taking away three boxes of material, next day they return

5 October 1999 -- Agrarian Party meets, says party has 30,000 members

5 October 1999 -- CEC official Tatyana Okhlopkova says about 200 OSCE representatives will observe parliamentary elections

1 October 1999 -- Prime Minister Nurlan Balghimbaev resigns for personal reasons, Foreign Minister Toqaev named acting prime minister

29 September 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says CEC received letter from Republican People's Party asking that its party-list candidates be withdrawn as party plans to boycott elections, Balieva says necessary to send not just letter but also written decision from party special meeting

29 September 1999 -- Civic Party leader Azat Peruashev denies charges from Azamat Party leaders that Civic Party is funded by foreign investors, says funding comes from industrial facilities in Akmola, Aktyube, Pavlodar, Petropavlovsk, and Kostanai oblasts

27 September 1999 -- Republican People's Party headquarters announces party is boycotting parliamentary elections

19 September 1999 -- Civic Party brings $400 worth of goods to border guards along Kazakh-Chinese border

17 September 1999 -- Elections to the 39-seat Senate held, candidates vying for 16 seats

16 September 1999 -- Dauirleu Party Chairwoman Altynshash Zhaghanova says there is no real opposition in the country, calls for at least 50 percent of all observer groups to be representatives of different political groups; Dauirleu Party established in 1995 as pro-Nazarbaev party, currently about 12,000 members

14 September 1999 -- Russian police refuse to arrest Kazhegeldin and Kazakh prosecutor-general signs order annulling warrant; Kazhegeldin is freed

10 September 1999 -- Akezhan Kazhegeldin detained at Sheremetyevo-2 airport after arriving on a plane from London, Kazakh KNB had a warrant out for him

9 September 1999 -- RFE/RL reports that Azat leaders Zhaksybay Bazylbaev and Savetkazy Aqatai argue over who is party leader

8 September 1999 -- RFE/RL reports presidential son-in-law Rakhat Aliyev loses his position as head of State Tax Control Police and becomes chief of KNB's Almaty department

2 September 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says party lists of Otan (18 members), Communist Party (six members) registered, Azamat and Agrarian Party will be registered in coming days, Alash and Republican People's Party need more documents before 9 September deadline

31 August 1999 -- Deadline for applications in Mazhilis election

25 August 1999 -- CEC says 27 candidates registered for Senate, 107 for Mazhilis, of whom 66 are said to be independent candidates

19 August 1999 -- Republican People's Party holds press conference, says it has 19 candidates in single-mandate districts and 10 in party-list race

19 August 1999 -- Otan holds press conference, says it has 54 candidates for seats in Mazhilis from single-mandate districts and 18 candidates on party list

17 August 1999 -- Political Unity of Kazakh Women's Organizations announces it is a political party, Raushan Sarsembeva is chairwoman

17 August 1999 -- Former Deputy Prime Minister Baltash Tursynbaev, also former presidential candidate, registered as candidate to Mazhilis

17 August 1999 -- Former customs chief Gani Kasymov, also former presidential candidate, registered as candidate for Mazhilis elections

17 August 1999 -- Six members of Republican People's Party announce their withdrawal, charging Deputy Chairman Ghaziz Aldamzharov, head of the party's executive committee, with "finally splitting" the party; open letter to Kazhegeldin says Aldamzharov "has shown himself as a good-for-nothing organizer who has done nothing to rally the party ranks together," says to Kazhegeldin that by "being far away from the homeland and lacking truthful information about the state of affairs of the [party]" Kazhegeldin "is losing the party," says Kazhegeldin "turned a blind eye to the serious situation"

16 August 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says deadline for registering as candidate for the Senate over, 33 candidates registered to run for 16 seats; Petr Svoik of Azamat refused registration, no reason immediately given

11 August 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says Chapter 188.2 of Election Code abolished, people who committed administrative offenses no longer barred from running in elections

9 August 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says 10 parties are eligible to run in elections -- People's Congress Party, Republican Labor Party, Communist Party, People's Cooperative Party, Republican Popular Party, Civic Party, Labor Party, Revival Party, Azamat Party, and Otan -- Socialist Party's participation still under question since its leadership formed Azamat, Orleu unable to participate because it was not registered as a party with the Justice Ministry in time; Balieva says the boycott by the six parties making up the Respublika bloc shows either their impotence or irresponsibility, Interfax reports

5 August 1999 -- Respublika bloc sends letter to Nazarbaev asking for postponement of parliamentary elections, wants Senate election to be held in December

4 August 1999 -- First two candidates in parliamentary race registered -- former Astana Mayor Amanzhol Bolekbaev for seat in Senate, and TV journalist Dukesh Bayimbetov for the Mazhilis

15 July 1999 -- Civic Party supporters hand out medical equipment and drugs at hospitals in Almaty to advertise party

7 July 1999 -- Five opposition parties -- Communist Party, Republican People's Party, the Association of Russian, Slavic and Cossack Organizations, the Orleu movement, and the Officers' Union -- announce they are forming an alliance/bloc

7 July 1999 -- Nazarbaev issues decree naming dates for parliamentary elections: Senate on 17 September, Mazhilis on 10 October

5 July 1999 -- Alash Party (formerly Azat and prior to that the Republican Party of Kazakhstan) holds press conference, Zhaqsybai Bazylbaev (who tried to run for president) says party should start campaign for creation of a coalition government, other party members criticize Bazylbaev for speaking when party leader Savetqazy Aqatay is out of the country

5 July 1999 -- Republican People's Party, Communist Party, Pokolenie, and some trade unions announce they have formed a "coordinating staff of bloc," led by Mikhail Esenaliev

1 July 1999 -- Otan Astana-branch chief Alimzhan Alpeyisov says nine deputies in Senate and 20 in Mazhilis are Otan members, says there are 170,000 members nationwide

24 June 1999 -- Azat Peruashev, the chief of the Civic Party's Central Committee, says six members of parliament are Civic Party members -- five in Mazhilis, one in Senate, claims party has 50,000 members

24 June 1999 -- Parliament votes confidence in government, 18 of 35 present deputies vote in favor of government in Mazhilis, and 11 of 35 senators vote in favor, budget cuts automatically passed

21 June 1999 -- Kazakh parliament approves amendments to the election law reducing fees for presidential and parliamentary candidates, parliamentary candidate fees reduced from 420,000 tenges to 65,000 tenges

21 June 1999 -- Balghimbaev calls for vote of confidence in current government at joint session of parliament, call sparked by argument over cutting budget; 48 hour cooling-off period mandated by constitution, two-thirds vote required to oust government

15 June 1999 -- Nazarbaev sends letter to Mazhilis, saying he does not need extra powers

13 June 1999 -- Prime Minister Balghimbaev says, "over the weekend" that he favors giving Nazarbaev more powers to enact laws without parliamentary approval, Reuters reports

10 June 1999 -- Nazarbaev sends message to speaker of parliament Marat Ospanov requesting additional powers until first session of next parliament

3 June 1999 -- Factions from Mazhilis led by Mariyam Zhuyrikbaeva reports that 44 Mazhilis deputies have joined Otan

2 June 1999 -- Kazhegeldin's lawyers -- Vitalii Voronov and Charles Both -- tell press conference they have advised Kazhegeldin to stay out of the country

2 June 1999 -- Tax police chief Rakhat Aliyev says formal charges against Kazhegeldin have been filed, the former prime ministers is charged with not paying $21,980 in taxes in 1997

29-30 May 1999 -- First election for a municipal council chairman takes place in Chemolgan, Kairat Baybaktinov beats out six rivals; previously all municipal council leaders were appointed by local administrators, those local administrators were appointed by oblast governors who are nominated by President Nazarbaev

26 May 1999 -- Akezhan Kazhegeldin summoned to appear at Almaty City Court on 1 June

26 May 1999 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva meets with representatives of Kazakhstan's political parties to discuss new election law, says that there are 43 minor offenses that could disqualify candidates from participating in elections at any level

20 May 1999 -- RFE/RL reports opposition parties including Azat, Azamat Party, Orleu, and the Communist Party sign memorandum that their primary aim in upcoming parliamentary elections is to campaign against the existing regime

17 May 1999 -- Representatives of Republican People's Party, Communist Party, Azamat Party, and Azat movement meet in Almaty for conference called "Kazakhstan is Our Motherland" to discuss current political situation and upcoming parliamentary elections

11 May 1999 -- Gerard Stoudman, chairman of the OSCE's ODIHR, tells journalists in Astana that new election law does not differ significantly from presidential decree it replaces; Stoudman criticizes $1,000 registration fee, saying it "violates the requirement of equal opportunity for all candidates" and the ban on any candidate who has been brought to trial for administrative offenses, says political parties should be involved in determining the composition of local election commissions

5 May 1999 -- Otan leaders meet with veterans and give them watches and stage special concert for them in Almaty

28 April 1999 -- Kazhegeldin tells journalists in Washington he is not guilty of tax evasion, says charges against him are intended to compromise him "as a person and a politician"

27 April 1999 -- Seydahmet Quttyqadam of Orleu and Amirzhan Kosanov of Republican People's Party give press conference in Almaty, criticizing new draft media law as "very far from democratic," they claim new legislation will "increase state control over all periodicals, television channels and radio stations"

21 April 1999 -- Prosecutor-General Yurii Khitrin says charges of tax evasion have been filed against Akezhan Kazhegeldin and his wife

14 April 1999 -- Orleu leader Seydahmet Quttyqadam gives press conference, says Almaty city authorities are creating obstacles for his party, specifically by withdrawing permission for party to hold congress

14 April 1999 -- State Statistics Agency reports population is now 14.95 million, a drop of 1 million since 1989; population in 1979 was 14.684 million

4 April 1999 -- National Bank of Kazakhstan announces it will float exchange rate of tenge, next day tenge rate falls from 88 to $1, to 100 to $1, black-market rate reportedly 200 to $1

31 March 1999 -- Nazarbaev addresses joint session of parliament, says under new election law 10 of 77 seats in lower house will be given out on proportional basis but does not elaborate, says registration fee for parliamentary candidates will be lowered and registration procedure simplified, says opposition proposal that provincial governors be elected, not appointed, is a threat to social and economic stability

1 March 1999 -- Otan holds founding congress in Almaty, 380 delegates attend, Nazarbaev elected chairman of party but due to constitutional prohibition Nazarbaev recommends Sergei Tereshchenko instead; Otan recently merged with the Liberal movement, the Popular Unity Party, and the Democratic Party

21 January 1999 -- European Union issues statement calling Kazakh presidential elections "a setback for democratization"

20 January 1999 -- Nazarbaev inaugurated into office, presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Ingushetia, and Tatarstan attend, 20 January declared national holiday to mark the day of Nazarbaev's inauguration

13 January 1999 -- Nazarbaev's campaign manager Sergei Tereshchenko says his campaign team intends to found new pro-government party Otan, says party will nominate Nazarbaev for the presidency in 2006

11 January 1999 -- OSCE representative Judy Thompson says, "the [Kazakh] electoral process was far from the standards which [Kazakhstan] promised to follow as an OSCE member," says the mandate of the OSCE mission does not include recognition of the latest elections; U.S. State Department spokesman James Rubin says, "the electoral process in Kazakhstan fell far short of international standards for open, free, and fair election," adding the elections have "tarnished Kazakhstan's reputation"

10 January 1999 -- Presidential elections held

8 January 1999 -- CEC head Zagipa Balieva says everything ready for elections, says commission has registered 6,147 observers from local organizations, the largest number of whom were from the Communist Party, 75 journalists and 133 foreign observers from Austria, Great Britain, Romania, the Czech Republic, Israel, the United States, and India registered

5 January 1998 -- Human Rights Watch releases statement calling presidential elections "blatantly unfair," says Nazarbaev "likes to present himself as a dignified partner for Western leaders and investors" but "the way his government has twisted arms in this campaign should leave no illusions about what kind of a leader Nazarbaev really is"

1998

24 December 1998 -- Coordinator of OSCE mission in Kazakhstan Judy Thompson says OSCE will not send observers to Kazakhstan's presidential elections, citing failure to register two candidates, says an assessment team will assess the election process but shouldn't be mistaken for official observers

3 December 1998 -- OSCE calls for postponement of presidential elections, saying it "could severely damage its [Kazakhstan's] reputation as a country committed to democratization," warns organization will not consider elections valid if they are held on 10 January, says Kazakh parliament October decision to hold early elections did not leave enough time for preparations to ensure a democratic election

30 November 1998 -- Last day to register for presidential elections, campaigning officially begins

24 November 1998 -- Kazakh Supreme Court upholds Medeu court verdict against Kazhegeldin; Kazhegeldin is out of race

18 November 1998 -- Medeu court gives Kazhegeldin additional fine for disrespecting the court due to his failure to attend his first trial, Kazhegeldin tells RFE/RL the court is not truly independent and questions freedom of the press, noting that six independent newspapers have been closed since 8 October when announcement of early elections was made

5 November 1998 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says Kazhegeldin is not eligible to run, citing Kazhegeldin's fine

23 October 1998 -- Candidate for the presidency Baltash Tursynbaev offered position of deputy prime minister

20 October 1998 -- Nazarbaev announces candidacy for presidency, says he made decision to run after receiving telegrams from "about 1 million Kazakh citizens" asking him to run for reelection

20 October 1998 -- Kazakh court finds Kazhegeldin guilty in absentia of participating in "mass gatherings and sessions of an unregistered organization," effectively barring him from presidential race

19 October 1998 -- CEC Chairwoman Zagipa Balieva says no candidates for the presidency registered yet, candidates must be nominated by 10 November, must have collected 161,000 signatures and pay election registration fee of 2.5 million tenges (about $30,000) from their own funds, have a mental health certificate, pass language-proficiency test by 30 November

14 October 1998 -- Kazhegeldin announces candidacy for presidential elections

14 October 1998 -- Kazakh Ambassador to Turkey and former Governor of Kostanai Oblast Baltash Tursynbaev announces his candidacy for presidency in Moscow

9 October 1998 -- Kazhegeldin resigns as presidential adviser, says he opposes early presidential election

8 October 1998 -- Joint session of parliament announces presidential elections will be held on 10 January 1999, instead of December 2000, they also strike measures that president cannot be older than 65 and can not serve more than two terms in office

8 October 1998 -- Nazarbaev approves parliament's decision for early presidential elections

7 October 1998 -- Joint session of parliament approves early presidential elections, passes constitutional amendments including extending deputies terms in lower house from four to five years, and in upper house from five to six years, increase president's term from five to seven years

5 October 1998 -- Parliamentarians meet with Nazarbaev behind close doors asking for additional constitutional amendments and early presidential elections, and extending presidential term from five to seven years

1 October 1998 -- AP and Reuters report Nazarbaev categorically rejects proposal of four deputies to bring forward the date of presidential elections, Nazarbaev says constitution takes precedence over deputies' arguments for early poll

10 June 1998 -- Astana officially becomes capital of Kazakhstan

6 May 1998 -- Nazarbaev signs decree changing name of Akmola to Astana

1997

8 October 1997 -- Elections for half of seats in Senate held

19 August 1997 -- 8 October named as date for Senate elections, Senate has 47 seats

1996

30 January 1996 -- Nazarbaev inaugurates new bicameral parliament; Omirbek Baigeldiev, 57-year-old former Zhambyl governor and presidential adviser, elected as speaker of Senate; Marat Ospanov elected as speaker of Mazhilis

9 January 1996 -- Radio Rossii reports that Nazarbaev signs decree establishing Constitutional Council to replace Constitutional Court

1995

23 December 1995 -- Run-off elections for Mazhilis

20 December 1995 -- ITAR-TASS reports that 32 Mazhilis deputies elected -- 26 ethnic Kazakhs, four ethnic Russians, one ethnic Ukrainian, and one ethnic Korean

9 December 1995 -- Elections to 67-seat Mazhilis, lower house of parliament

5 December 1995 -- Indirect elections to 47-seat Senate, upper house of parliament

17 November 1995 -- CEC head Yurii Kim says registration for parliamentary elections completed; pro-government parties: Party for National Unity has 38 candidates, Democratic Party 22, Cooperation Party 15, National Rebirth Party five; opposition parties: Communists have nine candidates, People's Congress Party eight; other parties boycotting elections

2 October 1995 -- Nazarbaev sets 5 December as date of 47-seat Senate elections, 9 December as date of 67-seat Mazhilis elections,

16 September 1995 -- Nazarbaev signs decree transferring capital from Almaty to Akmola

31 August 1995 -- Nazarbaev hails victory, promises new legislation for new election law and to set date for parliamentary elections, confirms capital is moving from Almaty to Akmola

30 August 1995 -- National referendum held on new constitution; Central Election commission (CEC) Chairman Yurii Kim says 90 percent of 8.8 million-strong electorate participate, 89 percent vote to approve

21 August 1995 -- People's Congress Party Chairman Olzhas Suleimenov appointed ambassador to Italy

4 August 1995 -- "Izvestiya" reports that new constitution will replace Constitutional Court with constitutional council

1 August 1995 -- Draft constitution published

31 July 1995 -- Decree names 30 August as date of referendum on new constitution

13 June 1995 -- AFP reports that Nazarbaev says current constitution is obsolete, says Justice Minister Nagashbai Shaikenov and French Constitutional Court head Roland Dumas met on 12 June to discuss new constitution; parliament will be bicameral but head of state has power to dissolve it, provision to impeach president included, no dual citizenship and Russian will not be made an official language; however, requirement for government officials to be proficient in state language postponed for 15 years

4 May 1995 -- Nazarbaev says he'll hold conference in June to decide on constitutional changes, referendum for those changes to be held in May

2 May 1995 -- Russian and Western media report 95.4 percent of ballots cast in referendum supported Nazarbaev extension in office, 91.3 percent of eligible voters participate

30 April 1995 -- Referendum held approving extension to Nazarbaev's term in office until 2000

13 March 1995 -- parliament deputies from the 177-seat parliament form opposition group led by Olzhas Suleimenov

11 March 1995 -- Nazarbaev upholds Constitutional Court decision, dissolves parliament but keeps Kazhegeldin government

10 March 1995 -- Constitutional Court overrules Nazarbaev's veto

9 March 1995 -- During television interview, Nazarbaev rejects Constitutional Court decision finding March 1994 parliamentary elections unconstitutional and declaring them void; Nazarbaev claims the ruling is unfounded and does not come under the court's jurisdiction in any case

1994

11 October 1994 -- Nazarbaev accepts resignation of government, nominates Kazhegeldin to be prime minister, Nigmatzhan Isingarin named deputy prime minister

20 September 1994 -- Nazarbaev signs "vow" to avoid confrontation with parliament, parliament Chairman Abish Kekilbaev signs for parliament

6 July 1994 -- Parliament votes to move capital to Akmola

20 April 1994 -- Abish Kekilbaev elected chairman of parliament, beats out Galym Abilseitov; 92-84 for Kekilbaev, 62-107 for Abilseitov

23 March 1994 -- Russian paper "Trud" reports Kazakh Communist Party registered, chairman of party coordinating council Leonid Korolkov receives registration certificate

17 March 1994 -- Kaztag -- 176 deputies, 42 from state list, 74 from public associations, 59 self-nominated, city of Almaty has 15, Akmola nine, Aktyubinsk eight, Almaty region nine, Atyrau six, East Kazakhstan 10, Zhambyl 10, Zhezkozgen six, Western Kazakhstan seven, Karaganda 13, Kzyl Orda six, Kokchetau seven, Kostanai 11, Mangistau four, Pavlodar eight, North Kazakhstan seven, Semipalatinsk nine, Taldy Kurgan eight, South Kazakhstan 15

15 March 1994 -- Almaty Radio reports CEC says 95 percent of electorate took part in election, 29 parties and social organizations took part, 14 percent of new parliamentarians are women, 15 economists, 17 lawyers, 17 educational workers, 170 have higher education, 12 ethnic groups represented, "All together, 123 representatives from 24 countries, came to Kazakhstan as observers who have witnessed the historic events in the republic. The observers were satisfied with the overall process and results of the elections"

10 March 1994 -- ITAR-TASS reports only 23 of the 177 seats in parliament went to opposition members

8 May 1994 -- The Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe's (CSCE) ODIHR representative Elizabeth Winship says Kazakh elections failed to conform to international standards

7 March 1994 -- Parliamentary elections, 756 candidates, 362 independent, 331 from public associations, 64 nominated by president, CEC Chairman Karatai Tursunov says 58 percent vote by 3 p.m.

7 February 1994 -- Nazarbaev gives himself more power over Supreme Court

1993

31 December 1993 -- CEC issues decree on elections

10 December 1993 -- Supreme Soviet cedes legislative powers to president, votes to dissolve body at end of current session, Nazarbaev given parliamentary powers until March elections

8 December 1993 -- Kazakh parliament sets 7 March 1994 as date for parliamentary elections

20 October 1993 -- Justice Ministry registers Socialist Party, Republican Party, and People's Congress Party, but rejects registration of Communist Party

3 April 1993 -- Constitutional Court stripped of some powers

19 March 1993 -- Reformed Communist Party denied registration

1992

9 December 1992 -- Nazarbaev addresses Supreme Soviet, asks for additional powers and to secure this provision in constitution, says president needs right to form a deliberative advisory organ and appoint or dismiss state advisers

28 August 1992 -- Presidium of Supreme Court makes final ruling on Communist Party, upholding previous decisions not to register the party, Communist Party applied for registration in February

5 June 1992 -- Kazakh parliament passes law on Constitutional Court

2 June 1992 -- Draft constitution adopted on first reading by parliament

2 March 1992 -- Kazakhstan admitted to UN

13 January 1992 -- Supreme Soviet broadens presidential powers

3 January 1992 -- Kazakh Constitutional Commission meets for first time, Nazarbaev presides

1991

16 December 1991 -- Kazakhstan declares independence, the last of the former Soviet republics to do so

13 December 1991 -- Leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan meet in Ashgabat and agree to join the new Commonwealth of Independent States

1 December 1991 -- Nazarbaev elected president of Republic of Kazakhstan

22 October 1991 -- Presidential elections set for 1 December

22 August 1991 -- Nazarbaev resigns from Politburo

19 August 1991 -- The Moscow Putsch

1990

25 October 1990 -- Supreme Council of Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic adopts resolution on sovereignty

24 April 1990 -- The republic's Supreme Soviet elects Nursultan Nazarbaev president of the Kazakh SSR