Kazakhstan’s parliament approves Erlan Karin as vice president

Members of the Kurultai, Kazakhstan’s unicameral parliament, have approved Erlan Karin as Vice President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. His candidacy, proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was supported by a majority vote.

«Over the past five to seven years, positive changes have taken place across all sectors of our country, and people can feel them. Thanks to your support and leadership, our country is undergoing major, historically significant reforms. I have been honored to serve the people in recent years. I want to thank you for your trust. Regardless of my position, I swear to honestly fulfill my duties, serve my country and work for its benefit,» he said, addressing the president.

The office of vice president was restored under the new constitution to strengthen the system of public administration, coordinate key government institutions and oversee the implementation of strategic reforms.

Powers

The vice president is prohibited from serving as a member of parliament, holding other paid positions, engaging in business activities or belonging to a political party during his term in office. If the president voluntarily resigns, is unable to fulfill his duties for health reasons, is removed from office or dies, presidential powers will pass to the vice president.

Who is Mr. Karin?

Karin was born in 1976 in the Turkestan region. He completed his postgraduate studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and holds a PhD in political science. He began his career in education before moving into research and public administration.

Over the years, he headed the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KISI) under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Qazaqstan Radio and Television Corporation and the Center for Anti-Terrorist Programs. He also served as secretary of the Nur Otan political party. In 2013, he was a visiting professor at American University in Washington, D.C.

He has worked in the Presidential Administration since 2019, serving as an adviser to the president, assistant to the president and state secretary of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Karin is the author of two books on terrorism: «The Soldiers of the Caliphate: Myths and Reality» and «Between ISIS and Al-Qaeda: Central Asian Militants in the Syrian War.» He is also a recipient of several Kazakh state decorations, including the Order of Kurmet, the Order of Dostyk and the Order of Barys, as well as several other state awards.