The capital of Kazakhstan gets the old name Astana back. With the approval of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, a corresponding law was introduced in the parliament of the Central Asian state. The capital was only renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019 – in honor of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Other places or facilities named after Nazarbayev should keep their names, Tokaev said Tuesday, according to reports from the Russian agency.
Akmolinsk, Zelinograd, Akmola, Astana, Nur-Sultan – and again Astana
The current megacity in the northern steppe of Kazakhstan has had several names since its foundation in 1830. It was first called Akmolinsk, later Zelinograd in Soviet times. After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1992, independent Kazakhstan named the city Akmola (“White Grave”).
Long time ruler erected a monument to himself
Nazarbayev made the city its capital in 1998 and expanded it with futuristic buildings modeled on the Gulf States. He gave it the neutral name Astana, Kazakh for capital.
When Nazarbayev surprisingly announced his resignation in March 2019 after 30 years in power, Tokaev’s successor renamed the city just a day later and renamed it after his predecessor’s first name. Three years later, he does it again.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
