The Kazakh Lion in winter

Kazakhstan’s former long-time leader is approaching a landmark birthday. But he is resisting any temptation to mark it with a comeback

Nursultan Nazarbayev, the builder of modern Kazakhstan, is successfully recovering from a bout of Covid-19, his associates say, as his 80th birthday fast approaches next week. And he is already preparing to help his country pull through its next big challenge: diversifying revenue away from hydrocarbons amid a global economy decimated by the virus and with huge dents in its demand for oil and gas. But the political veteran, who stepped down as president last year but retains the symbolic title of ‘first president’ (and continues  to serve as chairman of Kazakhstan’s security council), has no plans to formally return to power, a senior Kazakh official tells Petroleum Economist. Rumours of str