03
April 2019
Past Event
President to Powerbroker: The Future of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan

President to Powerbroker: The Future of Nursultan Nazarbayev’s Kazakhstan

Past Event
Hudson Institute, Washington, D.C. Headquarters
April 03, 2019
03
April 2019
Past Event

1201 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, DC 20004

Speakers:
Ben Judah

Former Research Fellow

Marlene Laruelle

Associate Director and Research Professor, Institute for European, Russian and Eurasian Studies, Elliott School of International Affairs, the George Washington University

Erica Marat

Associate Professor, College of International Security Affairs, National Defense University

Nate Schenkkan

Director for Special Research, Freedom House

Hudson Institute will host a discussion on the recent resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the future of Kazakhstan. Nursultan Nazarbayev’s sudden resignation as president of Kazakhstan on March 19—a post he had occupied since the country’s independence in 1990—marked the end of a tenure characterized by corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights abuses. Or did it?

Far from retiring quietly, Nazarbayev continues to exercise authority over Kazakhstan, designating himself Leader of the Nation and retaining control of the influential national security council. Experts have explained his move from president to powerbroker as a new kind of authoritarian transition—one that could even provide a future model for Vladimir Putin. Heavily influenced by Russia and China, Kazakhstan is an increasingly important strategic consideration for the United States. The future of Nazarbayev’s regime will have significant implications for U.S. engagement in Central Asia and beyond.

Hudson Research Fellow Ben Judah will be joined by George Washington University’s Marlene Laruelle, the National Defense University’s Erica Marat, and Nate Schenkkan from Freedom House.

**NOTE: This event is open to the press. All members of the media should RSVP to press@hudson.org.**

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