Tokayev announces sweeping overhaul of Kazakhstan's governance and law enforcement

September 10, 2026 at 06:23 PM2 min

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Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on September 10 that a sweeping overhaul of state governance will extend to law enforcement. He spoke at a meeting with interior ministers of the Organization of Turkic States in Astana. The reforms follow the adoption of a new constitution and the creation of a vice-president post.

Key Facts

Tokayev said the reform will cover all spheres, including law enforcement, during a September 10 meeting with interior ministers of the Organization of Turkic States.
A new Security Council Apparatus will conduct comprehensive analysis of global and national challenges and coordinate national security work.
A supreme consultative body, Khalyk Kenesi, will be formed in the near future.
The meeting was attended by interior ministers from Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.

Governance Overhaul

Tokayev linked the reforms to the new state governance system adopted after the March national referendum. The new constitution defines the observance of citizens' rights and freedoms and the provision of law and order as inviolable principles of the state. A new political post of vice-president was established, and a new government has begun work. Tokayev said the restructuring of state institutions will also affect law enforcement agencies.

Security Coordination

Tokayev named the Security Council Apparatus as another element of the new governance structure. The new state body is to conduct comprehensive analysis of global and national challenges and coordinate work in the sphere of national security. A supreme consultative body, Khalyk Kenesi, will be formed in the near future. Tokayev stressed that deep renewal of the state governance system is taking place and that large-scale transformations will affect all spheres, including law enforcement.

Turkic States Cooperation

Tokayev said ties between Turkic countries are expanding not only in the economy and other spheres but also between law enforcement agencies. He said the meeting of interior ministers has special significance from this point of view. The meeting was attended by interior ministers Vilayat Eyvazov of Azerbaijan, Ulan Niyazbekov of Kyrgyzstan, Mustafa Chiftchi of Turkey, Aziz Tashpulatov of Uzbekistan, and Yerzhan Sadenov of Kazakhstan.