Tokayev decree expands Sagimbayev's KNB personnel powers

September 27, 2026 at 09:00 AM2 min

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President Tokayev's decree No. 1465, signed September 17, 2026, grants KNB Chairman Yermek Sagimbayev expanded authority over personnel appointments and dismissals within the agency. The decree took effect upon signing and was published September 24. Sagimbayev's own career advancement remains subject to a separate approval channel through the Security Council.

Key Facts

Decree No. 1465, signed September 17, 2026, grants KNB Chairman Yermek Sagimbayev authority to approve selection rules, foreign postings, officer and sergeant appointments, and admission to special training institutions.
Under decree No. 1456 of September 10, 2026, Sagimbayev submits recommendations for promotions of his deputies and generals, but his own promotion recommendation is submitted by Deputy Security Council Chairman Aida Balayeva.
The final decision on Sagimbayev's promotion remains with President Tokayev, with Balayeva's role being procedural rather than decisive.
The arrangement applies to all first heads of state bodies, not as a personal restriction on Sagimbayev.

Decree Provisions

Decree No. 1465, signed by President Tokayev on September 17, 2026, took effect the same day and was published on September 24. The document grants KNB Chairman Yermek Sagimbayev the right to approve rules for selecting and enrolling candidates for service, assigning employees to foreign institutions, appointing officers and sergeants, and admitting candidates to special educational institutions. It also covers a number of related personnel procedures within the National Security Committee.

Career Advancement Channel

Under updated special rank assignment rules from decree No. 1456 of September 10, 2026, Sagimbayev himself submits recommendations for promotions of his deputies and generals within the KNB. However, the recommendation for his own promotion as first head of the agency is submitted by Deputy Security Council Chairman Aida Balayeva, in coordination with the head of the Presidential Administration. The final decision in any case remains with the president, making Balayeva's role procedural rather than decisive.

Systemic Context

This procedure is not a personal restriction against Sagimbayev but a standard scheme applying to all first heads of state bodies. The arrangement illustrates how the personnel vertical in security structures combines expanded internal autonomy for agency heads with external control over their own career advancement.