International players operating in oil-rich Kazakhstan are observing developments in the Central Asian nation after President Nursultan Nazarbayev unexpectedly called time on his three decades-long reign.
The 78-year-old announced this week he will step away from the position as of 20 March after singing a decree terminating his powers.
Nazarbayev added that he will retain key security council and party leader positions while handing the presidency reins to Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, speaker of the upper house of parliament, until the end of the current term, which ends in April next year.
