Join Harvard's Davis Center for a talk on the resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, longtime president of Kazakhstan, and the implications of this transition of power. On March 19, on the eve of Nauryz celebrations, Kazakhstan's long-serving president Nursultan Nazarbayev resigned a year before the end of his term. Despite decade-long preparations for his retirement, the move came as a surprise. Nazarbayev, who holds the title of "Leader of the Nation," clearly is not leaving politics; he retains major powers, as noted in his resignation speech. What is going on in Kazakhstan? Panelists will discuss features of Kazakhstan's political system and speculate on the prospects for its development.

Speakers:

Nargis Kassenova, senior fellow, Program on Central Asia, Davis Center; associate professor, KIMEP University

George A. Krol, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Belarus (Retired)

Martha Brill Olcott, visiting professor, James Madison College, Michigan State University