Kassyam-Jomart Tokayev takes oath as new president of Kazakhstan

In Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took oath as the new president of the country. He was acting president following the surprise resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev in March this year.

The career diplomat became the country’s second elected president after succeeding 78-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev. Mr Toqaev took the oath of office during a ceremony at the Palace of Independence in the capital,



Nur-Sultan.

The 66-year-old took nearly 71 per cent of the ballots in the early presidential election this month. Mr Toqaev's landslide victory was widely expected after he received the blessing of former president Nursultan Nazarbayev, who officially stepped down as in March after almost 30 years in power. The transition comes amid rising dissent in Kazakhstan.