Kazakhstan marks 35th Republic Day

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Kazakhstan on Friday marked Republic Day, commemorating the 35th anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty — the document that set the nation on its path to independence.

On October 25, 1990, the Supreme Council of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the declaration, establishing the political and legal foundations of an independent Kazakhstan.

The declaration affirmed the republic’s territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, and right to make independent decisions. It also recognized the President as head of state and the highest executive authority.

Much of the 17-article declaration later formed the basis of Kazakhstan’s Constitution. Speaking at a ceremonial meeting in the Akorda Residence, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called the date “a sacred day that opened the path to the independence of our nation.”

“Thirty-five years ago, the banner of our independence soared high,” Tokayev said. “Preserving and strengthening sovereignty is the sacred duty of every citizen of Kazakhstan.”

Originally a national holiday in 1995, Republic Day was downgraded in 2009, leaving December 16 (Independence Day) as the sole major national holiday. Tokayev restored its status in 2022, and the Senate reinstated it as a national holiday in 2023.

The president also awarded state honors to citizens for their contributions to the nation.

Republic Day now stands as a symbol of unity and pride, marking Kazakhstan’s enduring journey toward independence and statehood.