ASTANA – Kazakhstan celebrates Republic Day on Oct. 25, a remarkable event that remembers the establishment of an independent and sovereign state. It commemorates the adoption of the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of the Kazakh SSR (Soviet Socialist Republic) in 1990.
Photo credit: strategy2050.kz.
The declaration enshrined principles of statehood, including territorial integrity, indivisibility, inviolability, the development of the cultures and languages of the nation’s people, and the strengthening of national identity. The document also proclaimed the principle of independently resolving political, economic, and social issues. The Kazakh SSR gained the right to establish its own internal forces, state security agencies, and law enforcement agencies, with the President recognized as the leader of the country and the head of the administrative-executive supreme authority.
Following the principles of this declaration, about a year later, on Dec. 16, 1991, a constitutional law on state independence was adopted. Both the declaration of state sovereignty and the law on state independence laid the foundations for the country’s constitutional development. The main ideas contained in the declaration and law were reflected in the 1995 constitution, which thoroughly established the status of Kazakhstan.
Republic Day was celebrated until 2009 but was reinstated as a national holiday in 2022 following President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s proposal to revive the date during the first National Kurultai (Congress) on June 16.
Tokayev emphasized that Republic Day should be celebrated as a national holiday. At the same time, Independence Day should be observed as a day of remembrance for national heroes who contributed significantly to gaining independence and be included in the list of state holidays.
In 2022, the Parliament changed the Law “On introducing amendments and additions to some legislative acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on issues of cinematography and culture,” establishing Republic Day as a national holiday on Oct. 25 and Independence Day as a state holiday on Dec. 16.
Republic Day serves as a reminder of the state’s commitment to democracy, peace, and stability, highlighting the values and principles that Kazakhstan stands for, with a strong emphasis on freedom, unity, and equality.
It is an opportunity to celebrate the rich traditions, customs, and achievements of the Kazakh people. Festivals, parades, cultural events, and concerts are organized nationwide to mark this momentous occasion.
