On February 21, 2026, the Expert Platform “New Constitution: a new Architecture of Trust and Development” was held in Astana bringing together members of the Parliament, members of Constitutional Commission, representatives of state bodies, the academic and expert communities, as well as civil society organizations.
The event was organized by the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in conjunction with the AMANAT Party Institute of Public Policy.
A format of the expert platform provided for an open discussion of key provisions of the draft new Constitution and their institutional, legal and political implications.
Yerlan Karin, State Counsellor of the Republic of Kazakhstan, delivered a welcoming address, noting that the Constitution is not only a supreme legal document and legislative act, but also a kind of social agreement.
“I believe the new Constitution allows us to establish a clearer balance of interests and to more accurately reflect new demands and expectations within society – without extremes, maintaining a reasonable balance and affirming the logic of common-sense politics,” said Karin.
The State Counsellor underlined that the development and public discussion of the new Constitution symbolise the beginning of a new historical phase. At the same time, he said, the main significance of the new Constitution lies in the fact that it not only fixes the balance and consensus that has emerged in society, but also answers the key question – where the country is heading and what kind of state Kazakhstan intends to build in the future.
The first panel session focused on issues of political transformation, the redistribution of powers between the branches of government, and strengthening the coordination and governance of government institutions.
The discussion was moderated by Zhandos Shaimardanov, Director of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, who noted that the new political model is geared towards institutional maturity – strengthening the role of representative bodies, developing party accountability, reinforcing the coordination mechanisms and improving the quality of decision-making.
Political scientist Marat Shibutov noted that the current draft Constitution differs significantly in terms of scope and depth of regulation.
“This is the most comprehensive and detailed Basic Law. In essence, this is not a matter of correcting the previous model, but of establishing a long-term institutional framework designed for strategic future of the state,” stressed M. Shibutov.
RK Minister of Justice Yerlan Sarsembayev commented on the relationship between national and international law in the draft new Constitution.
“Article 1 of the Constitution states that the Republic of Kazakhstan is already a state governed by the rule of law… And this is followed by a very important principle – I would like to draw attention to it – that the Constitution has supreme legal force and direct effect throughout the territory of the Republic of Kazakhstan”, underlined E. Sarsembayev.
Aidos Sarym, a member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, answering the question about how the work of Parliament will change and how its influence will be enhanced within the country’s new political system, noted the following:
“In the current climate, we need, on the one hand, to ensure that laws are adopted quickly, in a timely manner and to a high standard. On the other hand, it is important to create additional opportunities to strengthen political competition”.
Indira Rystina, Vice-Rector of ENU, discussing how the work of political parties will change under a proportional representation system, noted:
‘Whilst under the mixed system parties could rely on the authority of individual candidates in single-member constituencies, under the proportional system a party itself becomes the sole channel for forming the legislative power. This signifies a shift from a personality-driven model of politics to a policy- and party-driven one. A regional level takes on particular significance.’
Nikita Shatalov, a member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, speaking on how the new model of power distribution will change the speed and quality of law-making, noted that the priority is not speed, but the effectiveness of the legislative body’s work. A unicameral representative body, he said, ensures the continuity of legislative process without institutional disruptions.
The second panel discussion focused on development of new mechanisms for public participation and constitutional control, as well as on strengthening the accountability of state authorities. The session was moderated by Daulet Karibek, Executive Secretary of AMANAT party.
Yerlan Sairov, a member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, stressed the importance of enhancing the Kurultai’s oversight functions within the framework of the draft new Constitution.
“The institutions of Kurultai (the Forum) and Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesy (the Kazakhstan People’s Council) are introduced as democratic means of ensuring the stability. As for the Kurultai, whilst maintaining a strong presidential institution in Kazakhstan, its oversight functions in relation to the various branches of government are being strengthened,” emphasized Ye. Sairov.
Aigul Sadvokasova,Director of the Institute of Philosophy, Political Science and Religious Studies at the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, focused on the role ofKazakhstan Halyk Kenesy (the Kazakhstan People’s Council) as a body that draws on historical and institutional experience of several public platforms:
“Its potential lies in bringing together public dialogue, expert discussion and regional representation within a single institutional framework capable of ensuring a more systematic expression of citizens’ interests and strengthening public trust,” expressed her opinion A. Sadvokasova.
Talgat Narikbayev, Chairman of the Board of M.S. Narikbaev KAZGUU University JSC, also noted that Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesy (the Kazakhstan People’s Council), which brings together several advisory bodies, symbolizes the unification of civil society as a whole.
Indira Aubakirova, Director of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Kazakhstan, focused in her speech on the impact of constitutional reform on regional representation.
“The draft Constitution proposes mechanisms that take regional interests into account. This is Kazakhstan Halyk Kenesy (the Kazakhstan People’s Council), which has the power to initiate legislation. It is the platform where regions can put forward their initiatives and implement them,” noted I. Aubakirova.
Public figure and member of the Public Chamber under the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerlan Smailov, in turn, underlined that the draft the new Constitution is environmentally oriente as the principle of caring for nature is enshrined at the level of the Preamble.
The third session was devoted to the systematic enshrinement of human rights and freedoms in the new version of the Constitution, the strengthening of procedural guarantees and the development of human rights institutions.
The session was moderated by Madina Nurgaliyeva, Director of the AMANAT Party’s Institute of Public Policy, who noted that the draft new Constitution sets out a people-centred approach to the country’s development.
Snezhana Imasheva, Member of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairperson of the Committee on Legislation and Judicial Reform, noted in particular that the draft new Constitution implies that a large body of legislative acts will subsequently be revised, and that the potential laid down today by new norms, provisions and articles of the Constitution will be brought to light.
During the discussion, Artur Lastayev, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Republic of Kazakhstan, underlined the fundamental importance of enshrining human rights standards at the constitutional level. According to him, Kazakhstan enshrines the priority of human rights in work of all state bodies and society as a whole at the highest legal level, namely in the Constitution.
Dinara Zakiyeva, the Children’s Ombudsman in the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the need to strengthen the protection of children’s personal data in the context of digital transformation.
“We live in a digital environment, and all of this requires the use of personal data. Our children today are also active users of social media. Research shows that 46% of children start using the internet between the ages of 5 and 8,” she noted.
Karlygash Jamankulova, President of Adilsöz International Foundation for Protection of Freedom of Speech, spoke about digital challenges and a legal protection potential of the draft new Constitution.
The expert platform demonstrated a high level of professional discussion and broad engagement of the expert community in the debate on the draft new Constitution.
