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Kazakh lawmakers call for return of former name of Astana to capital

According to the lawmakers, this decision will take into consideration the former president’s contribution to the establishment and development of the country’s capital city, as well as will meet the needs and expectations of citizens

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

NUR-SULTAN, September 2. /TASS/. The Zhana Kazakhstan (New Kazakhstan) group, which was set up in February by some lawmakers of the Majilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has put forward a proposal to return the former name of Astana to the country’s capital, according to the statement released by the group on Friday.

"If the constitution is amended, it is necessary to make another important change in the basic law, using this opportunity. We are talking about the return of the capital’s former name. We believe it is wrong when a city is named after a living individual. Moreover, people have not accepted the capital’s new name. Therefore, it will be historically fair to return the capital its former name Astana, which once was suggested by First President [Nursultan Nazarbayev]," the statement says.

According to the lawmakers, this decision will take into consideration the former president’s contribution to the establishment and development of the country’s capital city, as well as will meet the needs and expectations of citizens.

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