Former Kazakh leader Nazarbayev undergoes successful heart surgery: Spokesman

Kazakh media reported earlier that former president Nursultan Nazarbayev was hospitalised. PHOTO: REUTERS

ALMATY - Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has undergone a successful heart surgery and his life is not in danger, his spokesman Aidos Ukibay said on Friday.

Mr Ukibay’s tweet followed reports by Kazakh media that Mr Nazarbayev, 82, had been hospitalised.

Mr Nazarbayev resigned as president in 2019.

He lost his remaining positions of power last year after falling out with his successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev amid violent unrest.

This month, the Kazakh parliament repealed a law that had given Mr Nazarbayev the title of Yelbasy, or the leader of the nation, and granted legal immunity to his immediate family members.

Mr Nazarbayev himself still enjoys immunity from prosecution given to him by the constitution. REUTERS

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