Astana, 5 November, . The Commission on Citizenship Issues, chaired by Vice President Yerlan Karin, will propose that the Head of State admit 255 people to Kazakh citizenship and recommends granting the petitions of 43 people to renounce it, Akorda reported.
The trend of fewer people wanting to leave citizenship has continued for several years, Karin said: over eight years the number of such petitions has fallen almost 40 times. Akorda calls this evidence of a high level of social optimism in the country. Karin recalled the President’s words: the strength of the passport grows year after year, which speaks of the country’s growing appeal. He added: “According to various indices, the Kazakh turquoise passport is the strongest in the region, and our citizens can visit about 80 countries without a visa.”
Kazakh citizenship, the Vice President said, is becoming more attractive to prominent foreign figures from IT, business, investors, scientists and cultural figures. He explained the growth in prestige by reforms and international policy: “The growth in prestige of our country’s citizenship is the result of the presidential reforms in the social, economic and socio-political spheres and also a consequence of the Head of State’s policy of international cooperation.”
By the editors’ calculation, for every person the commission recommends letting leave there are almost six new citizens: 255 against 43. How many petitions there were eight years ago and how many people receive citizenship in ordinary years Akorda does not say.
What it means: The authorities explain the fall in renunciations by society’s optimism, reforms and the strength of the passport. Absolute figures for eight years ago are not given, so the scale of the change can only be judged by the ratio.
Who benefits: The political course: Karin links the growth in citizenship’s prestige to the presidential reforms. As for those who will receive citizenship, the President will decide.
Background: A petition is a written request to an authority for a decision in the petitioner’s favour; here it concerns leaving citizenship or being admitted to it. The Commission on Citizenship Issues prepares proposals, and the Head of State takes the decision.
