“It is not right when men start hugging each other“ - Tokayev on the “new code of conduct“ for Kazakhstanis
Tengrinews.kz — President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev cast his vote in the Kurultai deputy elections and subsequently held a press briefing.
Yulia Mager, a correspondent for the "Kazakhstanskaya Pravda" newspaper, was among those who posed a question.
"In your speeches, you speak of the need to cultivate a new culture of civic behavior and to strengthen a new public ethic. This idea has been embraced by Kazakhstanis, including prominent influencers. Increasingly, people are voicing the opinion that we must adhere to the canons of our ancestral national ethics: to be reserved and to respect personal boundaries. Is it fair to say that respect for others, adherence to law and order, self-discipline, and responsibility are already becoming the norm for our citizens?" she asked.
The Head of State responded by reminding the audience that he himself initiated this effort.
"I wouldn't call it a campaign, but rather a body of work. Observing the behavior of both young people and the elderly, I concluded that we must remember our ancestral traditions. It is inappropriate for men to start hugging and kissing each other, or for women to kiss men and vice-versa. This was never part of our customs. This is especially true for those in military uniform. Generals hugging one another—what is that? Can you imagine the Marshals of the Soviet Union, the victors of the Great Patriotic War, hugging and kissing each other? Men should offer a hand and give a firm handshake, rather than offering a hand like a 'warm cutlet' or a limp twig. Greet with a smile, but nothing more. That is how it has always been. Ultimately, one can place the right hand over the heart if you are truly happy to see someone. This happens often in life. Therefore, I personally initiated this new code of conduct," he said.
The President emphasized the need to instill a culture of cleanliness and order.
"Who says we cannot do this? Who says we do not love trees? You can see positive changes in Astana now and in every city, whether it is a regional or district center. We have made this a top priority for regional leaders. We will continue this work because 'taza' means cleanliness—not just in the literal sense, which is important, but also the purity of our thoughts and souls. As a famous classic writer once noted, physical cleanliness breeds purity of the soul. We must proceed from this principle because we truly need to become a cultured and 'clean' nation in the broadest sense. This is the only way we will gain international recognition," Tokayev added.
Kazakhstan elects new Parliament
On Sunday, August 23, Kazakhstan is currently holding elections for deputies of the Kurultai, the country's unicameral parliament. This marks the tenth parliamentary election in the country since 1991.
Note:On July 1, 2026, a new Constitution came into force, following its adoption in a national referendum on March 15. Subsequently, Mazhilis and Senate ceased operations, and their deputies were dismissed.
Kazakhstan's bicameral Parliament has been replaced by a new legislative body — the Kurultai.
It will consist of 145 deputies elected for five-year terms. The elected deputies will then select the Chairman of the Kurultai and three deputies by a majority vote.
Seven parties are competing for the 145 seats in the Kurultai: "Adilet," "Auyl," "Ak Zhol," JSDP, "Baytaq," People's Party of Kazakhstan (NPK), and Respublica. The ballot also includes an "Against All" option.
In Kazakhstan, 107 polling stations opened at 06:00, while the rest began operations at 07:00. Voting will continue until 20:00.
All citizens of Kazakhstan aged 18 or older on election day are eligible to vote. A total of 10,423 polling stations have opened across the country, with over 12.6 million voters registered on the rolls. Voting will conclude at 20:00.
Notably, due to time zone differences, Kazakhstani citizens abroad were the first to cast their votes — including those in Japan and South Korea.