INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
By Chris Robertson, news reporter Nursultan Nazarbayev, the only leader that independent Kazakhstan has ever known, has announced his
resignation in a televised address to the country.Mr Nazarbayev has been the country's leader for 30 years.He said "I have taken a decision,
which was not easy for me, to resign as president," but did not give a reason for doing so.He added: "It was an honour for me to serve the
people I have worked hard to fulfil the nation's will."The 78-year-old has led the country since 1980 as its communist leader, then in 1991
was elected president.Image:Mr Nazarbayev with the Queen and Prince Philip during a visit to London in 2015Mr Nazarbayev is expected to
continue to chair Kazakhstan's security council and remain the leader of the ruling Nur Otan party.Mr Nazarbayev is credited with keeping
peace and stability in the country, but is often criticised with side-lining the opposition and stifling freedom of speech.He also helped
attract billions of dollars in investment to the oil-rich nation from foreign energy companiesIn 2015 he was re-elected president, with 98%
of the country voting for him, in an election that was widely criticised as offering no credible alternative to voters.Kassym-Jomart
Tokayev, the speaker of Kazakhstan's upper house, will take over as acting president, in line with the country's constitution.Russian
officials, who have a close relationship with Kazakhstan, have described Mr Nazarbayev's resignation as "unexpected and very serious".
