Eraly Luqpanuly Togjanov (Kazakh: Ералы Лұқпанұлы Тоғжанов, romanizedEraly Lūqpanūly Toğjanov; born 13 May 1963) is a Kazakh politician, who's currently serving as an Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan since May 2024.[1]

Eraly Togjanov
Ералы Тоғжанов
Togjanov in 2024
Äkim of Aktobe Region
In office
31 August 2022 – 5 September 2023
Preceded byOndasyn Orazalin
Succeeded byAshat Şaharov
Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In office
11 February 2020 – 31 August 2022
Prime MinisterAskar Mamin
Äkim of Mangystau Region
In office
14 March 2017 – 13 June 2019
Preceded byAlik Aidarbaev
Succeeded bySerikbai Turymov
Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions
In office
16 September 2019 – 11 February 2020
Preceded byBaqytjan Abdiraiym
Succeeded bySatybaldy Dauletalin
Personal details
Born (1963-05-13) 13 May 1963 (age 61)
Shagatai, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union
NationalityKazakh
SpouseGülnar Togjanova
Children4
Alma materKaragandy State University
Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences

Previously, Togjanov served as the controversial Äkim of Aktobe Region from August 2022 to September 2023, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2020 to 2022, Äkim of Mangystau Region from 2017 to 2019 and Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan from 2019 to 2020.[1]

Known as a "representative" of the "Old Kazakhstan",[1] Togjanov is one of the most controversial veteran politicians of the country. He is especially known for insisting not to answer when asked on his salary in 2022,[2] his 2023 controversial interview with Ashat Niyazov[3] and his fellow politician and younger brother, who sweared at his employees.[4]

Biography

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Early life and education

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Born in the village of Shagatai, Togjanov graduated in 1988 from Karagandy State University, majoring in law. In 1994 he graduated from the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences.

Career

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He began his career in 1980 as a worker in the Octyabrsky Forestry of the Ural Region.[5]

From 1988 to 1991, Togjanov was a lecturer in the Department of Theory and History of State and Law at the Karaganda State University. In 1994, he became a senior lecturer and the deputy dean at the Faculty of Public Administration and International Law of the Kazakh Humanitarian Law University. In 1997 Togjanov became its dean. From 1999 to 2001, he was the director of the branch, then the Institute of Rights and Public Service in the university.

In 2001, Togjanov became the deputy akim of Karaganda Region. From 2006 to 2008, he served as the chairman of the Council for Religious Affairs of the Ministry of Justice of Kazakhstan. From 2008 to 2017, Togjanov was the deputy chairman and the administrative secretary of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan in the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan.[6]

On 14 March 2017, Togjanov was appointed as the akim of the Mangystau Region until he was dismissed on 13 June 2019.[7][8] From 16 September 2019 to 11 February 2020, Togjanov served as the chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Kazakhstan.[9]

On 11 February 2020, he was appointed as the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan.[10] While serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Togjanov had tested positive for COVID-19 on 19 June 2020.[11] In response, he went into self-isolation. On 1 July 2020, it was reported that Togjanov had recovered from the virus.[12]

From August 2022 to September 2023 he was the akim of Aktobe region.[13][14]

In May 2024, he returned to politics by being appointed Advisor to the Prime Minister. Some media named this the "return of Old Kazakhstan" (as opposed to Tokayev's New Kazakhstan terminology).[1]

Controversies

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Interview with Ashat Niyazov

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On July 23, 2023, the Äkim of Aktobe Region Togjanov's interview with journalist Ashat Niyazov, the founder of the "Obojayu" (Russian: Обожаю, lit.'Love it') YouTube channel, demanded that the journalist speak Kazakh instead of actually answering Niyazov's questions, and kept changing the topic to the language issue of the country.[15] For this behavior, the mayor was severely criticized both on social and mass media.[16][3]

Personal life

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Eraly Togjanov has a younger brother, Marat Togjanov, who is also engaged in politics. In November 2022, as Äkim of Bayterek District, he was recorded speaking rudely to his employees; in the 1-hour, 20-minute recorded audio, he used more than 140 profanities.[4]

Eraly Togjanov is married. His wife is Gülnar Sapargalievna Togjanova (born 1968). His daughters are: Ayajan (born 1989), Aiganym (born 1991), Bakyttygul (born 1994) and Minura (born 2008).[17]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Ескі Қазақстан қайта оралды: Ералы Тоғжанов премьердің кеңесшісі болып тағайындалды". qaz.ulysmedia.kz (in Kazakh). 2024-05-17. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  2. ^ "Ақтөбе облысының әкімі Ералы Тоғжанов қанша жалақы алатынын айтудан бас тартты" (in Kazakh). Азаттық радиосы. 2022-09-30. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  3. ^ a b Әбілбек, Әсел (2023-07-25). "Әкімдер орыстілді журналистерден жалтарудың жолын тапқан ба?" (in Kazakh). BAQ.kz. Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  4. ^ a b "Ералы Тоғжановтың інісі қол астындағыларды балағаттады". kaz.orda.kz (in Kazakh). 2022-11-24. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  5. ^ "Tugzhanov Yeraly Lukpanovich Akim of Aktobe region". www.gov.kz. Retrieved 2022-11-11.
  6. ^ "Ералы Тугжанов стал акимом Мангистауской области". kapital.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  7. ^ "Ералы Тугжанов стал акимом Мангистауской области". kapital.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  8. ^ tengrinews.kz (2019-06-13). "Акимом Мангистауской области стал Серикбай Трумов". Главные новости Казахстана - Tengrinews.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  9. ^ "Экс-аким Мангистауской области Ералы Тугжанов стал председателем Федерации профсоюзов РК". informburo.kz. 2019-09-16. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  10. ^ "Yeraly Tugzhanov appointed deputy prime minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan". primeminister.kz. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  11. ^ "Vice Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Yeraly Tugzhanov contracted coronavirus". kaztag.info. Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  12. ^ "Yeraly Tugzhanov recovers from COVID-19". lenta.inform.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-07-20.
  13. ^ "О Тугжанове Е.Л." akorda.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-08-31.
  14. ^ "Aktobe region Governor relieved of his duties". www.inform.kz. 2023-09-05.
  15. ^ Жұмаділлә, Нұрила (2023-07-24). ""Сен маған мұндай талап қойма!" - Тоғжанов журналист Асхат Ниязовтың сауалына орыс тілінде жауап беруден бас тартты (видео)". stan.kz (in Kazakh). Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  16. ^ Сатыбалдина, С. (2023-07-26). ""Қорғанудың тың тәсілін тауыпты". Тоғжановтың журналиске берген сұхбаты қызу талқыға түсті". massaget.kz (in Kazakh). Retrieved 2023-08-21.
  17. ^ Қазақстан Республикасында кімнің кім екені. 2011. 2 томдық анықтамалық. Almaty. 2011. ISBN 978-601-278-473-2.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)