“For everyone who loves Kazakhstan, and for those who value its stable, progressive, and very noticeable development, for them of course it’s very important in these times to support the president of Kazakhstan. And I am of course among them,” Putin told journalists after a meeting with Nazarbayev in the country’s capital Astana.
Snap presidential elections in Kazakhstan are slated for April 26. Nazarbayev has remained president of the country since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991.
“I wish you luck,” Putin told Nazarbayev.
Putin added that Nazarbayev is so well known in the world as the country’s leader that he hardly needs any backing in his campaign.
“Of course, [he’s] the acknowledged leader of the country, a person who is very authoritative not only in Kazakhstan, but throughout the world, a famous, recognizable, and authoritative politician, so there is really no need for support [in the elections],” Putin said.
Last week, Nazarbayev, 74, announced his intention to run for a fifth consecutive term in April 26 snap presidential elections.
Elections were to take place next year, but Nazarbayev changed the date in February, explaining the move as a requirement to avoid political instability amid a global economic crisis.
Under the Kazakhstan constitution, a candidate cannot be elected president more than twice in a row, but Nazarbayev has been exempted from this restriction by a constitutional amendment in May 2007.
