Altay Seydirulı Kölginov (Kazakh: Алтай Сейдірұлы Көлгінов, Kazakh pronunciation: [ɑɫtɑj sʲejdɘɾo̙ɫɯ kɵlgɘnəf]; born 15 January 1978) is a Kazakh politician, who's currently serving as the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Estonia since March 2024.[1] He's best known for his prior tenure as the Äkim of Astana from 2019 to 2022 and as the Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan from 2022 to 2023.[2][3][4]
Altay Kölginov | |
|---|---|
Алтай Көлгінов | |
_(cropped).jpg) Kölginov in 2023 | |
| Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Estonia | |
| Assumed office 27 March 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Nurlan Seytiymov |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan | |
| In office 9 December 2022 – 8 June 2023 | |
| 10th Äkim of Astana | |
| In office 13 June 2019 – 8 December 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Baqıt Sultanov |
| Succeeded by | Jeñis Qasımbek |
| Äkim of West Kazakhstan Region | |
| In office 26 March 2016 – 13 June 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Nurlan Noğayev |
| Succeeded by | Ğaliy Esqaliyev |
| Äkim of Oral | |
| In office 4 April 2013 – 26 March 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Bolat Şäkimov |
| Succeeded by | Nariyman Töreğaliyev |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 January 1978 Abai, Chimkent Region, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union (now Abay, Türkistan, Kazakhstan) |
Early life and career
editKölginov was born in 1978, in the village of Abai in the Chimkent Oblast into a large Muslim family. He is the son of Seid Kölginov. In 2000, he served in the army.[5]
In 2001, he worked as the chief specialist, acting in the personnel department of the Central Office of the Public Prosecutor. From 2002 to 2003, he was the prosecutor of the department for the Formation of Legal Statistics of the Committee on Legal Statistics and Special Records of the Prosecutor General's Office. In 2003, Kölginov became the Deputy Head of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs in Astana. From 2007, he was the head of the Department for Analysis and Development of By-Laws of the Ministry of Justice until 2008, when Kölginov became the deputy general director of Alash Media Group LLP. From 2010 to 2012, he worked as a state inspector of the department of state control and organizational and territorial work of the Presidential Administration.[5]
Political career
editFrom 8 February 2012 to 4 April 2013, Kölginov was the deputy äkim of the West Kazakhstan Region until he was appointed as an äkim of Oral in which he served that position until 26 March 2016, when he became the West Kazakhstan Regional äkim.[6]
On 13 June 2019, Kölginov was appointed as Äkim of Astana (then Nur-Sultan) by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.[7] Just days after assuming the role, Kölginov met with interest holders and promised to monitor the construction of their houses, by meeting with equity holders of one or two problematic LCDs every week.[8] In response to the issues with the storm sewers rising sharply during the period of autumn rains and spring floods. Kölginov promised to solve this problem within two years. He stated that specialists will reconstruct drainage systems and build new collectors.[8]
On 28 July 2019, Kölginov instructed to clear the mud-filled Sarybulaq River to which he called it an “environmental disaster” from the silt and bring it back to normal.[9]
On 28 August 2019, he addressed the problems of the outskirts of the city, stating that around 280,000 people living do no have adequate access to running water. The cost for improving the area was amount to 275 billion tenge, to which Kölginov admitted that the spending cost for the improvements in the outskirts is not feasible in one year.[10]
On 20 September 2019, at the Äkimat briefing, facing the demands by picketing mothers of many children for apartments by the state, including for those who are not standing in line, Kölginov offered the mothers jobs and housing in the North Kazakhstan Region and Ekibastuz; however, many refused and asked for apartments in Nur-Sultan. Kölginov, in response to the demands, stated that this “was wrong and not according to the law”.[11]
On December 8, 2022, he left the post of Akim of Astana.[12]
On December 9, 2022, he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan[13] and on June 8, 2023, he was dismissed from the position.[14]
On March 27, 2024, he returned to the political scene as the new Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Estonia,[1] replacing Nurlan Seitimov.[15]
Criticism
editIn 2020, he was criticized for planning to spend 125 million tenge on comments in social networks positively assessing his work.[16]
During his tenure as Äkim, Kulginov was accused of infill development in Astana.[17][18] Also, Lake Taldyköl was destroyed by filling during his mayorship.[19][20][21][22]
In popular culture
editDuring his tenure as the Äkim of Astana, Kölgınov was nicknamed "Kölgınov – 20%". The figure apparently spoke of the alleged kickbacks that the Äkim received from government procurement transactions, ultimately poking fun at his allegedly corrupt mayorship.[23] When asked about his opinion on the name on June 6th, 2024,[24] then-Deputy Prime Minister Kölgınov would criticise the nickname, calling it an "accusation", replying to the journalist not to ask such things, saying that they would "be the ones responsible" and claiming that "such attacks against civil servants do happen; they are ordered [by someone]", also adding "Please don't do this. As akim, I worked conscientiously with my colleagues for the interests of our residents. And I'm not ashamed of my work".[23] Just a few days after this incident, Kölgınov would be dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister.[24]
References
edit- ^ a b "Мемлекет басшысының Жарлығымен Алтай Сейдірұлы Көлгінов Қазақстан Республикасының Эстония Республикасындағы Төтенше және Өкілетті Елшісі лауазымына тағайындалды". Official website of the President of Kazakhstan (in Kazakh). 27 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ "Ex-mayor of Astana Altay Kulginov named Vice PM of Kazakhstan". www.inform.kz. 2022-12-09.
- ^ "Altay Kulginov reappointed Deputy PM of Kazakhstan". www.inform.kz. 2023-04-03.
- ^ "Алтай Кульгинов освобожден от должности зампремьера". kapital.kz (in Russian). 2023-06-08.
- ^ a b "Кульгинов Алтай Сейдирович ▷ биография, фото, должность". kapital.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2016-04-12. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ "Указ "О назначении Кульгинова А.С. акимом Западно-Казахстанской области" — Официальный сайт Президента Республики Казахстан". Akorda.kz. Retrieved 29 January 2020.
- ^ "By Decree of Head of State Altai Kulginov is appointed as Mayor of the city of Nur-Sultan". astana.gov.kz. 2019-06-13. Archived from the original on 2019-09-07. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
- ^ a b "Аким столицы пообещал решить проблему подтоплений в течение двух лет". informburo.kz. 2019-06-21. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ "Аким Нур-Султана назвал реку Сарыбулак экологической катастрофой". Курсив - деловые новости Казахстана (in Russian). 28 July 2019. Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ Решения (IR.KZ), Интернет. "Алтай Кульгинов ответил на вопросы телезрителей республиканского телеканала". Официальный интернет-ресурс акимата города Нур-Султан (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ Нургалиева, Роза (2019-09-20). "Кульгинов о требованиях многодетных родителей: "Прямо говорят: Дай мне жилье, иначе с моста спрыгну"". Newtimes.kz (in Russian). Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ "Zhenis Kasymbek replaced Altay Kulginov as mayor of Astana". kaztag.kz. 2022-12-08.
- ^ "Altay Kulginov appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan". kaztag.kz. 2022-09-22.
- ^ "Altai Kulginov relieved of his duties as Deputy PM of Kazakhstan". www.inform.kz. 2023-06-08.
- ^ "Бывший вице-премьер и аким Астаны Алтай Кульгинов назначен послом Казахстана в Эстонии". Радио Азаттык (in Russian). Radio Free Europe. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ КОЗАЧКОВ, Михаил (2020-05-01). "Деньги ничто, имидж - всё!". time.kz. Время общественная политическая газета. Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ "Кульгинов ответил на обвинения в точечной застройке Астаны". zakon.kz (in Russian). 2023-04-25. Archived from the original on 2023-05-30. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ Орал, Кайрат. "Суд заставил Кульгинова разрешить митинги против точечной застройки". malim.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ "Кульгинов Талдыколь или как аким оградился от гражданских активистов". malim.kz (in Russian). Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ "Малый Талдыколь продолжают засыпать, несмотря на обещания замакима приостановить процесс - Аналитический интернет-журнал Власть". vlast.kz (in Russian). 2021-09-26. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ "Почему затягивают судебные тяжбы по Малому Талдыколю?". inbusiness.kz (in Russian). 2022-04-14. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ "Может ли Кульгинов, уничтожив Малый Талдыколь, потопить левый берег Нур-Султана". Exclusive (in Russian). 2021-10-11. Archived from the original on 2023-06-20. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ^ a b "«Кульгинов 20%»: экс-аким попросил не вешать на него ярлыки" (in Russian). Уральская неделя. 6 June 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
- ^ a b "Токаев освободил Алтая Кульгинова от должности вице-премьер-министра". Радио Азаттык (in Russian). Radio Free Europe. 8 June 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.