An exhibition titled “Renewed Constitution — a Guarantee of a Just Society” has opened at the Presidential Center of the DPA RK. The event is dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of Kazakhstan and has been organized in collaboration with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Constitution serves as the fundamental law that defines Kazakhstan as a democratic, secular, and rule-of-law state.
The first Constitution of sovereign Kazakhstan was adopted on January 28, 1993. The current Constitution was enacted following a nationwide referendum held on August 30, 1995. According to Law No. 267-II of December 13, 2001, “On Holidays in the Republic of Kazakhstan,” August 30 is recognized as a national holiday. It is celebrated as Constitution Day of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Since its adoption, the current Constitution has been amended six times — in 1998, 2007, 2011, 2017, 2019, and 2022. Amendments to the country’s Basic Law are essential. They help ensure the state's effective development, meet the evolving needs of society, and strengthen human rights protections.
“Over the past three decades, the Constitution has evolved alongside the nation, reflecting the historical challenges and the needs of Kazakhstani society. One of the most significant recent milestones was the large-scale constitutional reform initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and supported by the people in the national referendum of June 5, 2022. The reform paved the way for profound political transformation and reaffirmed the nation's dedication to democratic ideals in shaping a Just Kazakhstan,” stated Bakytzhan Temirbolat, Director of the Presidential Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, in his opening remarks.
A significant milestone in the evolution of Kazakhstan’s constitutional framework was the referendum held in accordance with the Presidential Decree by Head of State Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on May 5, 2022, “On Amendments and Additions to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.” In his congratulatory address on Constitution Day, the Head of State noted: “The Constitution, renewed through a nationwide referendum, has become a powerful symbol of national unity. It serves as a solid foundation for large-scale reforms aimed at democratizing the political system, upholding the rule of law, and steadily improving the well-being of our people.”
The renewed Constitution, approved by referendum, paved the way for Kazakhstan’s sustained progress.
"Thirty years ago, on August 30, 1995, a nationwide referendum enshrined the fundamental law that laid the foundation of a new, independent, and democratic republic," said Arthur Lastaev, Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The exhibition features around 150 items - including materials, artifacts, and documents - from the museum, archive, and library collections of the Presidential Center, showcasing the historical development of constitutionalism in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The exhibition is divided into three sections:
1. “Steppe Laws - A Treasury Trove of Wisdom”
2. “The Constitution - The Foundation of Independence”
3. “The Renewed Constitution - The Basis of Modernization”
Among the exhibition’s unique exhibits are editions of the Basic Law in Kazakh and Russian, printed in Braille and prepared jointly by the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the OSCE Program Office in Astana.
“By supporting electoral democratization and reinforcing Parliament’s role, the renewed 1995 Constitution also enhanced government initiative and responsibility, boosted legislative regulation aimed at fairer public access to natural resources, enabled citizens’ access to the restored Constitutional Court, and strengthened the human rights protection mechanism as a whole,” said Sergey Udartsev, a member of the working group on amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This year, in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Constitution, mountaineer and cultural figure Kairbek Alibek carried a copy of the Basic Law to the summit of Island Peak (6,180 m) in the Himalayas. A photograph capturing this historic moment is featured in the exhibition, symbolizing the deep respect of the Kazakh people for their Constitution.
“In the constitutional novelties, provisions were formulated that bring greater balance and stability to the system of checks and balances. We can observe how the amendments have strengthened the institution of parliamentarism and local self-government, redistributing powers and moving away from a super-presidential model towards a more democratic direction,” said Indira Aubakirova, Director of the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The opening ceremony of the exhibition was attended by approximately 200 representatives from the Constitutional Court of Kazakhstan, the National Center for Human Rights, the Central Election Commission of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Legislation and Legal Information, the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President, the Institute of State History, the Academy of Law Enforcement Agencies under the General Prosecutor’s Office, along with government officials, public figures, prominent scholars, and professionals from the fields of education and culture.
