Dariga Nazarbayeva

Biography

Dariğa Nūrsūltanqyzy Nazarbayeva was born on May 7, 1963, in Temirtau, Kazakhstan. She is the eldest daughter of Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kazakhstan's first president. She studied at Moscow State University's Faculty of History and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Her background in history played a role in her political career and cultural interests. She married Rakhat Aliev, a notable figure in Kazakhstani politics and business. Nazarbayeva's career started in media in 1994 when she led Khabar, Kazakhstan's largest national television agency. This role made her a key figure in the country's media during the vital years after independence. Her media work gave her significant sway over public opinion and helped shape Kazakhstan's identity as an independent nation. In 2003, she founded the Asar political party, beginning her direct political involvement. In 2004, she was elected to the Mäjilis (lower house of parliament) for the first time. Her party merged with Amanat, her father's ruling party, in 2006. After a short break from politics following the 2007 parliamentary dissolution, she returned to the Mäjilis in 2012 as deputy chairwoman and parliamentary leader of Amanat. She rose further in 2015 as Deputy Prime Minister under Karim Massimov's cabinet. In 2016, she joined the Senate (upper house), and after her father stepped down as president in 2019, she became Senate Chairwoman while Kassym-Jomart Tokayev became president. Her time as Senate Chairwoman was cut short in 2020 when Tokayev unexpectedly removed her from the position. She returned to the Mäjilis in 2021, continuing her legislative work. Throughout her political career, there was speculation about her possibly succeeding her father as president, although these rumors were officially denied. Her work has been recognized with many awards, including the French Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres and various Kazakhstani honors such as the Order of Kurmet, Order of Parasat, and several independence anniversary medals.