Kazakh passports to preserve 'nationality' designation
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 19 January 2009 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kazakh passports to preserve 'nationality' designation, 19 January 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4976f7ddc.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
January 19, 2009
ASTANA – The Kazakh authorities have decided to preserve a space designating nationality, or ethnicity, on citizens' passports when new biometric documents are introduced.
The decision was made by Kazakh Prime Minister Karim Masimov on January 19 after long debates in parliament and among Kazakh citizens.
The government had proposed dropping the nationality designation when the new biometric passports come into effect, but the proposal met with strong objections from many Kazakh citizens.
Over 120 different ethnic groups live in Kazakhstan, and citizens can choose the nationality written in their official Kazakh travel documents.
Copyright notice: Copyright (c) 2007-2009. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036