The vice president of Kazakhstan is the second-highest ranking political office in Kazakhstan, after the president of Kazakhstan. The position has been re-established since 1 July 2026 and is currently held by Erlan Karin since August 2026.
The position existed previously from 1991 to 1996. In 1990, there was also the post of vice-president of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic.
History President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a decree on 22 February 1996 removing Erik Asanbayev from his post.
In 2026, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in an address to the National Kurultai, announced plans to reinstate the position of Vice President in case the initiative is supported during that year's constitutional referendum. After the 2026 Kazakh constitutional referendum, Tokayev's proposed Constitution was adopted and the position of Vice President was re-established on 1 July 2026.
During a 23 August 2026 press conference after having voted in the 2026 Kazakh legislative election, President Tokayev announced that his vice presidential appointee would be revealed next week, which is until 30 August, or in 10 days, which is 2 September.
Duties and responsibilities On 5 September 2026, President Tokayev signed the Presidential Decree "On the Duties of the Vice President" No. 1452 into action. It highlighted the Vice President's duties and responsibilities, which included developing strategic initiatives in domestic and foreign policy and submitting them to the President. Thus, at the President's direction, the Vice President represents the President in relations with the Kurultai, Government, other state bodies, political parties, public associations, and international organizations, and participates in international events.
The Vice President heads the Secretariat of the Congress of Leaders of World and Traditional Religions and oversees the activities of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President. Additionally, the Vice President coordinates the work of several presidential commissions and councils, including those concerning state awards, citizenship, heraldry, overseas personnel training, state prizes in science and technology and literature and the arts, and youth policy. The Vice President may issue orders, give instructions to central and local executive bodies, attend meetings of the Kurultai, Government, and presidential advisory bodies, request information and documents from state authorities, and establish interdepartmental working groups to prepare draft presidential acts.
List of vice presidents (1990–present) Kazakh SSR (1990–1991) No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Election Party President Ref 1 Sergey Tereshchenko April 1990 May 1990 1990 QKP Nursultan Nazarbayev 2 Yerik Asanbayev 16 October 1991 16 December 1991 – QKP —
Vice President of Kazakhstan (1991–present) No. Portrait Name Took office Left office Party Election President Notes (2) Yerik Asanbayev 16 December 1991 22 February 1996 Independent 1991 Nursultan Nazarbayev Office abolishedVacant – Kassym-Jomart Tokayev 3 Erlan Karin 31 August 2026 Incumbent Independent –
See also List of leaders of Kazakhstan President of Kazakhstan Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
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