An adviser to Kazakhstan's president, Nursultan Nazarbaev, says that country's only leader in its post-Soviet history will seek a fresh term in office in 2012, RFE/RL's Kazakh Service reports.
Nazarbaev's current term expires in 2012, but in 2007 parliament ruled that he should be able to stand for president as many times as he likes, as the country's first head of state.
Parliament has also given Nazarbaev the status of "leader of the nation" and immunity from prosecution.
His adviser, Yermukhamet Yertisbaev, in an interview published today, told local newspaper "Svoboda Slova" that Nazarbaev, 70, announced his intention to run earlier this month.
Yertisbaev also denied reports that in 2012, Kazakh authorities plan to hold a referendum, instead of presidential elections.
Nazarbaev has ruled Kazakhstan since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, before which he was the country's top communist official.
with additional agency reports
Nazarbaev's current term expires in 2012, but in 2007 parliament ruled that he should be able to stand for president as many times as he likes, as the country's first head of state.
Parliament has also given Nazarbaev the status of "leader of the nation" and immunity from prosecution.
His adviser, Yermukhamet Yertisbaev, in an interview published today, told local newspaper "Svoboda Slova" that Nazarbaev, 70, announced his intention to run earlier this month.
Yertisbaev also denied reports that in 2012, Kazakh authorities plan to hold a referendum, instead of presidential elections.
Nazarbaev has ruled Kazakhstan since the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, before which he was the country's top communist official.
with additional agency reports
