Aliev Says Kazakh President Intends To Run Country Until 2025

Rakhat Aliev

PRAGUE -- Rakhat Aliev, the former son-in-law of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev, told RFE/RL's Kazakh Service that President Nursultan Nazarbaev will do anything to stay in power until 2025 so that a young son can succeed him. Nazarbaev will turn 69 in June.

Aliev said Nazarbaev plans to transfer power to an illegitimate son when he comes of age in 2025. Officially, the Kazakh leader has three daughters and no sons.

Aliev says that detailed information regarding the Kazakh presidential family is in his recently published book "Godfather-in-Law."

Aliev lives in self-imposed exile in Vienna.

Kazakh authorities tried him in absentia and found him guilty of kidnapping two bankers who disappeared in January 2007. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Aliev says the charges are politically motivated.

Austria has refused Astana requests that Aliev be extradited.