President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has backed the creation of a new political party, Adilet, which analysts say is intended to help cement his political legacy and complete the restructuring of Kazakhstan’s power system after the events of 2022.
The party will be led by former presidential chief of staff Aibek Dadebay, one of Tokayev’s longtime allies. Its leadership also includes business figures who expanded their influence under the current president.
The creation of Adilet reflects the continuing redistribution of influence in Kazakhstan after Tokayev consolidated control over Central Asia’s largest economy following the 2022 unrest, which he described as an attempted coup.
Tokayev came to power in 2019 after authority was handed over by Nursultan Nazarbayev. Since then, he has gradually reduced the influence of the former president’s inner circle while promoting limited political reforms and a strategy aimed at diversifying the economy.
The Adilet party, whose name translates as “Justice,” was officially launched at a congress in Astana on May 7. Forty-six-year-old Aibek Dadebay was elected chairman. He has worked alongside Tokayev since at least 2011—first in the Senate and later during the current president’s time at the United Nations in Geneva.
Kazakhstan’s presidential administration has not publicly commented on the situation.
According to Dosym Satpayev, head of the consultancy Risk Assessment Group, most existing political parties were formed under Nazarbayev, meaning Tokayev needs his own political base.
“By the time the third president emerges, there must already be a manageable system in place that can be controlled,” Satpayev said.
Under current rules, Tokayev must leave office in 2029. Following the referendum held after the 2022 unrest, Kazakhstan limited the presidency to a single seven-year term. Tokayev later initiated another constitutional reform that replaced the bicameral parliament with a unicameral one and introduced the post of vice president, who would be able to replace the head of state in the event of an early departure.
Elections to the new parliament are scheduled for August.
Analysts believe the new party is intended to help Tokayev preserve influence even after the end of his presidency.
“While he remains in power, Tokayev wants to secure enough seats in parliament as insurance for preserving the current system,” said Kate Mallinson, a partner at PRISM Strategic Intelligence.
On its website, Adilet describes itself as a pro-presidential force based on “new constitutional values” and “common sense.” The party says it aims to turn government decisions into “real changes for citizens” and take responsibility for the results.
Adilet’s political council includes representatives of a new business elite that strengthened its position after the authorities moved to curb the influence of oligarchs from the Nazarbayev era. Among them are businessman Andrey Lavrentyev, who acquired ArcelorMittal’s assets in Kazakhstan in 2023, and Kudrat Shamiev, linked to the consolidation of the country’s mining sector.
The party’s leadership also includes Dana Medeuova, whom independent media have previously described as Tokayev’s niece, and Raushan Kazhibayeva, who has headed the presidential television and radio complex since 2019.
Alongside political reforms, Kazakhstan’s authorities continue efforts to attract foreign investment while trying to balance the interests of the West, Russia, and China. The government aims to maintain average annual economic growth of at least five percent through 2028 while gradually reducing the economy’s dependence on oil and gas.
According to Mallinson, the new constitutional model creates a less personalized but more institutionalized form of authoritarian rule.
“The creation of a new party points to an effort to ensure the durability of Tokayev and ‘Tokayevism,’” she said.