On October 25, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty for the republic.
For the second consecutive year after a long hiatus, Kazakhstan is celebrating Republic Day. Experts concur that this holiday holds special significance for the country's future, as reported by Sarbaz.kz.
Republic Day in Kazakhstan had its origins in the past. On October 25, 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty for the republic. In honour of this event, this day was declared a national holiday in 1995. In December 2001, Republic Day was granted the status of a state holiday.
In April 2009, the authorities decided to forgo this date, shifting the focus of Kazakhstan's citizens to Independence Day. The declaration of state sovereignty was considered an intermediate stage, followed by a more important event – the proclamation of Kazakhstan's independence.
However, just a year ago, on June 16, 2022, during the first session of the National Assembly, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed reinstating Republic Day as a national holiday. On September 29 of the same year, he signed the Law "On Amendments and Additions to Some Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Issues of Cinematography, Culture, and Holidays" with the corresponding amendments.
The Head of State explained his decision by stating that Republic Day should symbolize the bold step the country took towards statehood. The original significance of Independence Day was retained, and it remained the primary national holiday, but its meaning shifted to a day of remembrance for the national heroes who made significant contributions to achieving independence.