Kasachstan

Kazakhstan's ruling Nur Otan party has nominated interim President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev for the presidency, virtually assuring his victory in a snap election scheduled for June 9.

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Tuesday called a snap election for June as the Central Asian nation seeks a new leader following the shock resignation of its longtime ruler.

At the start of this week, Kazakhstan had a capital city called Astana and a president called Nursultan. Now, it has a capital called Nursultan and a president called Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbaev has abruptly resigned after nearly 30 years in office, but will continue to head the ruling party and keep his lifetime post as chairman of the influential Security Council.

European lawmakers have adopted a resolution urging Kazakhstan to "respect human rights and fundamental freedoms." The text passed in the European Parliament on March 14 calls on the Kazakh authorities to "put an end to human rights abuses and all forms of political repression," noting that the number of political prisoners in the country has increased and the right to freedom of association remains largely restricted.