Before he left for Sochi, where the Olympic games are being held, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev voiced the idea of renaming the country Kazakh eli. According to the president, the word "stan", common in Central Asia, doesn't suit the country.
Vestnik Kavkaza discussed the president's initiative with Kazakh analysts Pyotr Svoik and Andrey Chebotyryov.
According to Chebotyryov, the word "stan" is inappropriate for the name of the country, because it simply isn't Kazakh. The name "Kazakhstan" first appeared in the Soviet Union and has nothing to do with Kazakh history, he stresses. Moreover, such a name raises unnecessary associations with Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The expert is not certain however that the authorities will actually manage to rename the country. It's probably just a chance to start a discussion, he believes.
Svoik says one shouldn't pay special attention to the move. According to the expert, the statement was made in an unofficial manner and the authorities will probably abstain from any definite measures.
Experts discuss whether Kazakhstan will be renamed Kazakh eli
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