A formal ceremony of presenting credentials was held at the Akorda, where Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the letters of credence from the newly appointed ambassadors of the United States and Bulgaria, DKNews.kz reports.
The ceremony marked the official start of the diplomatic missions of US Ambassador Julie Stufft and Bulgarian Ambassador Georgi Vodenksy, and served as a platform to reaffirm Kazakhstan’s key foreign policy priorities.
Kazakhstan–Bulgaria ties gain momentum
Addressing the Bulgarian ambassador, President Tokayev conveyed his warm greetings to Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, noting that Radev’s visit to Kazakhstan last year gave a strong boost to bilateral relations.
“We are interested in further cooperation with your wonderful country. We will do everything possible to expand our partnership both in the political sphere and in the economy,” Tokayev said.
Observers note that cooperation with Bulgaria is gaining importance for Kazakhstan in the broader context of dialogue with Europe, including trade, logistics, and energy cooperation.
Georgi Petrov Vodenski - the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Kazakhstan
He was born on May 11, 1975, in Sofia, Bulgaria. Ambassador Vodenski graduated from Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Turkology and a master’s degree in Political Science.
Diplomatic career
Georgi Vodenski began his professional career in 2003 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria, serving in the Department of Consular Relations.
From 2005 to 2012, he worked as Third Secretary and Vice-Consul at the Consulate General of Bulgaria in Edirne, Turkey, gaining extensive experience in consular affairs and regional diplomacy.
Between 2012 and 2018, he served as Second Secretary for Political and Cultural Affairs and Head of the Consular Section at the Bulgarian Embassy in Georgia.
Senior roles in the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry
Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Georgi Vodenski held the position of Director of the Department of Consular Relations at the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 2018 to 2023, overseeing Bulgaria’s global consular policy and services.
Languages
Ambassador Vodenski is fluent in English, Turkish, Romanian, and Russian, reflecting his long-standing professional engagement with Eastern Europe, the Black Sea region, and Eurasia.
His diplomatic background and regional expertise position him as a key figure in strengthening relations between Bulgaria and Kazakhstan across political, cultural, and consular spheres.
Strategic partnership with the United States
Speaking about Kazakhstan–US relations, President Tokayev recalled the significance of his visit to the United States in November last year. During his conversation with Ambassador Julie Stufft, he emphasized the constructive nature of his engagement with US leadership.
“We had a friendly and at the same time substantive discussion with President Donald Trump. More recently, we held a productive phone call covering many aspects of our bilateral cooperation,” Tokayev said.
The President also expressed his appreciation for the invitation to take part in the upcoming G20 summit, which will be held in the United States later this year.
“Kazakhstan will make every effort to maintain and strengthen our strategic partnership across a wide range of areas,” he added.
Julie Stufft – the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Kazakhstan
She was born on September 18, 1975, in the state of Ohio, USA. Ambassador Stufft graduated from Case Western Reserve University and Duke University, earning a master’s degree in Environmental Management.
Diplomatic career
Julie Stufft began her professional career in 1999 as an intern at the U.S. Department of State. From 2002 to 2006, she served in political and consular roles at U.S. embassies in Poland and Ethiopia.
Between 2006 and 2008, she worked at the Executive Secretariat and the Bureau of Consular Affairs of the U.S. Department of State. From 2009 to 2012, she headed the visa section at the U.S. Embassy in Russia.
Her subsequent overseas assignments included serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Djibouti from 2012 to 2014, and later as Deputy Chief of Mission in Moldova from 2015 to 2018.
Work in Washington
From 2018 to 2020, Julie Stufft held senior positions at the National Security Council, serving first as Director and later as Senior Director. In 2020–2021, she became Executive Director of the Bureau of Consular Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
Between 2021 and 2025, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and subsequently as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Prior to her appointment as U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan in 2025, she held the position of Executive Secretary at the National Security Council.
Languages
Ambassador Stufft is fluent in Romanian, Russian, Polish, French, and Japanese, a skill set that reflects her extensive diplomatic experience across Europe, Africa, Eurasia, and Asia.
Her appointment to Kazakhstan brings decades of diplomatic, consular, and national security expertise to one of the United States’ key partners in Central Asia.
Start of diplomatic missions
Concluding the ceremony, President Tokayev congratulated both ambassadors on the official start of their diplomatic missions and conveyed his best wishes to the leaders of their respective countries.
The event at Akorda once again highlighted Kazakhstan’s commitment to a balanced, multi-vector foreign policy and its readiness to engage in active dialogue with key international partners amid a rapidly changing global environment.
