A roundtable discussion on Kazakhstan’s constitutional reforms took place at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Uzbekistan. The event focused on the initiatives proposed by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the 5th meeting of Kazakhstan’s National Kurultai on January 20, 2026, as well as on the key ideas outlined in his recent interview with Turkistan newspaper, DKNews.kz reports.
The discussion brought together members of the Legislative Chamber and the Senate of Uzbekistan’s Oliy Majlis, ambassadors of foreign states, representatives of diplomatic missions, experts from analytical centers, and journalists. The broad participation gave the event a distinctly regional dimension.
Toward a new political architecture
In his remarks, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Uzbekistan Beibut Atamkulov presented the main directions of the proposed constitutional reforms and announced the launch of the Constitutional Commission. He emphasized that the reforms aim to modernize the system of public governance and adapt it to contemporary challenges.
Particular attention was paid to the transition to a unicameral Parliament, the establishment of the People’s Council “Halyk Kenesi,” and the introduction of the post of Vice President. According to the ambassador, these initiatives are designed to increase the efficiency of state institutions and expand public participation in decision-making processes.
Foreign policy and regional stability
Ambassador Atamkulov also addressed Kazakhstan’s foreign policy priorities, highlighting the role of diplomacy in strengthening regional and global stability. In this context, Kazakhstan’s accession to the Abraham Accords and the recent establishment of the Council of Peace were noted as important steps toward promoting dialogue and building trust at the international level.
Strong interest from Uzbekistan
During the roundtable, deputies of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and experts shared their views on the reforms. Participants positively assessed the scale of the initiatives put forward by President Tokayev, noting that they go beyond domestic modernization and have implications for the long-term development of Central Asia as a whole.
Uzbek lawmakers Dilorom Fayzieva and Ilkhom Abdullaev highlighted the systemic nature of the reforms and expressed strong interest in closely following their implementation. Experts echoed this view, stressing the relevance of the reforms in the current regional and global context.
Expert dialogue and exchange of experience
Representatives of the academic and expert community also contributed to the discussion, offering analytical perspectives on Kazakhstan’s constitutional changes and drawing comparisons with Uzbekistan’s own constitutional reform experience in 2023.
On behalf of the diplomatic corps, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Uzbekistan, Huseyn Guliyev, shared his vision of the regional agenda in light of the announced reforms, underscoring their broader international significance.
Open discussion
The event concluded with an active and substantive debate involving well-known regional experts Ravshan Nazarov and Bakhtiyor Ergashev. Participants discussed the importance of constitutional reforms for political stability and long-term development.
Summing up the roundtable, Ambassador Atamkulov emphasized the value of Uzbekistan’s experience gained during its 2023 constitutional reform and expressed confidence that open expert dialogue would contribute to the development of balanced and effective solutions.
The discussion in Tashkent once again demonstrated that Kazakhstan’s reforms are drawing close attention beyond the country’s borders and are seen as an important factor in the regional political landscape.
