This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
On June 18, 2020, Kazakhstan's former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, 79, announced that he had tested positive for the coronavirus.
According to an official statement, Nazarbayev is 'continuing to work remotely' and is in self-isolation.
As the 'Leader of the Nation,' Nazarbayev retains significant influence in Kazakhstan's government, including chairmanships of the national security council and the ruling party.
He is not the only high-ranking official to contract the virus; Health Minister Yelzhan Birtanov, Nurlan Nigmatulin, and President Tokayev's spokesman Berik Uali have also tested positive.
