Information on possible renaming of Almaty denied

AKIPRESS.COM - The words of the Kazakh writer and public figure Olzhas Suleimanov about President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev allegedly supporting the idea of renaming Almaty to Alma-Ata have been denied in Kazakhstan. Advisor to President Erlan Karin told on Telegram channel that Olzhas Suleimanov is a former supporter of the idea to rename the southern capital. However, the fact that he mentioned in this idea about his meeting with the President does not mean that the head of state supports it, according to Karin.
"The President thinks that such important issues should be resolved behind-the-scenes, in the cabinets, and only by consideration of the citizens opinion, based on the position of the majority of the city," he added.
Mayor of Almaty Bakytzhan Sagintayev also commented on this information.
"The information about renaming of the city of Almaty appeared today. I would like to say that such issues were not discussed, and it is not in the agenda of the municipality. We are now working on resolution of a complex of tasks that were set up by the President," Sagintayev noted.