'Russia became great power again during Putin's tenure' — Nazarbayev

AKIPRESS.COM - The first President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev in the interview with RIA Novosti shared his impressions about Vladimir Putin, when he first came to power, Sputnik Kazakhstan reports. Nazarbayev reminded that the first President of Russia Boris Yeltsin was long choosing his successor.
"In the early 21st century a new politician came to Kremlin who was not like anyone among his successors. Then no one would say that a "Putin epoch" started in Russia," Nazarbayev noted.
The former Kazakh President said that he was wondered by a "high erudition, energy and readiness to solve the most difficult issues" in the new Russian leader then.
He was ready to everything in his life and answer any question, he added.
The first President of Kazakhstan thinks that the "Russia people are very lucky to have Vladimir Putin, who started ruling the country from the beginning of the 21st century and underwent the most difficult tests".
During his tenure, Russia became a great power again, he said.
Putin became President of Russia on May 7, 2000. Prior to that, he was acting President of Russia from January 31, 1999 after a voluneer resignation of Boris Yeltsin. Putin then re-elected as President in 2004, 2012 and 2018.