1. Early life and background
Karim Massimov's early life and background laid the foundation for his later career, including his family's origins, extensive education, and initial professional endeavors.
1.1. Family and origins
Karim Massimov was born on 15 June 1965, in the city of Tselinograd (now Astana, Kazakhstan). He comes from a Muslim family with Tajik and Uyghur roots. His parents are Eleanor Azhybekova and Qazhymqan Massimov. His father, Qazhymqan Massimov, held various managerial positions throughout his career, including director of the Burundai Production Association of Wall Materials and deputy chief of the Glavtopsnab under the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR. He also directed the Massimov Health Center LLP and served as president of the National Agro-Industrial Chamber of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Yoga Association.
1.2. Education
Massimov's academic journey is notable for its international scope and focus on diverse fields. In 1982, he graduated from the Republican Physics and Mathematics Boarding School in Almaty. From 1985 to 1988, he studied Arabic at the People's Friendship University of Russia before attending the Alma-Ata Institute of National Economy.
His studies continued in China, where he studied Chinese at the Beijing Institute of Language from 1988 to 1989. Following this, he taught at the Wuhan University School of Law from 1989 to 1991, and subsequently attended Columbia University in New York City. In 1998, he completed his graduate studies at the Kazakh State Academy of Management (now Narxoz University). He earned a doctoral degree from the K.G. Razumovsky Moscow State University of Technology and Management in 1999, where he defended his doctoral dissertation on the topic "Problems of the formation of industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and ways to solve them (theory and practice)".
1.3. Early career
Massimov's initial professional experiences were primarily in the commercial sector, both internationally and within Kazakhstan's banking industry. From 1992 to 1995, he worked in Kazakhstan's commercial structures in China and Hong Kong. Following his return to Kazakhstan, he served as the chairman of the Board of the Almaty Trade and Financial Bank from 1995 to 1997. During this period, in 1996, he also became acting chairman of the Board of Turanbank. From 1997 to 2000, he was the chairman of the Board of the People's Savings Bank of Kazakhstan.
2. Political career
Karim Massimov's political career saw him rise through various ministerial and executive roles, culminating in two terms as Prime Minister and a significant period as head of the National Security Committee.
2.1. Early political positions
Massimov began his career in government service in 1991, where he was appointed as the head of a department within the Ministry of Labour. On 7 August 2000, he became the Minister of Transport and Communications. His progression continued as he was appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan on 27 November 2001, a position he held until June 2003 when he was made an assistant to the President of Kazakhstan.
He returned to the role of Deputy Prime Minister on 18 January 2006, simultaneously serving as the Minister of Economy from 19 April to 13 October 2006. From 21 January 2014 to 2 April 2014, while serving as the Head of the Presidential Administration, Massimov also acted as the State Secretary of Kazakhstan.
2.2. Foreign policy initiatives
Karim Massimov was actively involved in shaping Kazakhstan's foreign relations, particularly focusing on strengthening ties with key international partners.
2.2.1. China
Massimov is considered an expert on China, a country that has become a vital strategic partner for Kazakhstan. He has played a significant role in fostering close cooperation between the two nations, especially in the development of Kazakhstan's energy resources. From 16 to 17 November 2006, Massimov visited Beijing, China, accompanied by Finance Minister Natalya Korzhova, Transport and Communications Minister Serik Akhmetov, and Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Baktykozha Izmukhambetov. During this visit, Massimov co-chaired the third meeting of the China-Kazakhstan Cooperation Committee with Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi, where several accords between the two governments were signed. He also met with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao. Concurrently, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev met with Liu Qi, secretary of the Beijing Party Committee, in Astana, emphasizing the deepening cooperation and mutual understanding between their countries.
2.2.2. Iran
In March 2002, Massimov announced the Government of Kazakhstan's plans to significantly increase wheat exports to Iran. This initiative aimed to boost exports from 100.00 K t to 2.00 M t, demonstrating Kazakhstan's strategic economic engagement with Iran.
2.2.3. Israel
Massimov engaged in efforts to strengthen Kazakhstan's ties with Israel. On 29 October 2006, from Jerusalem, Massimov and Israeli Vice Premier Shimon Peres announced that Kazakhstan's state-owned National Innovation Fund (NIF) would begin investing in the Peace Valley project and other initiatives in the Middle East. Massimov conveyed that Kazakhstan, as a moderate Muslim state, was keen to be involved in the Middle East and sought to establish strong political and economic ties with Israel and its neighbors. He mentioned the Dead Sea canal project and expressed a desire to create a free trade zone. Furthermore, Vice Premier Peres and Massimov agreed to establish an agriculture school in each country. The NIF had previously committed 10.00 M USD to the Israeli VC fund Vertex.
Massimov also met with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who lauded Kazakhstan for presenting a "beautiful face of Islam," describing the country as a perfect example of both economic development and interethnic accord that other Muslim states should emulate.
2.3. First term as Prime Minister (2007-2012)
Massimov's initial period as Prime Minister was marked by his leadership in navigating the country through global economic turbulences and implementing significant domestic reforms.
2.3.1. Appointment and initial challenges
On 9 January 2007, President Nursultan Nazarbayev nominated Karim Massimov to succeed Daniyal Akhmetov as Prime Minister. Akhmetov had resigned the previous day without explanation, a decision analysts linked to Nazarbayev's criticisms of his administration's oversight of the economy. The Parliament subsequently approved Massimov's nomination with overwhelming support on 10 January, with 37 out of 39 Senators and 66 of 77 Mäjilis deputies voting in favor. Following this, Akhmetov was appointed defense minister. Massimov's government immediately faced significant challenges during the onset of the worldwide Great Recession.
2.3.2. Economic and social reforms
During his first term, Massimov implemented several key economic and social policies aimed at stabilizing the country and fostering growth amidst the global financial crisis. In February 2009, the National Bank of Kazakhstan devalued the Kazakhstani tenge by 22%. Massimov responded by instructing law enforcement agencies to stabilize prices and control the dollar exchange rate within a narrow margin of 150 KZT plus or minus 3%. These reforms and strategic interventions by the government significantly bolstered Kazakhstan's economy, leading to a near doubling of GDP per capita from 2008 to 2012, with an average annual economic growth rate of 5.5%.
A notable social initiative during this period was the implementation of the first phase of the Kazakh Unified National Healthcare System, aimed at improving medical care. Massimov also demonstrated a forward-looking approach to public engagement; in a December 2008 interview, he declared himself an "Internet user" and "blogger." A few months later, he launched his blog on the government's website to provide quality information on the country's socio-economic situation. This led to other government members actively engaging online, with ministerial accounts appearing on social networks and virtual blogs replacing traditional public receptions.
Massimov was directly involved in the preparations for the 2011 Asian Winter Games, ensuring that the newly built facilities would be accessible to ordinary citizens to promote sports development. His government resigned after the 2011 Kazakh presidential election, but he was promptly reappointed Prime Minister by President Nazarbayev on 8 April 2011. On 24 September 2012, Massimov announced his resignation from the premiership. President Nazarbayev accepted, acknowledging Massimov's successful leadership through the global financial crisis and praising his efforts in helping the country emerge honorably from the economic downturn.
2.4. Second term as Prime Minister (2014-2016)
Massimov's second premiership was characterized by his efforts to manage economic headwinds and drive forward national development and modernization projects.
2.4.1. Reappointment and economic difficulties
Massimov was reappointed as Prime Minister on 2 April 2014, succeeding Serik Akhmetov. His reappointment was largely attributed to the economic challenges Kazakhstan faced under Akhmetov's leadership, including lower GDP growth and a 20% devaluation of the tenge in February 2014. Massimov was seen as a more experienced figure for navigating such issues and was also known for his ability to attract foreign investment.
The country's economy faced further pressure following the annexation of Crimea by Russia in March 2014, which led to international sanctions against Russia, Kazakhstan's primary trading partner. As a result, exports between the two countries significantly shrank by 24.6%. In June 2014, Massimov attended the presidential inauguration of Petro Poroshenko in Ukraine on President Nazarbayev's orders, signaling Kazakhstan's intent to normalize relations with Ukraine despite its close ties with Russia. This visit emphasized economic cooperation, with Massimov and his Ukrainian counterpart, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, agreeing to restore a joint commission on economic cooperation.
From autumn 2014, the world experienced an oil glut, causing oil prices to fall to a four-year low of 82.93 USD per barrel. By August 2015, the tenge lost 20% of its value following Kazakhstan's transition to a freely floating exchange rate. Massimov believed that government intervention was essential to prevent an economic default, aiming to restore growth, increase credit and investment, create new jobs, and reduce inflation. By the end of 2015, the tenge had depreciated by 85.2%, becoming the most depreciated currency in Europe and the CIS countries.
2.4.2. Major projects and reforms
Massimov played a central role in several key national projects and reforms during his second term. He chaired the National Modernization Commission, which was instrumental in implementing the "100 Concrete Steps" plan, a comprehensive program for institutional reforms and modernization.
His tenure also saw significant preparations for the Expo 2017 event in Astana. Massimov regularly visited the construction sites and oversaw the preparation process. However, a corruption scandal emerged in June 2015, involving allegations of embezzlement of 10.00 B KZT from the company responsible for the Expo. Court hearings followed, leading to the conviction of the former head of the national company, Talgat Ermegiyaev, who was sentenced to 14 years in prison in June 2016 for embezzling 5.90 B KZT.
Massimov served as the chairman of the Bid Organizing Committee for Kazakhstan's bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in Almaty. In his address to the International Olympic Committee, he emphasized Almaty as an opportunity to demonstrate that developing countries could successfully host the Winter Games and provide a true Winter Games experience while showcasing the long-term strength of the Olympic legacy in a region that had never hosted the Games. Despite his efforts, Beijing was chosen to host the Olympics in July 2015, winning by 44 votes to Almaty's 40.
In September 2015, Massimov's government deregulated the price of AI-92 fuel, the most popular grade in Kazakhstan. This resulted in a sharp increase in prices, from 108 KZT per liter to nearly 150 KZT at some gas stations, although the price eventually stabilized around 128 KZT per liter. In August 2016, the government further deregulated the fuel and lubricants market by removing diesel fuel from the list of products with maximum price controls. This led to the price of diesel fuel almost equaling that of AI-92, rising from 99 KZT to 110 KZT-115 KZT.
Another significant reform during Massimov's premiership was the transition to a 12-year education system in Kazakhstan. He served as Prime Minister until 8 September 2016, when he was succeeded by Bakhytzhan Sagintayev.
2.5. National Security Committee chairman (2016-2022)
After being relieved from his post as Prime Minister, Karim Massimov was appointed chairman of the National Security Committee (NSC) on 8 September 2016. He held this position until his dismissal by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on 5 January 2022, amidst the widespread civil unrest across the country.
3. Personal life
Beyond his political career, Karim Massimov's personal life reflects his diverse background, linguistic abilities, and varied interests.
3.1. Family and languages
Karim Massimov is ethnically Uyghur and was born a citizen of Kazakhstan. He is married and has three children. Massimov is known for his remarkable linguistic proficiency, speaking Kazakh, Russian, Chinese, English, and Arabic. He is also believed to have strong connections within the Kremlin.
3.2. Hobbies and martial arts
Massimov's personal interests are diverse, including reading books, skiing, rock climbing, and golf. He has also been deeply involved in the world of martial arts, particularly Muaythai. In 2010, he became the President of the Federation of Amateur Muaythai of Asia (FAMA), the first Continental Federation of the International Federation of Muaythai Amateurs (IFMA) established in 1991 to support IFMA's efforts.
Subsequently, he was nominated and assumed the position of Vice President of the IFMA, President of the Muaythai federation in Kazakhstan, and Vice-President of the World Muaythai Council (WMC). In 2012, Massimov was unanimously re-elected for another four-year term to lead the Asian federation, which is recognized by the Olympic Council of Asia. He has expressed strong support for the sport, stating that it "brings together athletes from across the world to train and compete with honor and in the spirit of cultural exchange and understanding."
4. Arrest, criminal cases and sentence
Karim Massimov's political career ended abruptly with his dismissal, arrest, and subsequent legal challenges, which have led to significant criminal convictions and asset forfeiture.
4.1. Dismissal and high treason charges (2022)
On 5 January 2022, following a meeting of the Security Council, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dismissed Karim Massimov from his position as Chairman of the National Security Committee (NSC) amidst widespread mass unrest across the country. The very next day, Massimov was detained on charges of treason (Article 175, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan) and placed in a temporary detention facility. Former head of Tokayev's state security, Yermek Sagimbayev, was appointed as the new head of Kazakhstan's national security in his place.
Political analysts, such as Daniyar Ashimbayev, noted that during the initial stages of the mass riots, no unit of the NSC, then led by Massimov, was seen actively confronting the alleged "terrorists." This raised questions about the NSC's competence, or even potential involvement, in creating or exacerbating the situation. The goal of the perpetrators, according to these analyses, could have been a coup d'état aimed at removing Tokayev from office. According to the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, the details of the criminal case and the court hearing were classified as containing state secrets, with their disclosure potentially harming national security interests. The investigation later established that throughout 2021, perpetrators were secretly trained to use radical measures, involving organized criminal groups that recruited, armed, and equipped individuals with radios and transport.
During the riots, Massimov and his deputy, Director of the Special Forces Service "A" Sadykulov, allegedly ordered their subordinates to abandon NSC department buildings. This resulted in the NSC departments in Almaty, Almaty Region, and Kyzylorda Region being left unguarded and looted, allowing militants to freely enter and seize combat weapons, which were subsequently used against civilians and unarmed law enforcement officers.
4.2. Investigation and asset forfeiture
The official investigation into Massimov's activities revealed a pattern of alleged illicit gains and led to the seizure of substantial assets. An investigation was launched into an elite guest house and a land plot in the capital, valued at approximately 2.50 B KZT, which Massimov allegedly received illegally from a business entity during his tenure as Prime Minister. Following his arrest in January 2022, 17.20 M USD in cash, along with numerous luxury items such as high-end watches, gold bars, and antiques, were seized from this guest house. Additionally, 11 expensive business-class cars belonging to him were confiscated. Properties seized included two luxury apartments in Astana (formerly Nur-Sultan), two apartments, and a mansion in Almaty, as well as a one-hectare land plot on a lake shore in the Shchuchinsk-Borovskaya resort area. Investigations also led to the seizure and arrest of 5.10 M USD from Massimov's close associates. Further investigations revealed that Massimov, through his wife's brother, Dilshat Mashurov, owned sixteen luxury houses in prestigious areas across different warm states in America, valued at approximately 20.00 M USD, as documented in US real estate registries.
On 25 October 2022, the UN Working Group considered the possibility of releasing Massimov and conducting an independent investigation. However, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan maintained that the case details remained classified due to their sensitive nature regarding foreign policy, counterintelligence, and operational-search activities, stating that their disclosure could harm national security interests.
4.3. Verdict for high treason and attempted coup
In early 2023, Berik Asylov, the Prosecutor General of Kazakhstan, publicly identified Massimov as one of the main organizers of the mass riots that occurred in January 2022.
On 24 April 2023, the specialized interdistrict criminal court of Astana found Karim Massimov guilty of high treason, violent seizure of power, and abuse of power. He was sentenced to an 18-year prison term, accompanied by the confiscation of his property and a lifelong ban from holding positions in the civil service. Three co-defendants were also convicted alongside Massimov: Anvar Sadykulov received a 16-year prison sentence, Daulet Ergozhin received 15 years, and Marat Osipov was sentenced to 3 years. All co-defendants were also stripped of their general ranks and state awards.
4.4. Additional charges: money laundering and bribery
In November 2023, a second criminal case was initiated against Karim Massimov. These new charges included the legalization and laundering of criminally obtained money, as well as receiving bribes on a particularly large scale. Previously, the investigation had uncovered numerous indications of corruption, with the National Security Committee reporting that Massimov had illegally acquired real estate, expensive gifts, and significant funds from both Kazakh business entities and foreign entities. Furthermore, a specific investigation was launched into allegations of Massimov receiving a bribe amounting to 2.00 M USD from representatives of a foreign state.
5. Legacy and reception
Karim Massimov's extensive career in Kazakh politics leaves behind a complex legacy, marked by both recognized achievements and significant controversies.
5.1. Contributions and positive evaluations
During his terms as Prime Minister, Karim Massimov was credited with navigating Kazakhstan through challenging economic periods, including the Great Recession and fluctuating oil prices. His government's strategic interventions were seen to contribute to a near doubling of GDP per capita and an average annual economic growth rate of 5.5% between 2008 and 2012. He oversaw the implementation of the first phase of the Unified National Healthcare System, aimed at improving medical care for citizens. Massimov was also deeply involved in modernization efforts, including the "100 Concrete Steps" plan, and supported the development of infrastructure for events like the 2011 Asian Winter Games. His efforts to boost Kazakhstan's international profile, such as the bid for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Almaty and strengthening diplomatic and economic ties with countries like China, Iran, and Israel, were notable aspects of his premiership.
5.2. Criticism and controversies
Despite his contributions, Massimov's legacy is significantly overshadowed by criticisms regarding his political conduct and the severe allegations and convictions that followed his dismissal. His handling of the 2022 Kazakh unrest, particularly the accusations that units under his command, the National Security Committee, failed to act or were even complicit in the unrest by abandoning posts and allowing militants to seize weapons, have severely damaged public trust. The subsequent legal proceedings led to his conviction for high treason, violent seizure of power, and attempted coup d'état, which are grave indictments of his leadership and commitment to democratic principles. Furthermore, the additional charges of large-scale money laundering and bribery, alongside the public forfeiture of extensive illicitly acquired assets, highlight concerns about systemic corruption during his time in power. These controversies raise serious questions about accountability, integrity, and the rule of law within Kazakhstan's governance structure, implicating Massimov's actions in undermining social progress and trust in state institutions.