INTERNATIONAL ROUND TABLE DEDICATED TO THE 25TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COUNCIL

On December 29, 2020, an online international round table on the topic “The constitutional paradigm of N. Nazarbayev as a response to global challenges”, dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Council of
the Republic of Kazakhstan was held.
The event was co-organized by the Constitutional Council, the Foundation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, the Astana International Financial Center, the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University, Institute Sorbonne- Kazakhstan, the National Volunteer Movement “Accelerator of Good: Izgilik Elshisi” and the Eurasian Academy of Law named after. D.A. Kunaev.
Opening the forum, the Chairman of the Constitutional Council K. Mami noted that this year the anniversary of the Basic Law coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Constitutional Council. Over the years, the Constitutional
Council’s activities have been aimed at the implementation of constitutional values. Its decisions contributed to the full understanding and implementation of all components of modern Kazakhstan statehood. At the present stage, one of the promising directions is to improve the effectiveness of the institution of referrals by the courts to the Council on the review of the constitutionality of laws. It is also relevant to interpret the law from the perspective of
constitutional principles, summarized by K. Mami.Executive Director of Nursultan Nazarbayev Foundation K. Zhumabaev, pointed out that today, when the world is faced with the negative consequences of the coronacrisis, the constitutional system is one of the few constants that guarantees the stability and security of society. Time has shown that the constitutional model formed under the leadership of the First President Nursultan Nazarbayev has become the most acceptable for Kazakhstan. It ensured political stability, social harmony, economic development of the state, and guaranteed effective protection of the rights and freedoms of citizens.
Chairman of the Supreme Court Zh. Asanov emphasized in his speech that every year the role of the Constitutional Council in ensuring the inviolability of the Basic Law is increasing. For a quarter of a century, the Constitutional Council has taken place and is effectively carrying out its mission to guarantee the supremacy of the Constitution throughout the country.
The forum was moderated by Deputy Executive Director of the Foundation of Nursultan Nazarbayev, member of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe from the Republic of Kazakhstan I. Rogov and member of the Constitutional Council A. Temerbekov. I. Rogov noted that thanks to the constitutional amendments of 2017, initiated by the Elbasy, the Constitutional Council not only effectively protects the rights and freedoms of citizens, but also ensures constitutional identity, and ultimately the country’s constitutional security.
Chairman of the Supreme Court Zhakyp Asanov, Minister of Justice Marat Beketayev, Head of the Astana International Financial Center Kairat Kelimbetov, Deputy Prosecutor General Marat Akhmetzhanov, Head of the OSCE Program Office in Nur-Sultan György Szabó and Rector of the Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University Takir Balykbaev also addressed participants of the forum with welcoming remarks.
Member of the Constitutional Council Victor Malinovskiy made a presentation on the topic: “Constitutional review is an effective tool of real constitutionalism.” Such foreign experts as Ex-President of the Constitutional Court of
Georgia G. Papuashvili, Head of the GIZ Representative Office in Kazakhstan Jorg Pudelka, as well as leading constitutionalists - Head of the Department of Constitutional and Municipal Law of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov S. Avakyan, Doctor of Law G. Matkarimova, Ph.D. N. Malyutin, B.Rysmendeev shared their views.
The reports of the representatives of the national legal science were made on the indicated issues: E. Abdrasulov, A. Sabitova, A. Karaev and E. Duisenov.The forum was attended by the heads of state bodies of Kazakhstan, representatives of domestic human rights institutions and the scientific community, as well as foreign experts.