Kazakhstan’s Banknotes Will No Longer Feature Russian Inscriptions

Kazakhstan's authorities have changed the design of the tenge banknotes and coins. From now on, there will be no Russian inscriptions on them. The relevant decree was published by local media, signed by President Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"Inscriptions on national banknotes and coins must only be in the state language. Foreign language inscriptions may be used for the design of investment and collectible coins issued by the National Bank of Kazakhstan," states the decree.

It should be noted that previously, alongside Kazakh, Russian inscriptions were also allowed on Kazakh tenge. Russian holds an official status in Kazakhstan but is not classified as the state language. According to the country's Constitution, it is used in all state institutions.

In 2016, Nursultan Nazarbayev demanded the symbolic dismissal of bureaucrats who refused to speak Russian with people. However, as early as February of the previous year, he announced that all governmental bodies, including the parliament and the government, must use Kazakh during their work.