ASTANA – Kazakhstan’s Security Council is expanding its focus to a broader range of national security risks, including information and cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, personal data protection, economic crime and civil protection, under new regulations approved by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Sept. 11.
Photo credit: Akorda.
Tokayev signed a decree approving the regulations on the Security Council and its Apparatus and defining the powers of the Deputy Chair of the Security Council. The Security Council and its Apparatus will be responsible for comprehensive analysis of global threats and challenges, as well as current aspects of the domestic situation.
The new framework also strengthens coordination and oversight of measures related to national security, defense capability, legality and public order.
Expanded powers of the Deputy Chair
The Deputy Chair of the Security Council will oversee the full and unconditional implementation of acts and instructions issued by the Chair of the Security Council, President Tokayev, as well as decisions adopted by the Security Council, including those made at operational meetings.
According to the new regulation, the Deputy Chair will coordinate the activities of state bodies and organizations in implementing measures related to national security and the country’s defense capability, as well as maintaining legality and public order.
The responsibilities also extend to emerging and cross-cutting security issues. These include information and cybersecurity, including the use of artificial intelligence, protection of personal data, combating corruption and economic crime, and civil protection. Deputy Chair will coordinate the work of government bodies and organizations in these areas, conduct international cooperation and coordinate the activities of the Security Council Apparatus.
Apparatus to operate under direct presidential accountability
Under the decree, the Security Council Apparatus is defined as an independent state body directly subordinate to and accountable to the President. Its activities aim to strengthen and improve control over national security risks, ensure the resilience of public administration, and provide institutional support for implementing decisions of the President, the Chair of the Security Council, and the Security Council itself.
The new provisions are intended to strengthen the protection of Kazakhstan’s sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity and national interests in the international arena, as well as the foundations of the constitutional order.
The changes follow Tokayev’s Aug. 28 decree and were accompanied by changes in the Security Council’s leadership. Aida Balayeva was appointed Deputy Chair, while Gizat Nurdauletov was relieved of his position as Secretary of the Security Council.
