The Declaration of Kazakh as the Official Language in Kazakhstan

The Declaration of Kazakh as the Official Language in Kazakhstan refers to the adoption of the "Language Law" on 22 September 1989, which granted Kazakh its status as the state language for the first time and marked the impact of this decision on Kazakhstan’s social, cultural and political life.

Before its declaration as an official language, Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union, and language policies were largely determined by central authorities. Although the principle of “equality of nations” was emphasized from the founding of the Soviet Union, in practice Russian became both the administrative language and the dominant language of social life.

As Russian dominance increased in education, science, official correspondence and cultural production in Kazakhstan, Kazakh was increasingly confined to limited use in rural areas. This situation weakened the social status of Kazakh, especially from the mid-20th century onward, as a significant portion of the urban Kazakh population received education in Russian and began to prefer it in daily life. Thus, Kazakh faced the risk of being relegated to a secondary position within its own geographic space and among its own people.

During the 1970s and 1980s, as the Soviet Union entered its process of dissolution, renewed national identities and demands to strengthen the status of local languages emerged on the agenda. In Kazakhstan, this process manifested as a movement supported by Kazakh intellectuals and society. Kazakh intellectuals increasingly voiced the demand for Kazakh to be recognized as the state language, emphasizing it as a fundamental element of national identity and cultural continuity. This created the social and political foundation for the eventual declaration of Kazakh as an official language in 1989.

During the dissolution of the Soviet Union, rising national identity movements among the Turkic republics brought the language issue to the center of politics in Kazakhstan. In this context, on 22 September 1989, the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR adopted the “Language Law”. Under this law, Kazakh was declared the “state language” for the first time. Thus, Kazakh, historically relegated to a secondary position, was granted constitutional and legal protection with the aim of strengthening its presence in public life.

The law also granted Russian the status of a “language of interethnic communication.” This provision was seen as necessary to sustain communication among the diverse ethnic communities within the multinational structure of the Soviet Union. However, this arrangement also allowed Russian to maintain its strong practical position despite Kazakh’s official status.

The law aimed to encourage the use of Kazakh in state institutions and to increase its presence in education and cultural spheres. Yet practical limitations emerged. A shortage of personnel fluent in Kazakh, the widespread proficiency in Russian among urban Kazakhs, and bureaucratic traditions shaped around Russian were the main factors limiting the law’s effectiveness.

Nevertheless, the 1989 Language Law marked a turning point in the trajectory of language policy in Kazakhstan. The declaration of Kazakh as the state language was regarded as a significant step toward the reconstruction of Kazakh identity even before independence.

With Kazakhstan’s declaration of independence in 1991, language policy became one of the fundamental dimensions of state-building. While the framework established by the 1989 Language Law was preserved, new measures were introduced after independence to further strengthen Kazakh’s position as the state language.

The 1993 Constitution confirmed Kazakh as the “state language” in official terms. This constitutional provision defined Kazakh as the primary language to be used in the functioning of the state. However, the same constitution continued to grant Russian extensive usage, as a continuation of the Soviet legacy.

The 1995 Constitution reinforced this approach. It included the phrase: “Kazakh is the state language; Russian is a language that may be used equally with Kazakh in official institutions”. Thus, while Kazakh was being strengthened as the foundational element of the Kazakh state, Russian was effectively preserved in the status of a de facto second official language.

During this period, various strategies were adopted to increase the use of Kazakh in state institutions, education and media. The proportion of classes taught in Kazakh in schools was raised, the use of Kazakh in official documents was encouraged, and the production of Kazakh-language content in public broadcasting was expanded. However, the entrenched social dominance of Russian long hindered Kazakh’s ability to achieve predominance in practice.

Post-independence reforms were viewed as reflecting Kazakhstan’s efforts to balance nation-building with the maintenance of its multicultural social structure.

The declaration of Kazakh as the state language and its subsequent reinforcement through post-independence constitutional provisions generated varied responses within Kazakh society.

From the perspective of the Kazakh population, this measure was seen as a historic step. Kazakh, long overshadowed by Russian, became a central element in the reconstruction of national identity and cultural heritage. The decision was met with widespread approval, particularly in rural areas and among Kazakh-origin intellectuals.

From the perspective of the Russian population and other minorities, the situation was more complex. Russian remained the mother tongue of a significant portion of the population and continued to be the dominant language in daily life. Consequently, the declaration of Kazakh as the state language generated concern in some circles. However, the 1989 Law and subsequent constitutional provisions granting Russian the status of a “language of official communication” or “equal usage rights” partially alleviated these concerns.

At the political level, the Kazakh government pursued a policy of balance. While seeking to strengthen Kazakh’s role in state affairs, it also preserved Russian’s official usage to ensure stability within the country’s multiethnic structure. This approach was regarded as a strategic necessity both for domestic political equilibrium and for relations with Russia.