Ex-energy minister appointed as Atyrau region governor

President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev has appointed Bolat Akchulakov as akim (governor) of the Atyrau region, reports infohub.kz.

The head of state signed the corresponding decree on July 17, 2026.

Before his appointment, Akchulakov served as vice-minister of energy until 2019. He also held the position of managing director for asset management at Samruk-Kazyna Sovereign Wealth Fund. From 2022 to 2023, he was Kazakhstan's minister of energy, and later served as an adviser to the president until 2025.

Earlier, President Toqaev dismissed Serik Shapkenov from the post of akim of the Atyrau region.