In July 2022, at a meeting of the National Kurultai, the President of our country said that it was time to make a number of changes to the list of national holidays and anniversaries.
"I propose to return the status of a national holiday to the Republic Day. I would like to remind you that on October 25, 1990, the Declaration on the State Sovereignty of Kazakhstan was adopted. It was the first step of our country on the way to independence. According to the President, Republic Day should become a symbol of the country's bold step towards statehood.
"Of course, the original meaning of Independence Day will be preserved. This day remains the main national holiday. However, it should be celebrated as the day of remembrance of our national heroes who made a significant contribution to gaining independence," President explained.
The Declaration of State Sovereignty was adopted on October 25, 1990 by the resolution of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh SSR. It proclaimed the sovereignty of the Kazakh SSR and declared the political and legal foundations of Kazakhstan as an independent state. For the first time, such principles of statehood as the integrity, indivisibility and inviolability of territories, the development of the culture of the peoples of Kazakhstan and their languages, and the strengthening of national identity were enshrined in it. The document also proclaimed the principle of independent solution of political, economic and social problems. Kaz SSR received the right to create its own internal troops, state security bodies and internal affairs. And the president was recognized as the head of the country, the head of the administrative and executive supreme power. Thanks to this declaration, we were able to suspend the operation of Soviet laws and start creating our own. Therefore, on the basis of these principles, later – on December 16, 1991 – the Constitutional Law "On State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan" was adopted. It should be noted that during the adoption of this declaration at the session of the Supreme Council, serious controversies broke out between deputies. After all, the All-Union referendum on the preservation of the Soviet Union was held in the same year. Thanks to the competent conclusions of the commission of the Supreme Council headed by S.Z. Zimanov and with the participation of the First President of the country N. Nazarbayev, it was possible to convince the deputy corps about the adoption of the Declaration on State Sovereignty of Kazakhstan.
Based on this, the origins of the acquisition of independence by Kazakhstan on December 16, 1991 and the adoption of the Constitutional Law "On the State Independence of the Republic of Kazakhstan". It was originally laid down by this declaration of state sovereignty, adopted on October 25, 1990 by the Supreme Council of the Kazakh SSR. Many experts believe that the declaration proclaimed the sovereignty of the Kazakh SSR, not Kazakhstan. It emphasized that people can retain Soviet citizenship. It also did not guarantee Kazakhstan's independence in international relations. The country was part of the USSR, although it had the right to withdraw from it. Only after the adoption of the Law "On State Independence" Kazakhstan acquired the legally formalized status of an independent state recognized by the world community.
Republic Day has already become a national holiday for us, not a state holiday. During national holidays, it is absolutely necessary to hold official events in state bodies, as they symbolize events that had a special historical significance and had a significant impact on the development of our statehood. On the contrary, they plan to make Independence Day a state day. These are dates dedicated to events that had socio-political significance. Their celebration may be accompanied by official events.