Graduated in Economics, he started his career in 1960 as a worker at the construction directorate under the “Kazmetallurgstroy” trust. Between 1969 - 1973 involved in Party, Komsomol (YCL) activities, he was Secretary of the Regional Party Committee until 1979. He was Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Kazakh SSR between 1984 and 1989 and Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Kazakhstan until 1991. In 1990 he became Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Kazakh SSR and since the same year he is President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. He received several prizes and awards for his political commitment, especially in the search of peace, and wrote several political books and scientific publications.