Marat Tajin

In this name that follows East Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Mukhanbetqazyuly and the family name is Täzhin.

Marat Täzhin
Марат Тәжин
Täzhin in 2015
State Secretary of Kazakhstan
In office 24 March 2019 – 18 September 2019
President	Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev
Preceded by	Baqytzhan Saghyntaev
Succeeded by	Qyrymbek Kösherbaev
In office 16 January 2013 – 21 January 2014
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Preceded by	Mukhtar Qul-Mukhammed
Succeeded by	Kärim Mäsimov (Acting)
First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan
In office 29 August 2002 – 13 April 2006
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Preceded by	Office established
Succeeded by	Office abolished
In office 12 January 2017 – 24 March 2019
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev
Preceded by	Office reestablished
Succeeded by	Darkhan Kaletaev
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 10 January 2007 – 4 September 2009
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Prime Minister	Kärim Mäsimov
Preceded by	Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev
Succeeded by	Qanat Sawdabaev
Secretary of the Security Council
In office 24 February 1999 – 5 May 2001
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Preceded by	Beksultan Särsekov
Succeeded by	Altynbek Särsenbaiuly
In office 11 December 2001 – 29 August 2002
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Preceded by	Altynbek Särsenbaiuly
Succeeded by	Omarkhan Öksikbaev
In office April 2006 – January 2007
President	Nursultan Nazarbaev
Preceded by	Bolat Ötemuratov
Succeeded by	Berik Imashev
In office September 2009 – January 2013
Preceded by	Qaiyrbek Süleimenov
Succeeded by	Qairat Qozhamzharov
Chairman of the National Security Committee
In office 4 May 2001 – 11 December 2001
Preceded by	Älnur Musaev
Succeeded by	Nartai Dütbaev
Personal details
Born	(1960-04-08) 8 April 1960 Aqtöbe, Kazakhstan, Soviet Union
Party	Justice
Alma mater	Almaty National Economic Institute Kazakh State University

Marat Mukhanbetqazyuly Täzhin (Kazakh: Марат Мұханбетқазыұлы Тәжин, romanized: Marat Mūhanbetqazyūly Täjin; born 8 April 1960) is a Kazakh politician. He served as the Foreign Minister in the Government of Kazakhstan from 2007 to 2009. He previously served as Secretary of the National Security Committee (NSC). In September 2009 he was named an advisor to President Nursultan Nazarbaev and secretary of Kazakhstan's Security Council. Marat Täzhin was appointed First Deputy Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan in January 2017.

Education and early career

He graduated from the Almaty National Economic Institute and continued his post-graduate study at Kazakh State University, eventually becoming a senior lecturer there. From 1987 to 1988 he interned in London, United Kingdom. From 1991 to 1992 he served as a department head at Al-Farabi University in Almaty.

Political career

Täzhin began his service as chairman of the NSC in May 2001, succeeding Älnur Musaev. He was replaced shortly thereafter in December 2001 by Nartai Dütbaev.

Täzhin replaced Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev as foreign minister on 10 January 2007 during a government shake-up. Toqaev became the Chairman of the Senate.

Täzhin assisted President Nursultan Nazarbaev in writing several books.

Täzhin met with United States Senator Richard Lugar in Astana on 7 February 2006 to discuss biological weapon nonproliferation measures and cooperation with U.S. scientists.

He has received the Order of Qurmet.

January 2013 Marat Täzhin was relieved of his duties as Aide to the President and Security Council Secretary and appointed Kazakhstan's Secretary of State, replacing outgoing Mukhtar Qul-Mukhammed.

February 2014 Marat Täzhin was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Russian Federation.

January 2017 Marat Täzhin was appointed First Deputy Head of the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Perception

Analysts have described him as a theoretician and as a shadow who prefers to wield power behind the scene. President Nazarbaev described him after appointing him foreign minister as a "scholar, a Ph.D., and has been my adviser, including on foreign policy questions. Since the international community attaches great importance to my choice for foreign minister, I appointed the person I know well and believe in. Most importantly, I believe he will succeed in his new job and will bring his contribution to further foreign policy successes of our country.”