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Kazakhstan

Republic of Kazakhstan

by Mark Sensen
Proportions: 1:2
Flag adopted1992-JUNE-4, coat of arms adopted 1992-JUNE-4

See also:

Presentation of Kazakhstan

Full name: Republic of Kazakhstan
Location: Central Asia
Status: Internationally recognized independent state since 16 December 1991. Member of the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Notes: The region we now know as Central Asia was conquered by Russia in, for the most part, the period between 1730 and 1850. After the Bolshevik revolution, the Kirghiz ASSR (not to be confused with what is now Kyrgyzstan) was set up. This changed its name to the Kazakh ASSR in 1924 and became a full Union Republic in 1936.

Kazakhstan's post independence flag is light blue, symbolizing the blue skies of the country and its hopes for the future. On this field is a stylized eagle beneath a golden sun. At the hoist is a complex pattern called a 'national ornamentation' - also in gold. ('National ornamentations' also appear on the flags of Turkmenistan and on the Soviet-style Belarusian flag, which has recently been re-introduced.)
Stuart Notholt, 26 September 1995

According to Pierre Lux-Wurm, the word "Kazak" appeared in the Turkish language and in Russian documents around the XIVth century. Its original meaning was "independent, tramp" and it was used to designate the nomadic peoples from Central Asia. The history of the Kazaks before the XVIIIth century is less-known due to the lack of local written sources. The Kazak tradition says that their common ancestor divided them into three hordes ("jouz"), the Greater Hord (Oulog Jouz), the Middle Horde (Orta Jouz) and the Lesser Horde (Kichi Jouz). The names of the hordes were not related to their size but to the relative age of the three sons of the ancestor, the elder, the second, and the younger. In 1602, the Kalmuks led by Khan Urluk and the Djungar Mongols devasted the steppes. The Kazaks call this era "aktaban choubroundi" (the big disaster). The Djungars came back in 1710 and 1713 and seized between 1722 and 1727 most of the lands of the Greater and Middle Hordes. The Lesser Horde called for the Russian protection, which was acknowledged in 1734. Following a revolt in 1860, Kazakstan became a colony, officialy regulated in 1868 and considered as a "zone of agricultural colonization".
Ivan Sache, 30 May 2003

Kazakh khanate

by Victor Lomantsov

Ancient flag of Kazak Khanate (1456-1822) from http://members.tripod.com/~kz2000/history/histflags.html
David Straub, 30 May 2003

This flag was published on the website of the Turkish government and series of Turkish postage stamps. They were very common in the Turkish official iconography.
Ivan Sache and Onur Ozgun, 30 May 2003

There wasn't actually a Kazakh Khanate but there were independent Kazakh Tribes in Central Asia during that time. I don't know the origin of the flag but it is certainly possible that it existed. These were located in what is today modern Kazakhstan.
David Straub, 25 May 2003

Is it only me, or does a flag with three five-pointed stars neatly aligned down the hoist look suspiciously modern for a flag purporting to date to 1456? But then again, the khanate itself did not exist.
Joe McMillan, 30 May 2003

According to Pierre Lux-Wurm, the word "Kazak" appeared in the Turkish language and in Russian documents around the XIVth century. Its original meaning was "independent, tramp" and it was used to designate the
Nnomadic peoples from Central Asia. The history of the Kazaks before the XVIIIth century is less-known due to the lack of local written sources. The Kazak tradition says that their common ancestor divided them into three hordes ("jouz"), the Greater Hord (Oulog Jouz), the Middle Horde (Orta Jouz) and the Lesser Horde (Kichi Jouz). The names of the hordes were not related to their size but to the relative age of the three sons of the ancestor, the elder, the second, and the younger. In 1602, the Kalmuks led by Khan Urluk and the Djungar Mongols devasted the steppes. The Kazaks call this era "aktaban choubroundi" (the big disaster). The Djungars came back in 1710 and 1713 and seized between 1722 and 1727 most of the lands of the Greater and Middle Hordes. The Lesser Horde called for the Russian protection, which was acknowledged in 1734. Following a revolt in 1860, Kazakstan became a colony, officialy regulated in 1868 and considered as a "zone of agricultural colonization".
Ivan Sache, 30 May 2003

First variant of the Kazakhstan flag (1992)

by Mark Sensen and Victor Lomantsov

First flag of Republic of Kazakhstan adopted by Law of June 4, 1992 had red national ornament. This Law Law was officially published in the newspaper 'The Kazakhstan truth' #130-131. The author of this flag - Shaken Nijazbekov. On July, 1992 the color of ornament was changed to golden and the alterations were made in the text of the Law.
Mikhail Revnivtsev, 30 December 2002

Presidential Flag

by António Martins
image from http://www.kz/national/standarteng.htm located by Dov Gutterman

Description of the flag: the Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a light blue rectangular field with the proportions 2:3. The middle of the field is charged with a golden circle in which is inscribed the image of a young tribe leader of the Saks era [first century B.C.]. His right hand is raised, he is sitting on a winged snow leopard. The hand of the man has a bracelet, the neck has a necklace, the head is wearing a pointed hat. The image of the man and of the leopard is in gold. Under the leopard are some mountains with snow. [These are probably gold].

On the bottom of the standard are written the words in Kazakh "Standard of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan" in gold.

The flag is has a gold fringe on three of its sides. The hoist has a peak in bronze of the "kochkar mouilliz" (?) type to which is attached a decorative tassel.The hoist is ornated with silver nails bearing the engraved names, surnames and patronimic names of the Presidents of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the official language and the dates of taking office and resigning.

This flag is put in the President's office in the new capital. It is also put on its residence in the capital, on all other residences and its means of transport. It is used in all ceremonies with the Head of State.

It was adopted by decree n°2736 of the 29 December 1995.

(Source: Das Flaggenkabinett informiert nr 8/98 [Jiri Tenora, Berlin])
Pascal Vagnat, 03 March 1998

Dark blue (i.e., clearly darker than the national flag, and as such shown when displayed toghether), with the national emblem in golden on the center (approx diam.: half the flag's height) above an inscription reading "Казақстан Республикасы Президентікіқ Байрагы" ("Kazak,stan Respublikasy Prezidenti.ki.k, Bai~ragy") in golden cyrillic handwriting letters.
António Martins, 16 February 2004

Kazakstan flag laws

The law-effective Decree of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan of 24.01.1996 has established the following national symbols:

National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan
National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan
National Anthem of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The national flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a a piece of right-angled cloth of sky-blue colour with a picture of a golden sun with its 32 rays in the centre, under them - a soaring steppe eagle. Flagstaff has vertical line with national ornament.The picture of sun, its rays, eagle and ornament are of golden colour. Width/length ratio of the flag is 1:2.

The national emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a picture of a shanyrak ( the cupola of a yurta) on a blue background, from which uyks (body bracket) like sun rays are being radiated in framing of wings of mythical horses. At the bottom of the emblem there is an inscription "Kazakhstan". In colour picture the National Emblem of the Republic of Kazakhstan are of two colours: golden and blue-and-sky-blue.

National Flag Of The Republic of Kazakhstan

Article 4.

National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan is a rectangular piece of cloth of sky-blue colour bearing (in its centre) a design of the sun with rays, with a soaring eagle undeneath. All along the flagstaff there runs a vertical band of national ornament. Images of the sun, its rays, the eagle and the ornament are of golden colour. Width/length ratio of the flag is 1: 2.

National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan and its design, whatever their size, must strictly conform with the colour and schematic designs of the reference standard of the National Flag of the Republic of Kazakhstan kept at the Residence of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

submitted by Dov Gutterman, 12 March 1999

Customs flag

by Željko Heimer

I saw this flag on Customs Office near village of Ilek (border of Orenburg Region (Russia) and West-Kazakhstan Region). The Inscriptions on the flag: CUSTOMS - in english and "KEDEN" - "customs" in the Kazakh language) There is an element of national COA in the centre of the flag.
Victor Lomantsov, 4 July 2000

More info on this flag: it was adopted by Government on 6, July, 1997 (Decision #932). According to the Decision the light-blue colour symbolizes national flag of Kazakhstan, green colour is a "international sign of state borders". Inscriptions must be made in white letters. But in fact letters usually blue. Ratio 2:3.
Victor Lomantsov, 28 December 2002

The refered eight pointed star seems to be the symbol "Start of Rub el Hizb". This is an islamic sign (one more) and is found in other emblem and flags.
António Martins, 17 December 2002

Cities of Kazakhstan

Astana (formerly Akmola, current capital of Kazakhstan)

The CoA of Astana City - http://avtopark.astanafoto.com/
Unfortunally no flaginformations.
Falko Schmidt, 24 November 2002

Baikonur

2, June, 2003, during the "Up to the Minute" news program this morning they showed a close-up of the flag flying at the Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The flag looked green, with a crescent moon facing up and slightly to the left. There was writing of some sort around the moon, but what language is was I am not certain. However, at the hoist, in white letters stacked one letter over another to the bottom of the hoist (with space between the edges of the flag) was BAIKONUR (ÁÀÈÊÎÍÓÐ).
Steve Stringfellow , 2 June 2003

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