Nazarbayev has refused to renew authority

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev has refused to accept the country's parliament, insisted on holding a referendum on the extension of the acting head of state until 2020 without a popular vote, reports BBC. Text of the decree of President Nazarbayev, signed on January 6, published in state newspapers of Kazakhstan. Reject the proposal of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan for an all-nation referendum amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan, initiated by the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan "- said in the decree. Decision Nazarbayev came as a surprise to many observers who have witnessed a national campaign for the extension of presidential powers. According to the agency Kazinform, about one week of the initiative group to organize a referendum to extend the authority managed to gather 3.1 million signatures (if required for the holding of a plebiscite 200 thousand). Initiative for a referendum criticized Kazakh opposition, as well as the U.S. government. Washington said that such steps would be a blow to democracy and urged Kazakhstan to hold free and fair elections. The next presidential elections should be held in Kazakhstan in 2012. Nazarbayev has previously stated his intention to run for the next election. 70-year-old Nazarbayev led Kazakhstan for over 20 years. In April 1995, held a national referendum, which resulted in the president's powers were extended until 2000. Subsequently, Mr. Nazarbayev won the presidential elections in 1999 and 2005. In 2007, parliament granted him the right to run for president an unlimited number of times. It is worth noting that in June last year, the Parliament of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev awarded the title of Elbasy, ie, "leader of the Nation." This decision was taken despite the fact that the president asked the deputies not to vote for such a law. Ministry of Industry