Finland and Armenia. On 24 January 2006, Kusherbayev was appointed as the akim of Mangystau Region. Following the Zhanaozen massacre where 14 oil workers in the city square were killed by police on 16 December 2011, during the Independence Day celebration, Kusherbayev stated "Let the journalists see with their own eyes what the criminals have done. They have already crossed the line, blood has been shed, human casualties have appeared. Now they have to answer to the fullest before the law." Shortly after the tragic event, on 22 December 2011, Kusherbayev was dismissed from his post by President Nursultan Nazarbayev and was succeeded by a Senator and Former Minister of Internal Affairs Bauyrzhan Mukhamedzhanov. On 13 July 2012, he became an adviser to the President of Kazakhstan and served the office until 26 September 2012, when Kusherbayev was appointed as the First Deputy Prime Minister under Akhmetov's government. He was shortly replaced by Bakhytzhan Sagintayev on 16 January 2013. The following day, on 17 January 2013, Kusherbayev was appointed as the akim of Kyzylorda Region. On 28 June 2019, Kusherbayev was appointed as the head of the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. He served that position until he became the State Secretary of Kazakhstan on 18 September 2019. On January 5, 2022, he was relieved of his post as Secretary of State. In November 2022, Kusherbayev, by decision of the board of "KazMunayGas", was elected a member of the Board of Directors of "Embamunaigas" JSC. Awards The Order of "Parasat" (2003) The Order of "Friendship" (the Russian Federation, 2006) The Order of "Barys" of ІІ degrees (2009) The Order of the First President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2015) References 1955 births Living people Kazakhstani politicians Governors of regions of Kazakhstan Kyzylorda Region Deputy Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan First Deputy Prime Ministers of Kazakhstan