Every July 6, Kazakhstan celebrates the birthday of its first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev. Born in 1940, Nazarbayev rose through the ranks of the Communist Party and became the first president of Kazakhstan after winning the first popular election in 1991. Although his birthday is not an official public holiday, it coincides with the Day of the Capital, which marks the decision to relocate the capital from Almaty to Akmoly in 1994, a date chosen to honor Nazarbayev. As a result, the day is celebrated nationwide, and various events may take place to commemorate his contributions to the nation. Nazarbayev's leadership, which lasted nearly 30 years, is often associated with both significant developments in Kazakhstan and criticisms regarding authoritarianism and human rights abuses.