The idea of creation of the new, modern capital of Kazakhstan belongs to the Head of State Nursultan Nazarbayev.
The decision to shift the capital from Almaty to Akmola was adopted by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Kazakhstan on July 6, 1994. The official shift of the capital happened on December 10, 1997. In accordance with the President’s Decree dated May 6, 1998 Akmola was renamed into Astana.