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Kazakhstan

Republic of Kazakhstan

Last modified: 2010-01-16 by victor lomantsov
Keywords: kazakhstan | eagle | sun | national ornamentation |
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[Flag of Kazakhstan] by António Martins-Tuvalkin , Antonio Gutiérrez
Proportions: 1:2 [FIS Code]
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


Construction sheet

I've found what seems to be the project of "technical specifications" for the construction of the Kazakh flag. The site is entirely in Russian. The most interesting pages are as follows:

  • http://www.geraldika.kz/p_b_flag.htm Entitled "Annex B", various drawings with precise measures for the construction of the flag.
  • http://www.geraldika.kz/tehn_flag.htm Entitled "Technical requirements", official description of the flag and colours (Pantone) to be used: 3125C (sky blue) and 109U (yellow).

    The starting page shows the text of the Law about State symbols of 24 January 1996 and also links to two other "specifications" devoted to the State coat of arms, also with construction diagrams at http://www.geraldika.kz/gost.htm.
    Antonio Gutiérrez, 13 December 2005


    Standard on the State flag, 2007

    [State Flag for Textile] by Brian Ellis (colours for textile)

    [State Flag for Non-textile]by Brian Ellis (colours for non-textile)

    During my usual searching of all things flag- and heraldry-related, I stumbled across a PDF dating from 2007 (see http://www.geraldika.kz/images/doc/988-2007.rar) containing what appears to be newer schematics for the national flag of Kazakhstan. The first half is in Kazakh and the second half is in Russian. The document also give Pantone color specifications:
    3125U for blue (for textile),
    102U for the yellow (for textile),
    3125U or 3125C for blue (for non-textile),
    810U or 810C for a buff-type color (for non-textile).
    102 Yellow is used for the actual flag and that 810 Buff is used when the flag appears as a graphic element.
    Below I'll also give a color breakdown into CMYK, RGB and Web-safe for those who may be interested.
    Pantone color RGB CMYK Hexadecimal representations of RGB
    3125U R0 G181 B204 C83 M0 Y21 K0 #00B5CC
    102U R255 G242 B3 C0 M0 Y95 K0 #FFF203
    810U or C R255 G227 B173 C0 M10 Y35 K0 #FFE3AD

    Brian Ellis, 23 April 2009

    Section 3.2.18.2 gives a separate colour specification. I hope a proper translation will confirm that this specification is for items containing images of the flag and is a preliminary specification until a catalog of models of colours for the symbols of state is established by a commision into the symbols of state. In any case, the colours are given in terms of the Pantone Formula Guide for glossy paper and dull paper - blue 3125C or 3125U respectively and yellow 810C or 810U respectively.
    Jonathan Dixon, 23 April 2009

    The full name of this document is:
    STATE STANDARD OF THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN. ST-RK 988-2007. "THE STATE FLAG OF THE THE REPUBLIC OF KAZAKHSTAN. General technical conditions".
    The Standard adopted by the Head of Committee on technical regulation and metrology Order No 578 from 19.10.2007.
    translated by Victor Lomantsov, 30 December 2009


    Finial of State flag

    [Finial]

    Here's http://www.religio.ru/news/11720_photo_1133537617.html a nice photo of the flag of Kazakhstan flying in strong wind. Note the curious finial.
    António Martins, 4 December 2005


    Kazakh khanate

    [Flag of 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
    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


    Ancient kazakh (?)flag in "Book of all kingdoms"

    [Ancient Kazakh flag] by Eugene Ipavec

    The kazakh (&) flag from "Book of all kingdoms": Bocarin + Cato, as of late 14th cent.
    António Martins-Tuválkin , 12 December 2007


    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


    First variant of the Kazakhstan flag (1992)

    [Flag of Kazakhstan] by António Martins-Tuvalkin and Antonio Gutiérrez

    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

    I'm still very dubious about the actual existence of the flag quoted as "First variant of the Kazakhstan flag (1992)". AFAIK, there is no such evidence than the reports of these years quoted in the vex-bulletins and copied to each others. No need to remember you, I guess, the main source of these reports. At last almost all of them proved to be imaginary. The copy of the original Law I own, dated 4 June 1992, Law No. 1372-XII, does mention already the ornament to be yellow, and is not known (at least by me, if anyone knows, please share it with us) another Law, neither before nor after this, prescribing the ornament in red or changing it from red to yellow.
    My guess is that the flag with the red ornament was a proposal, among others, and at the time of the flag to be selected and the Law officially published, the flag with the yellow ornament was chosen, instead of the one with red ornament.
    Antonio Gutiérrez, 11 February 2007


    Presidential Flag

    [Presidential Flag, Kazakhstan] 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

    [President Nazarbaev and his flag] photo of "Vesti", Russia TV-Channel

    Yesterday (6.7.2008) I saw TV-report with interview of President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbaev. Presidential standard was behind him (see the photo). I think there is no inscription.
    Victor Lomantsov, 7 July 2008


    Customs flag

    [Kazakhstan 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

    2 July 2008 I was in Kazakhstan and saw new version of customs flag. The 8-pointed star was dark-blue. But in August I saw "old" version ot the customs flag with yellow star.
    Victor Lomantsov, 5 August 2008


    Olympic flag

    [Kazakhstan Olympic flag] by António Martins-Tuvalkin , Antonio Gutiérrez and Juan Manuel Gabino

    The flag of the National Olympic Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan is shown on its official website http://www.olympic.kz/content.php?id=068.
    The flag is white with Committee emblem in the center. Emblem contains Kazakhstan flag and Olympic symbol.
    Valentin Poposki, 1 February 2009


    Cities of Kazakhstan

    Astana (formerly Akmola, current capital of Kazakhstan)

    New flag and COA of Astana, Kazakhstan you can see on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astana (original source: http://www.astana.kz/kazakhstan-symbols.html)
    Tomislav Šipek, 24 December 2008

    New COA of Astana adopted July, 5, 2008 by Maslikhat (city council) of Astana. President of Kazakhstan N.Nazarbaev took part in disigning of the COA.
    Victor Lomantsov, 30 December 2008

    The (light) blue and yellow rayed background reminds of the Soviet Air Force flag (and Russian). A connection would not be unimaginable.
    António Martins-Tuválkin, 28 December 2008

    [former city flag Astana] after "Wikipedia"; redrawn by Valentin Poposki

    The Wikipedia shows the former flag [before 2008] of the City of Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astana. However, it seems that this is the photo of the actual flag, so I tried to make a reconstruction.
    Valentin Poposki, 2 July 2006

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

    Almaty (formerly Alma-Ata)

    [Almaty flag] by Mikhail Revnivtsev

    Flag of the city from http://www.vexillography.narod.ru/
    Mikhail Revnivtsev, 19 April 2005

    Baikonur

    [Almaty flag] found by Olivier Touzeau at http://www.rakhattv.kz/show_news.asp?NewsID=9124

    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

    Tarbagatay audany (Tarbagatay county)

    [district flag] by Valentin Poposki

    IMHO, on web-page http://www.tarbagatay.freenet.kz/index.php (in Kazakh language) displayed absolutely not a flag, but a logo. We have no base to think, that it is a real flag of Tarbagatay audany (county) in East-Kazakhstan Region of Republic of Kazakhstan.
    Mikhail Revnivtsev, 12 August 2005

    I don't agree with opinion of Mr.Revnitsev for several reasons.
    1. Kazakhstan rayons and cities don't use logos as their official symbols
    2. Coat of arms are in different shape and composition
    3. This is obviously made under half soviet half modern kazakh proto-heraldic influence
    4. Image file name "logo.jpg" doesn't mean this is logo. I've found thousands flags, coat of arms, crests and seals with file name "logo"
    I am still on my opinion that this is flag!
    Valentin Poposki, 12 August 2005

    I am ready be agree with you in this question only in one of three cases:
    1. If we shall have the document on adoption of this flag;
    2. If we shall manage to find a photo, which show this figure as a flag on a flagstaff;
    3. If we shall manage to find a website, which have inscription in any language "It is a flag of Tarbagatay".
    Until this time this figure is not a flags for me. It is only a simple picture.
    Mikhail Revnivtsev, 12 August 2005

    Oskemen (Ust-Kamenogorsk)

    [city flag] by Eugene Ipavec

    Flag and COA of city Ust-Kamenogorsk / Oskemen (Kazakhstan) are found at http://www.oskemen.kz/uk1_4_6.htm
    Gvido Petersons, 14 November 2005

    Pavlodar

    [city flag] by Victor Lomantsov

    Photo of the flag of city Pavlodar is found at http://galagraphics.kz/image_produce.php?id=89
    Olivier Touzeau, November 2005

    Aksu

    [city flag Aksu] after "Russian Wikipedia"; resized by Victor Lomantsov

    Image of the flag of Aksu city is found at "Russian Wikipedia" by
    Valentin Poposki, 16 April 2007


    Universities

    [Adilet flag] resized by Victor Lomantsov

    Flag of the "Adilet" Academy of Jurisprudence in Almaty, the previous capital of the country, from http://www.adilet.kz/html/vuz/simvolika/simvoliks.htm.
    Dov Gutterman, 13 July 2005