Authoritarian Kazakh prez to be hero of fairy tale

[July 07, 2011]  ALMATY, Kazakhstan (AP) -- The authoritarian president of Kazakhstan's life story is already the subject of a glowing cinematic biopic and a play. Now he is getting the fairy tale treatment.

State news agency Kazinform says a newly published book tells the story of Nursultan Nazarbayev's supposed achievements on the international diplomatic scene in illustrated fables.

The book, "Leader of the Nation Nursultan," is being published to mark Nazarbayev's 71st birthday Wednesday.

Author Roza Akbolatova says the book's bright illustrations will help make politics more accessible to young children.

Government critics say such exercises are part of an attempt to build personality cult around Nazarbayev, who has ruled Kazakhstan since the 1980s, when it was part of the Soviet Union.

[Associated Press]

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