Heroes of Kazakhstan

Yuri Ivanovich Malenchenko (Russian: Юрий Иванович Маленченко; born December 22, 1961) is a retired Russian cosmonaut. Malenchenko became the first person to marry in space, on 10 August 2003, when he married Ekaterina Dmitrieva, who was in Texas, while he was 240 miles over New Zealand, on the International Space Station. As of June 2016, Malenchenko ranks second for career time in space due to his time on both Mir and the International Space Station (ISS). He is a former Commander of the International Space Station.

Khiuaz Kairovna Dospanova (Cyrillic: Хиуаз Каировна Доспанова) was a Kazakh pilot who served in World War II in the 588th Night Bomber Regiment, nicknamed the "Night Witches." She was the only Kazakh woman to serve in the "Night Witches" and, although she was not awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union unlike many of her Russian and Ukrainian colleagues, she was awarded the title Hero of Kazakhstan in 2004 for her service after independence.

Bauyrzhan Momyshuly, also spelled Baurjan Momish-Uli (Kazakh: Бауыржан Момышұлы, Baýyrjan Momyshuly; Russified: Бауыржан Момышулы; 24 December [O.S. 11 December] 1910 – 10 June 1982) was a Kazakh-Soviet military officer and author, posthumously awarded with the titles Hero of the Soviet Union and People's Hero of Kazakhstan.

Roza Tazhibaykyzy Baglanova (Kazakh: Roza Tájibaıqyzy Baǵlanova; January 1, 1922 – February 8, 2011) was a Soviet and Kazakh soprano opera and pop music singer, who was honored with many awards throughout her career, including the People’s Artist of the USSR (1967) and the Order of Lenin. She was also deemed a National Hero of Kazakhstan.

Nursultan Abishuly Nazarbayev GCMG (Kazakh: Нұрсұлтан Әбішұлы Назарбаев, Nūrsūltan Äbişūlı Nazarbaev, born 6 July 1940) is a Kazakh politician and military officer who served as the first President of Kazakhstan, in office from country’s independence in 1991 until his formal resignation in 2019, and as the Chairman of the Security Council of Kazakhstan from 1991 to 2022. He held the special title as Elbasy (meaning "Leader of the Nation", ) from 2010 to 2022. Nazarbayev was one of the longest-ruling non-royal leaders in the world, having led Kazakhstan for nearly three decades, excluding chairmanship in the Security Council after the end of his presidency. He has often been referred to as a dictator due to usurpation of power and autocratic rule. He was named First Secretary of the Communist Party of the Kazakh SSR in 1989 and was elected as the nation's first president shortly before its independence from the Soviet Union.

Mukhtar Qapashuly Altynbayev (Kazakh: Мұхтар Қапашұлы Алтынбаев) (born December 10, 1945 in Karaganda, Kazakh SSR, Soviet Union) served as the Minister of Defense and General of the Army of Kazakhstan twice, most recently from December 2001 to 10 January 2007. Prime Minister Karim Massimov replaced him with former Prime Minister Daniyal Akhmetov in a political shakeup. Previously, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev dismissed Altynbayev from his post as Defense Minister in August 1999 along with Nurtay Abikayev, the head of the National Security Committee. According to Radio Free Europe, they were dismissed for "failing to properly investigate" the illegal sale of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighter aircraft to North Korea. In March 2000 he became commander of Kazakhstan's Air Defense Force.

Toktar Ongarbayuly Aubakirov (Kazakh: Тоқтар Оңғарбайұлы Әубәкіров, Russian: Токтар Онгарбаевич Аубакиров, born on 27 July 1946) is a retired Kazakh Air Force officer and a former cosmonaut. He is the first person from Kazakhstan to go to space.

Talgat Amangeldyuly Musabayev (Kazakh: Талғат Аманкелдіұлы Мұсабаев, Talǵat Amankeldiuly Musabaev; born 7 January 1951) is a Kazakh test pilot and former cosmonaut who flew on three spaceflights. His first two spaceflights were long-duration stays aboard the Russian space station Mir. His third spaceflight was a short duration visiting mission to the International Space Station, which also carried the first paying space tourist Dennis Tito. He retired as a cosmonaut in November 2003. Since 2007 he has been head of Kazakhstan's National Space Agency, KazCosmos.

Sagadat Kozhakhmetovich Nurmagambetov (Kazakh: Сағадат Қожахметұлы Нұрмағамбетов, Saǵadat Qojahmetuly Nurmaǵambetov, ساعادات قوجاحمەتۇلى نۇرماعامبەتوۆ; Russian: Сагадат Кожахметович Нурмагамбе́тов, Sagadat Kožachmetovič Nurmagambetov; 25 May 1924 – 24 September 2013) was a Soviet and Kazakhstani general who served as Chairman of Kazakhstan's State Defense Committee in 1991-1992 and Kazakhstan's first Minister of Defense following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, holding the office of Defense Minister from May 1992 to November 1995. He was an adviser to Nursultan Nazarbayev in 1995-1996.

Shafik Chokin (Kazakh: Шапық Шөкіұлы Шөкин, Shafiq Shokiulı Shokın; Russian: Ша́фик Чо́кинович Чо́кин) (1 October 1912 – 4 July 2003) was a Kazakh scientist in the energy sector. He was a Doctor of Sciences, Professor, Founder of the Kazakh Scientific Research Institute of Power Engineering, Deputy of The Supreme Soviet of the USSR, associate of the chairman of Soviet of the Union chamber, and President of Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences.