New Kazakh president inaugurated, will emulate predecessor

Kazakhstan's President-elect Kassym-Jomart Tokayev places his hand on the Quran as he takes the oath of office during his inauguration ceremony in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. Tokayev, an ally of Kazakhstan's former president was named the winner of the presidential election on Monday in a vote marred by a police crackdown on protesters who criticized the result as an orchestrated handover of power. (AP Photo/Alexei Filippov)

Kazakhstan's new President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev speaks during his inauguration ceremony in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. Tokayev, an ally of Kazakhstan's former president was named the winner of the presidential election on Monday in a vote marred by a police crackdown on protesters who criticized the result as an orchestrated handover of power. (AP Photo/Alexei Filippov)

The new president of Kazakhstan has been inaugurated, promising to pursue the course of his predecessor, who had run the country since independence.

Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took the oath of office on Wednesday, three days after the election in which he recorded about 70 percent of the vote.

Tokayev was acting president following the surprise resignation in March of Nursultan Nazarbayev.

"It has to be recognized that, in these elections, citizens voted for the continuation of the course of the Elbasy," said Tokayev, referring to the title accorded to Nazarbayev meaning "leader of the nation."

With that title and his role as head of the national security council, Nazarbayev will remain a powerful figure in Kazakhstan.

The transition comes amid rising dissent in Kazakhstan. More than 500 people were arrested in election-day protests.