Berik Uali

Berik Ualiūly Uali (born Berik Ualievich Kurmangali, ; 4 January 1977) is a Kazakh journalist and politician, who is serving as äkim of Abai Region since 2025. He previously served twice as President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's press secretary, from 2019 to 2022 and 2023 to 2025.

Early life and education Berik Kurmangali was born on 4 January 1977, in Oishilik, a village in Aksuat District, Semipalatinsk Region (now Abai Region), Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic, Soviet Union.

Berik was born with the surname Kurmangali. In 2011, when he received the Daryn award, official records listed his surname as Kurmangali,

In August 2016 he joined the Ministry of Investment and Development, first as an adviser to the minister and concurrently head of Public Relations Department, and later as head of the Department of Information Support within the ministry.

In June 2018 he moved to Jambyl Region to serve as head of its Department of Internal Policy.

Political career After the resignation of president Nazarbayev and the transfer of the presidency to Tokayev, Uali became Tokayev's first press secretary on 22 March 2019. On 14 February 2022, at the board of directors meeting of the Qazaqstan Radio and Television Corporation, he was elected as its chairman of the board of directors.

Two weeks later, on March 29, he was relieved of his post as press secretary and appointed as the chairman of the Khabar Agency.

On 12 September 2023, he returned to his former position as press secretary and, concurrently, became Tokayev's adviser.

On 17 February 2025, he was relieved of his post. On the same day, prime minister Oljas Bektenov, in the Abai Region, presented president Tokayev’s proposal to consider the candidacies of Uali and akim of the city of Kurchatov Bolat Abdraliev for the position of äkim (governor) of the region. A total of 102 out of 126 deputies of maslikhats at all levels in the region voted for Uali, while 24 deputies supported Abdraliev and by Tokayev's No. 791, Uali was appointed to the post.

Personal life Uali is married and has 5 children.

Awards State Youth Prize "Daryn" (2011) Order of Kurmet (2019) Order of Parasat (2024) Gratitude of the president of Kazakhstan (2021) Badge "For Perfect Service" (2022)