Within the framework of the symposium “Philosophy of the Great Steppe and Legal Culture,” a Plenary Session titled “Philosophy, Justice and Morality: The Continuity of Turkic Civilization in the Era of Modern Transformations” was held.
The first speaker was the Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan and a graduate of our university, Elvira Azimova, who said:
“Dear guests, on behalf of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, allow me to welcome you and express my gratitude to the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, Muhittin Simsek, and Rector Zhanar Temirbekova for the opportunity to jointly organize this important and profoundly meaningful event.
The idea of this symposium emerged as we were preparing to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Kazakhstan and discussing with the university leadership the role of human values in developing constitutional justice and legal culture.
I would like to thank the Khoja Akhmed Yassawi International Kazakh-Turkish University for supporting this initiative and for proposing to make the symposium an annual project of Turkistan—the spiritual capital of the Turkic world and the ancient center of Kazakh statehood.
Why did we decide to focus on the Philosophy and Legal Culture of the Great Steppe? Because they embody the concepts of honor, justice, harmony, responsibility, and respect for community. These values help strengthen national identity, foster responsible citizens, and guide society on a modern path towards a just and lawful state.”
Deputy Akim of Turkistan Region Ertai Altayev read congratulatory messages from the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva and Akim of the region Nuralhan Kosherov.
In her message, Minister Balayeva stated:
“I sincerely congratulate you on the opening of the international symposium ‘Philosophy of the Great Steppe and Legal Culture’.
Today’s event is an important platform that allows us to study the worldview of the Great Steppe, its profound reflections on humanity and society, and the origins of legal culture from a new perspective. It is well known that the core of steppe civilization lies in values such as morality, justice, unity, and responsibility. Introducing these values into contemporary academic discourse and directing their potential toward the development of legal thought is the main mission of this symposium.”
In his congratulatory message, the Akim of Turkistan Region emphasized:
“This symposium is not only an academic platform but also an insightful gathering that connects millennia of history with the present. We must join efforts to adapt the principles of philosophy, justice, and morality to modern realities while preserving our identity. Unity and wisdom, law and order, spirituality and justice are the fundamental principles shaping the future of all humanity. I wish success to the work of the symposium and believe that today’s scientific discussions and proposals will contribute to the spiritual and legal development of our region and our country.”
Judge of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Azerbaijan Rashid Rzayev also extended his greetings.
Chairperson of the Board of Trustees Muhittin Simsek said:
“Dear guests from the great Turkic lands—Turkey, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan—welcome to our university!
This year our university celebrates its 34th anniversary. During this time, it has educated nearly 100,000 graduates. Today, they work in various parts of the world. The current Chairperson of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Ms. Elmira, who is with us today, was also our student 20 years ago. Today she serves in a position of national importance. She is our pride!
For two days now, our university has been hosting a gathering dedicated to the philosophy of the Great Steppe and legal education. If you understand the value of a person, you understand the value of their rights. Law exists for the sake of humanity and justice. That is why today’s meeting carries deep meaning.”
Speeches were also delivered by MP of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstan Unzila Shapak, Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission Igor Rogov, President of the International Organization of Turkic Culture and Heritage Aktoty Raimkulova, Special Envoy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alua Nadirkulova, Chairperson of the Council of Businesswomen of the Organization of Turkic States Lazzat Ramazanova, Vice-President of the Turkic Academy Professor Bulent Bayram, and member of the Scientific and Advisory Council under the Constitutional Court Professor Muslim Kassenov. They provided an in-depth analysis of the importance of moral, just, and responsible principles within Turkic civilization for contemporary society. The discussion was moderated by Rector Zhanar Temirbekova, who expressed gratitude to all speakers and guests for their participation.
At the conclusion of the symposium, participants adopted proposals to develop joint academic initiatives. In particular, they plan to publish a scientific compendium, compile a “Dictionary of Legal Terms of the Turkic World,” and establish a network for legal research among universities of Turkic countries. These initiatives aim to systematize the shared legal heritage of Turkic peoples and integrate it into contemporary legal scholarship and education.
This international event held at our university clearly demonstrated the significant contribution of the Great Steppe philosophy to modern legal culture.
The symposium revealed the deep interconnections between spiritual tradition, ethical principles, and legal reforms, proving that the legal thought of Turkic civilization remains relevant in today’s society.
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