Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the OPCW
H.E. Mr. Akan Rakhmetullin was appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) on 9 December 2025. A seasoned diplomat with more than three decades of experience, Ambassador Rakhmetullin brings extensive expertise in multilateral diplomacy, international security, and global governance.
Born on 2 February 1967, Ambassador Rakhmetullin began his professional career as an engineer after graduating in Electrical Engineering from the Almaty Energy Institute in 1991. His transition to diplomacy followed shortly thereafter, reflecting Kazakhstan’s broader nation-building efforts during the early years of independence. In 1999, he graduated with honors from the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana, laying the foundation for a distinguished diplomatic career.
Ambassador Rakhmetullin joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan in 1993, serving initially in the Consular Department. His first overseas posting took him to the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Pakistan, where he served from 1994 to 1996. This early experience contributed to his strong regional knowledge and fluency in Urdu, complementing his command of English.
Throughout his career, Ambassador Rakhmetullin has held a wide range of senior positions within Kazakhstan’s foreign service. His work has spanned bilateral diplomacy, multilateral engagement, and strategic policy coordination. He served at Kazakhstan’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York on two occasions, first as First Secretary and later as Deputy Permanent Representative from 2011 to 2015. From 2022 to 2024, he returned to New York as Kazakhstan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, representing his country during a period of heightened global challenges.
In parallel, Ambassador Rakhmetullin has played a key role in Kazakhstan’s engagement with European and international security institutions. From 2007 to 2011, he served as Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Austria and as Deputy Permanent Representative to the OSCE in Vienna. He later headed Kazakhstan’s efforts to promote its successful bid for the OSCE Chairmanship, underscoring his contribution to the country’s international standing.
At the headquarters level, Ambassador Rakhmetullin has held several senior leadership positions within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation and Deputy Minister, followed by First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. In these roles, he was closely involved in shaping Kazakhstan’s multilateral diplomacy, particularly in the areas of international organizations, humanitarian cooperation, and global security.
Between 2019 and 2021, Ambassador Rakhmetullin served as Ambassador of Kazakhstan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, further strengthening bilateral relations and regional cooperation.
Ambassador Rakhmetullin is married and has four children. In recognition of his service to the state, he has been awarded the Order of Qurmet and the Medal Yeren Enbegi Ushin (For Distinguished Labor).
With his appointment to The Hague, Ambassador Rakhmetullin assumes responsibility for deepening Kazakhstan’s relations with the Netherlands and advancing cooperation within the international organizations, reinforcing Kazakhstan’s long-standing commitment to international peace, security, and multilateral diplomacy.
