CHANCERIESTHE DIPLOMATIC ATLAS

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Diplomatic history and full roster

Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan

1401 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

The 1888 Susan Shields House stands at 16th and O Streets. Its brick walls, steep roof and corner tower predate the building’s diplomatic use.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1888verified DC CAMA AYB1892 differs; architectural sources retain 1888.
  1. sah-archipedia.org
  2. www.gov.kz
Acquired by KazakhstanJune 1998documented KIAR’s 2021 account of Civil Action 14-cv-1638 identifies the purchase of 1401 16th Street with two other properties in June 1998. The purchase date comes from a secondary account of the filing; the deed has not been examined.
  1. 1997-2001.state.gov
  2. kiar.center
  3. respublika.kz.media
NeighborhoodDupont Circleverified Common neighborhood name; DC assessment neighborhood is Old City2.
  1. www.compass.com
ArchitectSamuel Edmonstonverified
  1. sah-archipedia.org
Rooms20–35 est.estimated; Editorial estimate from the documented 18,826 sq ft floor area. Assume that 55–65% is enclosed, occupied room area, with an average of 350–500 sq ft per room; round the resulting limits outward to the nearest five rooms. Circulation, parking, stairs and open workstations are not counted as rooms. The allocation and room sizes are assumptions, not measurements from a floor plan.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Floor area18,800 sq ftverified; CAMA living/gross building area
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Site area10,200 sq ftverified; Parcel total: 0195/0847. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
2026 Value$22.7Mverified; Parcel total: 0195/0847. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov

Complete property record

Kazakh Ambassador’s Residence

2910 Edgevale Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008

Kazakhstan bought this Edgevale Terrace house in January 2013 for its ambassador’s residence. The stone and stucco exterior has a recessed entrance, two unequal wings and a slate roof.

FactValueBasis and sources
Constructed1968verified Remodeled 2009; tax-record date, not verified architectural construction chronology.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
Acquired by KazakhstanJanuary 2013verified Official tax record uses Jan31; archived listing gives Jan23. Month-level display preserves discrepancy.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
  2. washdiplomat.com
NeighborhoodMassachusetts Avenue Heightsverified DC assessment neighborhood; commonly marketed as Woodland–Normanstone.
  1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
ArchitectNot Verifiedunverified
    Rooms13verified; Current DC residential CAMA ROOMS for the identified dwelling; this assessor count is distinct from bedrooms, bathrooms or the number of modeled room studies.
    1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
    Floor area5,800 sq ftverified; Residential CAMA gross building area
    1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
    Site area10,800 sq ftverified; Parcel total: 2199/0023. DC ITSPE LANDAREA, recorded square feet. Roads and unrelated neighboring parcels excluded.
    1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov
    2026 Value$6.9Mverified; Parcel total: 2199/0023. Active 2026 DC ITSPE ASSESSMENT; land plus improvements. Not proposed value, tax owed, sale price or leasehold value.
    1. maps2.dcgis.dc.gov

    Complete property record

    Historic Moments

    Washington recognizes independence

    1991-12-25

    In a Christmas Day address, George H. W. Bush recognizes independent Kazakhstan. The end of the Soviet Union opens a direct relationship, with nuclear security among its first concerns.

    A new embassy in Washington

    1992-10-30

    Less than a year after independence, Kazakhstan opens its embassy in the United States. The date marks the mission’s establishment, rather than acquisition of the present chancery.

    Project Sapphire

    November 1994

    Kazakhstan and the United States remove 600 kilograms of highly enriched uranium to secure storage in the United States—a landmark of cooperation against nuclear proliferation.

    Astana hosts the OSCE summit

    2010-12-01

    Hillary Rodham Clinton joins an OSCE summit in Kazakhstan, the organization’s first in eleven years. The meeting brings regional security and human rights into the same discussion.

    Securing the old test site

    2012-03-26

    Kazakhstan, Russia, and the United States announce that work to secure nuclear material at Semipalatinsk is nearly complete. Scientists and engineers have returned to tunnels left by Soviet weapons tests.

    A strategic partnership deepens

    2018-01-16

    A White House summit launches an enhanced strategic partnership, broadening cooperation on regional security, nuclear nonproliferation, trade, and investment.

    Chiefs of Mission

    DiplomatOfficeRecorded serviceStatus
    Magzhan IlyassovAmbassador2025–PresentCurrent
    Yerzhan AshikbayevAmbassador2021–2025Former
    Erzhan KazykhanovAmbassador2017–2021Former
    Kairat UmarovAmbassador2013–2017Former
    Erlan A. IdrissovAmbassador2007–2012Former
    Kanat SaudabayevAmbassador2000–2007Former
    Bulat K. NurgalyevAmbassador1996–2000Former
    Tuleutay SuleymenovAmbassador1994–1996Former
    Alim Sh. DjambourchineAmbassador1992–1994Former