Albert Pavlovich Rau (Russian: Альберт Павлович Рау, [ɐlʲˈbʲertˈpavɫəvʲɪtɕˈraʊ]; German: Albert Pawlowitsch Rau; born 1 September 1960) is a Kazakh politician and economist, who served, alongside Dania Espaeva, as the last Deputy Chairman and Member of the Mäjilis, lower house of Kazakhstan's former legislature.
Before his parliamentary career, Rau held several positions in both local and republican government, including Deputy Minister of Investments and Development (2014–2017), First Deputy Minister of Industry and New technologies (2010–2014), Äkim of Akmola Region (2008–2010) and of Lisakovsk City Äkim (1994–2004).
Rau started his career in 1981 as the Chairman of the Trade Union Committee of the Rudny Industrial Institute.
From 1982 to 1984, Rau served in the Soviet Army. From 1984 to 1991, he was an electrician of the production site, chairman of the trade union committee of the Kurzhunkulsky mine of the Sokolov-Sarbai Mining Production Association.
Political career
Regional politics
Rau started his political career around the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union, in the year 1991, as Deputy Head for Production of the executive committee of the Lisakovsk City Council of People's Deputies (now Lisakovsk City Mäslihat).
From 1992 to 1993, he was the first chairman of the Lisakovsk City Council of People's Deputies. From 1993 to 1994, he was deputy chairman, and then Chairman of the Lisakovo Free Economic Zone.
In 1994, he was appointed as the Head of the Lisakovsk City Administration, in 1995, the position was renamed Äkim of Lisakovsk. Rau served as the city head until 2004.
In 2010, he ended his äkimship to be appointed as First Vice Minister of Industry and New Technologies of Kazakhstan. As reported by the PresidentNursultan Nazarbayev and Rau himself, Rau's appointment in the Government of Kazakhstan as Deputy Minister was made to have him serve as the de facto Minister of Industry and New Technologies; the reasoning being that Minister Asset Issekeshev, who was also Deputy Prime Minister, wouldn't have enough time to lead the Ministry.
He served here until 2014, when he became Vice Minister, and later First Vice Minister for Investments and Development of the country until 2017.
Parliamentary career
From March 2017, Rau was serving in the 6th, 7th and 8th convocations of the Mäjilis consecutively in the Amanat political faction. On 31 March 2023, Rau was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Mäjilis. On 1 July 2026, the Mäjilis was abolished, becoming replaced by the Kurultai of Kazakhstan.
Personal life
Rau is an ethnic German and speaks German and Russian. He is married to Svetlana Vasilyevna Rau, an ethnic Russian. Rau has two children; a daughter Alexandra (born 1985) and a son Aleksey (born 1986).
Rau's son Aleksey is an entrepreneur, an alumnus of the SBS Swiss Business School, and the creator of the Astana School of Management and Business. Albert Rau's daughter Alexandra is married, and currently lives outside the country.
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Soviet Union
