Balzhan Bultrikova (original) (raw)

Balzhan Bultrikova (Kazakh: Балжан Бөлтірікова; Baljan Böltırıkova, 15 November 1921 – 14 May 1998) was a Soviet and Kazakh teacher and politician who helped establish the diplomatic corps in the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic. She was the first woman to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and first Kazakh diplomat to participate in the General Assembly of the United Nations. She was honored with numerous medals and awards, including the Order of the Badge of Honour and the Order of the Red Banner of Labour.