Roman Private Law in Kazakh: Professor Dozhdev’s Book Translated at MNU

A significant event for the legal scholarship of Kazakhstan took place at Maqsut Narikbayev University (MNU) — the official presentation of the Kazakh translation of Roman Private Law, Dmitriy Dozhdev’s authoritative textbook. This work, widely recognised as a foundational reference among civil law scholars across the CIS, has now been made available in the Kazakh language. The translation constitutes a historic milestone for both the university and the advancement of civic legal studies in the state language.

The textbook, authored by Professor Dmitriy Dozhdev — a distinguished Russian legal scholar specialising in Roman private law, legal history, and comparative private law — represents not only an academic exposition of Roman law but also a conceptual reconsideration of its role and enduring relevance. The publication of this work in Kazakh provides access to the global legal tradition for a new generation of Kazakhstani students, researchers, and legal practitioners who are proficient in Kazakh.

The translation was undertaken by Dr Nurzhan Yeshniyazov, Associate Professor at the MNU Law School. His contribution represents a noteworthy step in the development of legal scholarship in the Kazakh language. During the event, students, faculty members, and guests had the rare opportunity to obtain autographed copies of the book, signed by both the author and the translator — a valuable and symbolic gift for all those engaged in the study of law.

In his address, Professor Dozhdev highlighted the complexity and significance of the translation process: “Translating such complex material — filled with intricate rhetorical structures and specialised legal terminology — is not an easy task in any language. It is crucial not only to translate but also to ensure the result is both accessible and applicable in practice. In this regard, Dr Nurzhan Yeshniyazov has, in effect, created the Kazakh language of civil law. This is a substantial accomplishment and a major contribution to the progress of legal science in Kazakhstan.”

In turn, Dr Yeshniyazov shared his primary motivation for undertaking the translation of this fundamental text:

“During the Soviet era, legal education in the Kazakh language was virtually non-existent. While some legal literature has been developed over the past three decades of independence, Roman private law remains the foundation of our legal system. Without engaging with it, one cannot fully comprehend the structure and logic of the modern legal order. My intention was to contribute to the development — and to some extent, the creation — of a fully-fledged legal register in the Kazakh language. It is of great importance to me that young researchers who are not proficient in Russian or other foreign languages but who are fluent in Kazakh have the opportunity to study the core foundations of legal thought.”

The presentation generated considerable interest and a positive reception within the academic community. The translation stands not only as an educational achievement, but also as a cultural bridge, connecting Kazakh society with the broader international tradition of legal scholarship. It also reinforces the status of Kazakh as a language capable of conveying complex academic and legal discourse. It is worth noting that MNU had previously introduced another important publication: Kazakh-Russian Legal Dictionary: Errors and Interpretations.