Kazakhstan was the last of the Soviet republics to declare independence during the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Nursultan Nazarbayev, the first President of Kazakhstan, was characterized as an authoritarian, and his government was accused of numerous human rights violations, including suppression of dissent and censorship of the media. Nazarbayev resigned in March 2019, with Senate Chairman Kassym-Jomart Tokayev taking office as Interim President.[15] Kazakhstan has worked to develop its economy, especially its dominant hydrocarbon industry.[15] Human Rights Watch says that "Kazakhstan heavily restricts freedom of assembly, speech, and religion",[18] and other human rights organisations regularly describe Kazakhstan's human rights situation as poor.