{{Short description|President of Nauru from 2022 to 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}} {{Ntbcw|Russell Kun}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = His Excellency | name = Russ Kun | birth_name = Russ Joseph Kun | honorific_suffix = MP | image = Russ Kun 2023.jpg | caption = Kun in 2023 | office = President of Nauru | term_start = 29 September 2022 | term_end = 30 October 2023 | deputy = Martin Hunt | predecessor = Lionel Aingimea | successor = David Adeang | constituency_MP1 = Ubenide | parliament1 = Nauruan | term_start1 = 11 June 2013 | term_end1 = | birth_date = {{bda|1975|9|8|df=y}} | birth_place = | spouse = Simina Kun<ref>{{cite press release|last=|first=|url=https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nauru-president-attends-king%E2%80%99s-coronation-119910|title=Nauru President attends King's coronation|work=Loop Nauru|date=May 8, 2023|accessdate=May 8, 2023|archive-date=8 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508051211/https://www.loopnauru.com/nauru-news/nauru-president-attends-king%E2%80%99s-coronation-119910|url-status=live}}</ref> }} '''Russ Joseph Kun''' (born 8 September 1975) is a Nauruan politician who served as President of Nauru from being elected in the September 2022 presidential election to October 2023.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/475656/pacific-news-in-brief-for-september-28 |title= Pacific news in brief for September 28 |author= <!--Not stated--> |date= 28 September 2022 |website= |publisher= RNZ News |access-date= 28 September 2022 |quote= Nauru MP Russ Kun is the newly elected president of the republic. He was nominated unopposed in the inaugural sitting of the 24th Parliament, today, Wednesday 28 September. |archive-date= 28 September 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220928071634/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/475656/pacific-news-in-brief-for-september-28 |url-status= live }}</ref> He has served as a member of parliament for Ubenide since 2013.
== Biography == Kun was born on 8 September 1975.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Deigidoa |first=Gideon |date=16 June 1976 |title=Births, Deaths and Marriages |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/2036ff91550db96c4cfa0815669bd3d6.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=27 |pages=4 |access-date=28 September 2022 |archive-date=4 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704080554/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/2036ff91550db96c4cfa0815669bd3d6.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He served as a scrutineer for the 2003<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Star |first=T.W. |date=30 April 2003 |title=G.N.No. 110/2003 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/efa4fc42524643974933d4a5f5346eb8.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=34 |pages=4 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001231853/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/efa4fc42524643974933d4a5f5346eb8.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and 2004 general elections.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Solomon |first=Camilla |date=20 October 2004 |title=Appointment of Scrutineers |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/6263ad168757d013e71d1c6d285e85e9.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=84 |pages=7 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=1 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001122025/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/6263ad168757d013e71d1c6d285e85e9.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He served as acting Secretary for the Ministry of Commerce Industry & Resources in 2005.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Solomon |first=Camilla |date=30 November 2005 |title=Appointment of Acting Secretary for Commerce Industry & Resource |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/fe5b79d679d5d8969ad2bd5d807aba70.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=99 |pages=3 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605133018/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/fe5b79d679d5d8969ad2bd5d807aba70.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> He served as acting Chief Secretary in 2008<ref>{{Cite journal |date=4 June 2008 |title=G.N.No. 237 / 2008 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/a217f7b1bac27e2e8e2de4b52b098a95.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=62 |pages=1 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=5 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605030806/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/a217f7b1bac27e2e8e2de4b52b098a95.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and as acting Secretary of Home Affairs in 2012.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=28 March 2012 |title=G.N.No. 161/ 2012 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/8dc8220eee0a57ff32af2cd9fb69206e.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=35 |pages=1 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604052709/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/8dc8220eee0a57ff32af2cd9fb69206e.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Prior to entering Parliament, he worked for the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Environment.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Thow |first1=A. M. |last2=Quested |first2=C. |last3=Juventin |first3=L. |last4=Kun |first4=R. |last5=Khan |first5=A. N. |last6=Swinburn |first6=B. |date=1 March 2011 |title=Taxing soft drinks in the Pacific: implementation lessons for improving health |journal=Health Promotion International |language=en |volume=26 |issue=1 |pages=55–64 |doi=10.1093/heapro/daq057 |pmid=20739326 |issn=0957-4824|doi-access=free |hdl=10536/DRO/DU:30077328 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> Kun also was a member of the Nauru National Commission for UNESCO from 2008 to 2010<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Solomon |first=Camilla |date=20 February 2008 |title=G.N.No. 74 / 2008 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/38830a27d3c3940cefa4d62f29b83f27.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=17 |pages=1 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604204049/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/38830a27d3c3940cefa4d62f29b83f27.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and from 2012<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Grundler |first=Bernard |date=16 March 2012 |title=G.N.No. 149/ 2012 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/61e691aea9558dee375b3f3ba60c339a.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=34 |pages=2 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604124957/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/61e691aea9558dee375b3f3ba60c339a.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> to 2013.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Paravanoor |first=Sasikumar |date=17 June 2013 |title=G.N.No. 446 / 2013 |url=http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/81019e17a29e89e0bddf6f1536f9c609.pdf |journal=Republic of Nauru Government Gazette |issue=95 |pages=2 |access-date=1 October 2022 |archive-date=4 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604234042/http://ronlaw.gov.nr/nauru_lpms/files/gazettes/81019e17a29e89e0bddf6f1536f9c609.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kun was first elected to the Parliament of Nauru in 2013, as one of the four members from Ubenide Constituency. He was re-elected in 2016, 2019, and 2022. In the last Aingimea government, Kun was deputy minister for Finance, Nauru Ports, Tourism, and National Heritage and Museum.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ligaiula |first=Pita |date=28 September 2022 |title=Russ Kun elected Nauru president unopposed |url=https://pina.com.fj/2022/09/28/russ-kun-elected-nauru-president-unopposed/ |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=PINA |language=en-US |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928193737/https://pina.com.fj/2022/09/28/russ-kun-elected-nauru-president-unopposed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
Kun is a member of the Global Organization of Parliamentarians Against Corruption (GOPAC). After attending a GOPAC workshop, he led efforts to develop a code of ethics for the Parliament of Nauru. To this end, he served as chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on the Leadership Code.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hyde |first=John |author-link=John Hyde (Australian state politician) |date=2015 |title=Establishing Anti-Corruption Practices in the Pacific Region |url=https://www.cpahq.org/media/hcjmywms/theparliamentarian2015issuefourfinalonlineoptimized.pdf |journal=The Parliamentarian |publisher=Commonwealth Parliamentary Association |volume=96 |issue=4 |pages=278–279 |access-date=29 September 2022 |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929114456/https://www.cpahq.org/media/hcjmywms/theparliamentarian2015issuefourfinalonlineoptimized.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the first parliament sitting after the 2022 general election, Kun was the sole nominee for President of Nauru. He was sworn in along with his cabinet on 29 September. His own portfolios include foreign affairs and justice and border control.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 September 2022 |title=Nauru's new President takes oath |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/475732/nauru-s-new-president-takes-oath |access-date=29 September 2022 |website=RNZ |language=en-nz |archive-date=29 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929024635/https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/475732/nauru-s-new-president-takes-oath |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 25 October 2023, a vote of no confidence against Kun passed through parliament. David Adeang was elected president via secret ballot by the parliament on 30 October.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-10-30|title=Taiwan congratulates new Nauru President David Adeang|url=https://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202310300007|access-date=2023-10-30|website=Focus Taiwan|language=en-nz|archive-date=2 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102033405/http://focustaiwan.tw/politics/202310300007|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Presidency == ===Foreign relations and Taiwan===
In November 2022, Kun made an official state visit to Taiwan, where he was welcomed with military honors by President Tsai Ing-wen. During the visit, he reaffirmed Nauru’s diplomatic recognition of Taiwan and discussed bilateral cooperation in areas including clean energy, agriculture, public health, port administration, and fisheries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President Tsai welcomes President Russ Joseph Kun of Nauru with military honors {{!}} Nauru News Network |url=https://www.naurunewsnetwork.com/article/601445556-president-tsai-welcomes-president-russ-joseph-kun-of-nauru-with-military-honors |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=www.naurunewsnetwork.com}}</ref>
At the 78th United Nations General Assembly in September 2023, Kun reiterated Nauru’s support for Taiwan, calling for its broader participation in the UN system and commending Taiwan’s contributions to the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=President Tsai and President Russ Joseph Kun of Nauru hold bilateral talks-News releases-News & activities｜Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan) |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/6615 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250424011513/https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/6615 |archive-date=2025-04-24 |access-date=2025-08-17 |website=Office of the President Republic of China(Taiwan) |language=en}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
{{commons category}} {{NauruPres}} {{Nauru Parliament}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kun, Russ}} Category:Living people Category:1975 births Category:People from Uaboe Category:Members of the Parliament of Nauru Category:Presidents of Nauru Category:Foreign ministers of Nauru Category:Justice ministers of Nauru Category:Government ministers of Nauru Category:Nauruan civil servants Category:21st-century Nauruan politicians