# Russ Kun

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{{Short description|President of Nauru from 2022 to 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Ntbcw|Russell Kun}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific_prefix    = [His Excellency](/source/His_Excellency)
| name                = Russ Kun
| birth_name          = Russ Joseph Kun
| honorific_suffix    = [MP](/source/Member_of_Parliament)
| image               = Russ Kun 2023.jpg
| caption             = Kun in 2023
| office              = [President of Nauru](/source/President_of_Nauru)
| term_start          = 29 September 2022
| term_end            = 30 October 2023
| deputy = [Martin Hunt](/source/Martin_Hunt_(Nauruan_politician))
| predecessor         = [Lionel Aingimea](/source/Lionel_Aingimea)
| successor           = [David Adeang](/source/David_Adeang)
| constituency_MP1    = [Ubenide](/source/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](/source/President_of_Nauru) from being elected in the September [2022 presidential election](/source/2022_Nauruan_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](/source/Ubenide_Constituency) 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](/source/scrutineer) for the [2003](/source/2003_Nauruan_parliamentary_election)<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](/source/2004_Nauruan_parliamentary_election).<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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Parliament_of_Nauru) in [2013](/source/2013_Nauruan_parliamentary_election), as one of the four members from [Ubenide Constituency](/source/Ubenide_Constituency). He was re-elected in [2016](/source/2016_Nauruan_parliamentary_election), [2019](/source/2019_Nauruan_parliamentary_election), and [2022](/source/2022_Nauruan_parliamentary_election). In the last [Aingimea](/source/Lionel_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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Ministry_of_Justice_and_Border_Control_(Nauru)).<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](/source/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](/source/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](/source/Taiwan), where he was welcomed with military honors by President [Tsai Ing-wen](/source/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](/source/United_Nations) 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

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Russ Kun](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Kun) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russ_Kun?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.