A Wrap On Kazakhstan

this article was published in a Weekend Gazette Vol.1 Issue 01

Kazakhstan, the Central Asia country and one amongst the biggest post-Soviet countries, second only to Russia, has been hit by massive protests over increased fuel prices, which now have morphed into anti-government protests.

Nationwide, the protests have to this point claimed dozens of lives, and over 1000 are reported injured, with hundreds are being treated in hospitals. The demonstrations lead to clashes between demonstrators and security forces, arresting around 3000 protestors.

Why protests were started?

The demonstrations began on Sunday, 2nd of January, within the west of the country after the worth of liquefied petroleum gas, which is employed in many automobiles, skyrocketed. A two-year transition process ending subsidies for the fuel ended on January 1, and in barely 24 hours the price doubled. The eruption of those protests encouraged more public across the country to require to the streets to demonstrate against a regime that has been in power for 3 decades. In April 2020, the government passed a tightening law declaring all demonstrations illegal unless receiving prior permission by legislation.

The protests soon escalated into riots, especially within the country's economic centre, Almaty. Clashes between security forces and demonstrators ensued, and a number of other government buildings were burned down. In line with data provided by the Ministry of the inside, 26 activists and 18 officers are killed, with hundreds more injured and three,811 arrested.

What are the protestors demanding?

Although the protestors initially demanded that the government lower the price of liquefied petroleum gas after it rose by 100 per cent in a very matter of days, things soon took on an overtly political tone. In cities like Shymkent and Aqtobe, protestors may well be heard chanting slogans like “Old man, go away!” against the powerful former head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Much of the collective anger was directed at the 81-year-old head of state, who has transferred responsibility for the country to his successor but remains the “real power in his hands”.
In response to such scenes, political analysts said young Kazakhs were tired of the dearth of democracy in their country and with an elite government that has prevailed to power since the dissolution of the USSR.

The State's handling

The Kazakh government has repeatedly brought to an end the Internet, and Security forces have tried to interrupt up protests with tear gas and stun grenades, but, considering the scenes in Almaty demonstrate, this has only had a limited effect. Police reportedly fired stun grenades and tear gas at the gang of demonstrators. As the president stated, “Whoever doesn't surrender are destroyed”.

Putin's order and CSTO involvement

The Russian-led peace Treaty Organization (CSTO), of which Kazakhstan, Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are members, has undertaken its first intervention since it absolutely was created in 1992. The Kremlin, which qualifies it as a peace mission, although it doesn't have the protection of the UN, assures that the target of the two,500 soldiers sent by this alliance is “to combat terrorism”. The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday that these disturbances were provoked from outside through armed formations that are trained by gangs from the centre East, coordinated by foreign actors. However, the CSTO has accentuated that its troops won't participate within the operations administered by the Kazakh security forces, but their task is to guard “critical facilities, airports and social infrastructure”.

The Power

The actual President Kasim-Yomart Tokayev came to power in 2019 tutored by Nursultan Nazarbayev, who made a career within the political party of the USSR (CPSU). Within the 1980s, he was appointed Prime Minister of the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic of Kazakhstan, an edge from which he made the leap to the presidency within the dying days of the USSR. After its dissolution, he remained on top of things of the country for 29 years.

Precisely, the press wonders if Nazarbayev, 81 years old, would have fled to the UK, as his whereabouts are still a mystery. His silence since the start of the crisis is striking. He was last seen on December 27 on a visit to St. Petersburg. Moreover, at the identical time that protestors are razing his statues, Kazakhstan notes that the authorities have stopped calling their capital “Nur-Sultan” in official statements. The city, formerly called Akmola and Astana, was renamed in his honour once he left the presidency.

In the face of this case, Tokayev took the helm: on Wednesday the president dismissed the prime minister, Askar Mamin, and his entire Cabinet, and formed another acting executive headed by the hitherto deputy prime minister, Alikhan Smailov. On an identical day, Tokayev also removed the pinnacle of the National Security Committee, the pinnacle of its spy services, Karim Masimov, and took control of the protection Council, the body that coordinates all security forces and which had been headed by Nazarbayev since he stepped down as president in 2019 and elected the present president as his deputy.

During his speech, Tokayev accused the press of provoking the protests. 

“Free media and foreign figures, who are off from the basic interests of our multinational people, instigate the violation of law and order,” said the leader, who also applauded his 2020 reform to limit the correct to demonstrate. “It may be a big discovery in promoting democracy in our country because it's not permissive, rallies and assemblies must be notified. So-called human rights defenders and activists put themselves above the law and believe they need the proper to collect wherever they need and speak about whatever they need,” Tokayev said.

There is full coordination between Moscow and also the Kazakh government. On the military level, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu maintains constant contact through closed channels of communication with the opposite CSTO members, and on the political level, Putin has spoken to Tokayev “repeatedly” by telephone.

The International Coverage

Kazakhstan is of great economic and geostrategic importance because it borders the western Chinese region of Xinjiang and Russia. It possesses vast resources of oil, gas, uranium, and wheat, and could be a hub for several gas and oil pipelines in Central Asia.

Although the Kazakh government has historically aligned itself with the opposite oligarchies of the previous state, including Russia, it has also opened its doors to the US. The White House is also observing the situation, but, as we know, blaming and criticizing Russia.

The United Nations has also called on all sides to act with constraint, away from violence, and to seek a solution to the problem through dialogue.

Conclusion

To conclude, the overall situation in Kazakhstan is a result of inequality. In a country where the average salary is around 600 dollars, and by doubling the price of LPG which is used by mostly 70 per cent of the vehicles, it is not shocking at all. Kazakh’s political system is ill, where one group is ruling for the past 30 years, which has led to a partially sickening system, the sudden situation was already seen.

One thing is for sure, some serious game is going inside Putin’s mind as the Russia Ukraine situation is heating up. Putin, even after the fall, is emerging as a new hope and image to regain the old Soviet spirit.

But still, we are unaware of the soon after scenario, of how the situation would be. In such revolutionary acts, such protests and overthrowing of governments doesn't last much. it is a total reactionary move, and the command is in no one's hand.

Yet we see different narratives and the protestors are confused. In such a perplexing situation, with ongoing violent riots, public and private property being damaged, it devalues and weakens the oppressed side. My condolences for the lives that have been lost. I openly support my brothers and sisters of Kazakhstan who are fighting for their rights, inequality and a people state.