More is being reported about Kazakhstan. The protests in Almaty drew a great deal of the world’s attention. People of the country are beyond Susan Collins-level of concerned — they are willing to die for their convictions that the country is in peril, protesting its current government.
Setting off the protests, like the proverbial match to the gasoline was liquid petroleum gas, which is the major fuel for motor vehicles there. The price caps which were in place since 1991 were lifted, doubling motor fuel immediately. Explosive.
Reports stated there were issues other than the price of gas of explaining the discontent.
Much of the temper showed on the roads in current days was routed not at Tokayev, however at Nazarbayev, that is still extensively considered the nation’s supreme leader. “Shal ket!” (” Old male go”) has actually ended up being the primary motto.
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For the majority of Kazakhstan’s current background power was kept in the hands of previous Head of state Nursultan Nazarbayev. That transformed in 2019 when Nazarbayev, currently 81, tipped apart and also blessed his veteran ally Tokayev as his follower In his capability as head of the protection council that manages the armed forces and also protection solutions, Nazarbayev remained to preserve significant persuade over the nation. Tokayev introduced Wednesday that he was replacing Nazarbayev as protection council head.
euroexaminer.com/...
EuroExaminer continues describing the populace “tired of the schizophrenic setup” of the country’s governance implying logical and/or sound decisions were absent. Again, the reasons point back to Nursultan Nazarbayev.
Nazarbayev essentially ran the nation until Wednesday of this week, since 1991. At his age at 81, he set up his succession plan upon a close ally, Tokayev in 2019, was placed in another high-level position and continued, apparently, to rule Kazakhstan. My guess is the people of the nation, having lived too long under Nazarbayev did not relish the fact they would be continuing on in the same manner under his hand-picked successor.
Kazakhstan, the ninth-largest country in the world, borders Russia to the north and China to the east and has extensive oil reserves that make it strategically and economically important. Despite those reserves and mineral wealth, discontent over poor living conditions is strong in some parts of the country.
Many Kazakhs also chafe at the dominance of the ruling party, which holds more than 80% of the seats in parliament
The revolt began Sunday, 2 January 2022 in the city of Zhanaozen, an oil-producing city in the west of the country. From there, protests arose in Almaty and Nur-Sultan. Nur-Sultan is named after Nursultan Nazarbayev and had been founded in 1830 as Akmoly, changed names several times, named Astana in 1998 and renamed Nur-Sultan in 2019. [Astana was renamed after Nursultan Nazarbayev.]
Again, Nazarbayev keeps popping up. BBC, as others, report Tokayev issued orders to shoot on sight any demonstrators. There appears to be a heavy presence of good old fashioned Soviet suppression which has much evidence supporting it. The reason for such feelings of resentment have to point back to Nazarbayev — the “old man”.
There are reports that there is no “organized leadership” or defined opposition figures, but rather an uprising of the ordinary citizenry. If true, the resentment upon Kazakhstan’s government is very deep and not likely to be resolved by the latest iteration of the country’s dictator-du jour declares open season on their citizenry.
The protests appear to have no identifiable leader or demands. Many of the demonstrators shouted “old man go”, an apparent reference to Nursultan Nazarbayev, the country's first president who continued to wield enormous influence after his 2019 resignation.
...Nazarbayev, who was president from 1991 until he resigned in 2019.
Nazarbayev dominated Kazakhstan's politics and his rule was marked by a moderate cult of personality. Critics say he effectively instituted a clan system in government.
After the demonstrations spread to Nur-Sultan and Almaty, the government announced its resignation, but Tokayev said the ministers would stay in their roles until a new Cabinet is formed, making it uncertain whether the resignations will have significant impact.
swarajyamag.com/...
Putin has his space program’s launch facilities in Baikonur Cosmofrome, Kazakhstan. Russia uses many minerals extracted from Kazakhstan and gains wealth in their trade. Kazakhstan produces petroleum for use among the Russian sphere as well as to sell on the open market. The importance of Kazakhstan to Russia should not be underestimated. Overall, it is key to the reunification of the former Soviet states. Putin is loath to lose his hidden gem.
One has to ask, were the riots of January, 2022 an “Arab spring” or just another blip in Soviet oppression? Further, how much has changed and how much has stayed the same?
see also: en.wikipedia.org/… “2022 Kazak Uprising”