Experts see traces of Ukraine in protests in Kazakhstan
A trace of Ukraine can be seen in the protests in Kazakhstan, where Kiev's special services have long promoted nationalism and stirred up anti-Russian sentiment, Russian political analyst Andrei Suzdaltsev said.
Ukrainian special services in Kazakhstan
"In principle, we have long anticipated that these serious internal contradictions would arise. Located at the crossroads of two worlds - the post-Soviet space and China, Kazakhstan is strongly influenced by Western forces. Please note that there are traces of Ukraine in the protests. In Kazakhstan, they incite Kazakh nationalism, create anti-Russian groups in the government," Suzdaltsev said.
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The situation in Kazakhstan is unstable. Photo AFP |
According to political scientist Suzdaltsev, this is "anti-Russian infiltration from the East." The expert emphasized:
"At the end of December, Kiev itself gave information that such events would soon begin in Kazakhstan. We have a calm attitude towards it, because this is not the first time. But in this case, all the negative factors resonate."
Expert Suzdaltsev said that the decision to resign the government is unlikely to help incumbent Kazakh President Kasym-Zhomart Tokayev curb protests.
"I think that President Tokayev will not be able to curb these unrest by resigning the government and forming any kind of commission," the political scientist said.
According to him, the country has accumulated many contradictions not only in the economy but also in politics, including related to the active role of the previous president Nursultan Nazarbayev. There is too big a gap in people's income levels.
"Ordinary people, especially in rural areas, live in extreme poverty. There are more opportunities in the capital, but the cities are already overcrowded," the expert noted.
He added that Kazakhstan is a multi-ethnic country, but in the government and in power structures Kazakhs are the majority, although so far there has been no sense of ethnic conflict.
Protests in Kazakhstan
On January 2, protests against fuel price hikes began in Kazakhstan. On January 4, protesters clashed with security forces on Republic Square in Alma-Ata. Law enforcement officers used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse the protesters.
In Alma-Ata and Mangistau region, a state of emergency is in place until January 19, during which a curfew is imposed from 23:00 to 07:00. On the morning of Wednesday, January 5, President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev dismissed the government, which he considered particularly guilty of allowing the protests to take place.