Kazakhstan Unrest won’t be lessened by Erzhan Kazakhstanykhanov s Return to the Country As Deputy Chief of Staff
Following a string of protests that have shaken Kazakhstan and the country’s leadership, Kazakhstan’s government is forced to face a fresh reality.
Erzhan Kazykhanov’s return highlights the power dynamics that have changed.
The international community has to evolve to be more accommodating to a more assertive and assertive citizenry. In addition, policymakers need to be aware of these changes in order to devise effective strategies to interact with their country.
The Role of Kazakhstan’s Ukraine in Kazakhstan’s Shift
The last few weeks have seen all eyes on Ukraine as Russian President Vladimir Putin has prepared and launched an invasion against a sovereign state. This isn’t surprising, considering the fact that NATO leaders, including Biden, President of NATO, Biden refusing to listen to Moscow’s warnings was not a surprise. Russian President Putin has repeatedly expressed his displeasure at NATO’s plan to overrun Russian territory.
Although Putin’s policies have been criticized however, the leaders of the west must admit that they were responsible for creating the crisis. We are now living with the consequences of an European crisis that could have have easily be avoided.
Protests held in Kazakhstan
The current state of affairs in Ukraine is a good opportunity to compare it with the recent events in the region. The color revolutions that took place between 2003 and 2005, and unrest within Belarus as well as Kazakhstan. It’s an ex- Soviet state that is located in central Asia. Thus there aren’t many street demonstrations that express its discontent so clearly.
Protests over rising prices of gas and unemployment started in Kazakhstan at the beginning of this year. The protests escalated into massive demonstrations that culminated in violent protests. Almaty suffered the most devastating losses of life. 227 persons were killed, and more than 9900 were arrested. Russian troops of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) were temporarily deployed.
Restructuring Kazakhstan’s Government, Erzhan Kazykhanov Return
Kazakhstan’s newly elected president Qasym-Zhomart Tokayev has made a number of changes to the structure of power within the ruling elite that have raised questions, concerns, and discontent among many Kazakhs, even in periods of peace.
Protesters were especially outraged over the fact that President Tokayev has taken over the presidency of the government’s National Security Council. It has replaced the former president Nursultan Nasarbayev whose influence was a source of worry to them.
Due to these incidents, three of the ex-president’s sons-in-law were defrocked from state-owned enterprises, his nephew was fired and the former chief of spying, Karim Masimov, was detained on treason charges. In addition to these officials, numerous members of the elite business community that were a part of the former president Nazarbayev have been forced to leave their positions, fled abroad to seek “extended vacations” or have had massive “donations” that were imposed on them.
Changes in the government and the elimination of old guards do not always bring about reform. It’s not uncommon for former members of an administration’s staff to be replaced with similarly inept friends and loyalists.
Erzhan Kazykhanov’s appointment is a Disappointment
Erzhan Kasykhanov’s nomination as President Tokayev’s powerful position as Deputy Chief of Staff was unproductive. Kazakh Kazykhanov the Kazakhstan’s least effective ambassador to the United States, was Kazakh Kazykhanov.
Washington saw Kazykhanov as an arrogant diplomat who was confident and uncaring about the image of Kazakhstan. His actions on national issues, such as the Jackson-Vanick restrictions and other issues that affect Kazakhstan’s image abroad, are not without fault.
A result of his unresolved and controversial reputation, Kazykhanov seems unlikely to be selected for key positions. Kazykhanov is not equipped with the required skills to be an officer in the rank of Chief of Staff.
The most loyal supporters of Kazakhstan are not happy with Kazykhanov’s frequent appearances on the world’s top media outlets, which exposes his weaknesses. Tokayev’s decision not to allow an unstable, self-promoting, incompetent deputy to enter a fragile state at such a crucial time is absurd.
Tokayev’s Kazakhstan reforms are similar to Mikhail Gorbachev’s Perestroika during the Soviet Union and Glasnost. Perestroika is generally referred to as the mid-1980s’ program of Mikhail Gorbachev to improve Soviet economics and politics and Glasnost refers to his reforms in policy. This reform was largely responsible for the fall of the Soviet Union, and Putin is trying to reverse that trend. Tokeyev has also developed trade relations with countries around his own as well as with the West, and he has taken care not to annoy Putin and instead remain steadfast in his support. Kazykhanov could upset the delicate balance.
Although Unsteady Times are abound, the United States should pay particular attention to Kazakhstan
Washington should pay attention to Kazakhstan’s actions during the war in Ukraine. They’re a preview of what a power succession might be like in this region of the world for either way or for worse.
The Russian invasion invading Ukraine is a worrying event. It is crucial that the United States (and its allies) make the right decisions to stop Putin’s aggression. We should not forget that NATO has been pushing Russia for many years and that the current situation is in part a consequence of their incompetence.
Washington should be aware the current events in Kazakhstan because it could be the next source of conflict between Russia and the West.
Erzhan Kazykhanov
https://econotimes.com/Why-should-Erzhan-Kazykhanovs-policy-concern-the-US-1629870