Kazakhstan. Anger behind protests sweeping across the country will not be easy to quell | World news
Kazakhstan is experiencing its most dramatic political upheaval since the fall of the Soviet Union 30 years ago.
Protests that started on Sunday on the price of fuel have turned into a much broader expression of socio-economic discontent in all regions of this oil-producing country.
Despite the government’s resignation, a state of emergency declared in three regions, including the commercial capital of Almaty, and the likelihood of criminal prosecution against the troublemakers, protests continue.
The cries of “Old Man Go” among the demonstrators tell you all about the nature of power in this former Soviet state.
Until this week, Nursultan Nazarbayev who handed over the presidency to his designated successor Kassym-Jomart Tokayev As of March 2019, there was still a lot of reigning over the series, but that could be about to change.
President Tokayev has just announced that he will succeed Nazarbayev as head of the Security Council.
The new appointments to the post of secretary of state and deputy head of the security forces are loyal to Tokayev.
Outside with the old and with the new; the question is how much will this change for the man in the street?
Tokayev has also promised a price cap on fuel, food and electricity, but he may be buying time for his new government.
Protesters march on a street during a demonstration in Almaty
The fact that it was the doubling in the prices of liquefied natural gas that sparked all of this, a cheap alternative to gasoline that many people, especially in the oil-producing western region, have converted their cars to in the purpose of saving money, speaks to the wealth disparities in this oil-rich state.
Grievances here have simmered for decades, and it’s not yet clear how easy they will be to allay.
What will Russia think?
Rest assured, the Kremlin hates this.
Protests sweeping the country? Do the authorities accept at least some of their requests?
Police arrest protester in Almaty
This is the stuff of Vladimir Putin‘s nightmares.
Blame it on outside forces, however, and half the battle is won.
Rest assured, the propaganda machines are already in action, in Kazakhstan and Russia as well.
But the demonstrators have just taken Almaty airport and thus gain confidence.
This protest action seems to have a way to work.