A massive uprising against the regime in Kazakhstan in central Asia erupted on
the weekend of January 1st-2nd. It was sparked by a rise in fuel prices in thewestern part of the country, in the Mangystau region. The protests spread to therest of the country and escalated into a general upsurge against the corruptregime, which has overseen increasing poverty and inequality. ---- Kazakhstan isruled by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, but behind him Nursultan Nazarbayev,who ruled the country between 1991 (when Kazakhstan became independent from theRussian Federation)and 2019 ,wields the real power.The government lifted price controls on liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at thebeginning of the year. Many car drivers have converted their cars to LPG becauseof the lower cost. Kazakhstan is rich in oil and as a result has attracted alarge amount of foreign investment. However, subsidies to LPG meant thatKazakhstan itself regularly had oil shortages. The price controls were lifted toease these deficits and make sure the domestic market was adequately supplied.This was a miscalculation as LPG prices then doubled, sparking the protests.A small elite has became immensely rich, whilst many are descending into poverty.The Covid pandemic has exacerbated the situation. There was anger over this andthe generally repressive situation under Nazarbayev and Tokayev.Like recent upsurges in other parts of these world these protests are leaderlessand have not as yet been taken advantage by politicians. The protestors aredemanding an end to corruption and an end to poverty and inequality.Protests spread to the biggest city Almaty, the capital Nur-Sultan and othercities and confrontations with State security forces became increasingly violent.In one city a statue of Nazarbayev was torn down. The airport at Almaty wasstormed by protestors, government buildings were attacked and the mainadministrative building was burnt down.It was rumoured that Nazarbayev had takenflight and left the country. Meanwhile the Tokayev regime has closed down mobilereception and the Internet, to stop the coordination of the protests. He promisedto come down heavily on the protestors.A national state of emergency was declared with a curfew and restrictions onmovement and travel until January 19th. Tokayev tried to dampen down the protestsby reducing the price of LPG. Other concessions were government regulation offuel prices for 180 days, a moratorium on increasing utility prices for the sameperiod, and the promise of rent subsidies for the poorest sections of the population.The government of Askar Mamin resigned but this failed to defuse the situation.Tokayev made out that the protestors were "terrorists" trained abroad, a good oldstandby used by governments all over the world.He has now called in the forces of the Collective Security TreatyOrganisation-CTSO ( made up of Russia, Armenia, BelarusKyrgyzstan andTajikistan). The CTSO was set up for mutual defence not to intervene in internalissues, but Tokayev hopes to justify this intervention by citing terroristscontrolled by foreign powers.Kazakhstan shares a border with Russia and the Putin regime supports theKazakstan regime there in the same way it supports Belarus. There is a largeethnic Russian population in Kazakhstan.The Kazakh police have stated that dozens of protestors "have been liquidated"whilst 12 policemen have died. Over 2,000 protestors have been arrested.PutinThe situation in Kazakhstan is worrying for the Putin regime. It has to contendwith the situation in Belarus and the ongoing clash with Ukraine involving Putinrattling his sabre has not been popular in Russia, where there is widespreaddistaste for war, especially with fellow Slavs. In addition, Putin is well awarethat the situation in Kazakhstan could be replicated in Russia. He undoubtedlyhas hosted the idea of ostensibly retiring from political life like Nazarbayev,whilst still holding the reins of power.BlairFor years, Tony Blair and his cronies, through Tony Blair Associates, acted togive the Nazarbayev regime a good PR image. For this they got £5.3 million ayear. This included a "Political Advice and Positioning Module," at £1.85 milliona year , and £1.78 million a year for helping Nazarbayev maintain "the rule oflaw". In addition Tony Blair Associates wanted a further £770,000 forssetting upa civil service academy. Blair and his chums may have trousered as much as $27million.Tony Blair Associates helped Nazarbayev put a spin on the Zhanaosen Massacre in2011 when oil workers went on strike in response to low wages and bad workingconditions. More than 70 workers were killed by the police, 500 injured and manyarrested and tortured. Tony Blair Associates went to great lengths to cover upthe massacre. Now of course, Blair has received a knighthood from the Queen.However, history has a knack of providing ironic twists. The present unrest inwestern Kazakhstan began in Zhanaosen.https://www.anarchistcommunism.org/2022/01/06/uprising-in-kazakhstan/_________________________________________A - I N F O S N E W S S E R V I C EBy, For, and About AnarchistsSend news reports to A-infos-en mailing listA-infos-en@ainfos.ca
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