Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev said Tuesday that there was “no conflict or confrontation” among Kazakhstan's elite in his first appearance since deadly protests rocked the former Soviet country earlier this month.
Nazarbayev, 81, has not been seen in public since the worst unrest since Kazakhstan’s independence broke out earlier this month, leading to widespread speculation over his whereabouts and his relationship with current President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, The Moscow Times reports.
Tokayev “has full power,” Nazarbayev said in Tuesday’s video address. “He is the chairman of the Security Council…There is no conflict or confrontation in the elite. Rumors on this subject are absolutely groundless.”
The largest and deadliest protests in Kazakhstan’s history broke out on Jan. 2 in the western oil city of Zhanaozen over a hike in fuel prices, soon devolving into wider unrest over corruption, economic inequality and public discontent. Hundreds of deaths have been reported and over 10,000 people were detained during the protests.
Before his retirement from the presidency in 2019, Nazarbayev had led the energy-rich Central Asian nation for nearly 30 years — and many believed he still held considerable power after his resignation.
In the video, Nazarbayev described himself as a “pensioner since 2019” — when he handed the presidency to Tokayev — despite heading the Security Council until early January and holding the formal title of Leader of the Nation.
“I am currently on a well-deserved rest in the capital of Kazakhstan and have not left anywhere,” Nazarbayev said.
Nazarbayev’s address comes amid growing signs that Tokayev appears to be tightening his grip on power at the expense of the former president following the protest, including by reshuffling the government.
On Jan. 8, former national security committee chief Karim Masimov — a key Nazarbayev ally — was arrested on treason charges in connection with the unrest. Tokayev has also appeared to move against Nazarbayev’s family, ordering on Monday the dismissal of Nazarbayev’s nephew Samat Abish as first deputy head of the influential National Security Committee, while earlier vouching to end the private recycling monopoly linked to Nazarbayev’s daughter Aliya.
In his address, Nazarbayev urged Kazakhs to support a new series of populist measures introduced by Tokayev.
“The president put forward a new reform program aimed at improving the welfare of the people. This program needs to be supported,” Nazarbayev said.
See all the news
All
LEADx Change Unveils Season 4 of Leadership Accelerator & Public Square Summit
Forbes to be Acquired by Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Austin Russell
Arrival Hosts Yet Another Successful Metaverse Event: A Recap of the Latest Conference
#საქმიანიდილა - 28 აპრილი - პროლოგი
The company "Tam Management" makes an explanation
#forbesკვირა - ქალაქები,სადაც ცხოვრებაში თანხებს გიხდიან
წერეთლის გამზირის რეაბილიტაცია - სავაჭრო ობიექტების მოლოდინები
როგორ შეიცვალა საცხოვრებელი უძრავი ქონების ფასი 12 წელში?
როდის გაიხსნება რიკოთი?
სახელმწიფო მხარდაჭერის ეფექტიანობა DCFTA-ის ბაზრებზე – ISET-ის კვლევა
"Georgia will be faithful to the European path... I serve this path" - Ambassador of Georgia to France
Cavea plus-ის 6 თვის შედეგები და გამოწვევები
Gold is shining in the new geopolitical world
VR Holding is starting a large-scale and innovative project in Shekvetili
JSC “Rustavi Azot” was sold
We Are Creating An Innovative Co-Working Space In Tbilisi - Sergi Gvarjaladze
State to build Anaklia Port
NG Georgia - თარგმანი ყველა ენაზე
The Rich Often Enjoy Tax Break - Deputy Minister
Israel Got Acquainted With The Business Tourism Potential Of Georgia