2019–2020 Kazakh protests

The Kazakh protests are a series of civil protests that took place in cities across Kazakhstan, commencing in February 2019 after a fire in Nur-Sultan (formerly named Astana) killed five children. Some commentators attribute President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev's decision to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Bakhytzhan Sagintayev later that month in part to the protests. Nazarbayev later himself resigned on 19 March 2019 and was replaced as president by Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the speaker of the upper house of parliament. Nazarbayev continued to hold several political positions.[1] Tokayev called a snap election, the 2019 Kazakh presidential election, which saw him elected with over 70% of the vote. Both the run-up to and the aftermath of the election saw further protests. Protests continued to be reported in the rest of the year, including protests marking Independence Day in Nur-Sultan and Almaty on 16 December. Public rallies that have not been permitted by the government are illegal in Kazakhstan, although Tokayev has stated he intends to liberalize the laws governing public protests. A public poll released in October suggested that a plurality of Kazakhs, 43%, viewed public demonstrations positively, with 16% expressing a negative view and another 41% not expressing an opinion.[2]

2019–2020 Kazakh protests
Date	10 May 2018 – present
Location	Kazakhstan
Caused by	Corruption Inflation Political repression Electoral fraud Kleptocracy Authoritarianism Police brutality Human rights violations Opposition to Presidents Nursultan Nazarbayev and Kassym-Jomart Tokayev
Goals	Establishment of parliamentary republic Resignation of Nursultan Nazarbayev from the Security Council Resignation of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and government Democratic transition Release of political prisoners Refuge for Kazakhs in China Cancellation of constructing nuclear power plants
Methods	Demonstrations Online activism
Status	Ongoing
Concessions given	Dismissal of Sagintayev's government Resignation of President Nursultan Nazarbayev Increased social benefits Release of some protest detainees and political prisoners Reduced restrictions on authorized rallies
Parties to the civil conflict
Opposition: Democratic Choice Democratic Party Oyan, Qazaqstan Respublika Erkindik Kanaty Mother's Association LGBT activists Government: Security Council National Security Committee Armed Forces of the Republic of Kazakhstan State Security Service of Kazakhstan Ministry of Internal Affairs Police Military Police
Lead figures
Mukhtar Ablyazov Janara Ahmetova Erjan Turgumbai Janbolat Mamai Bella Orynbetova Nursultan Nazarbayev Kassym-Jomart Tokayev Askar Mamin Nurtai Abykayev Kalmukhanbet Kassymov Mäulen Äşimbaev Dariga Nazarbayeva Bektas Beknazarov Nurlan Nigmatulin Adilbek Zhaksybekov Erbolat Dosaev Kairat Kelimbetov Umirzak Shukeyev Sauat Mynbayev Mukhtar Tleuberdi Aslan Musin Askar Zhumagaliyev Imangali Tasmagambetov Nurlan Yermekbayev Murat Bektanov Murat Maikeyev Saken Zhasuzakov Mukhtar Altynbayev Asset Issekeshev Murat Beketayev Altai Kólginov Bakhytzhan Sagintayev Daniyal Akhmetov Karim Massimov Marat Khusainov Erlan Turghymbaev Gabit Bayanov

Background

Main articles: Jeltoqsan and 2016 Kazakh protests

Protest movements in Kazakhstan include the December 1986 Jeltoqsan protests while Kazakhstan was part of the Soviet Union and the December 2011 Zhanaozen massacre in which 14 protestors were killed. In April and May 2016, Kazakhs protested in relation to changes in the law in relation to land ownership. Two hundred activists and protestors were arrested.[3]

Party and civil society groups

Groups associated with the protests include an illegal political party, Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT),[4] the civil rights organisation Oyan, Qazaqstan (Wake up, Kazakhstan), Respublika, Erkindik Kanaty and a mother's association created following the protests against the February fire.[5]

Chronology

February 2019 protests

On 4 February 2019, five sisters were killed by a house fire in Astana (later, Nur-Sultan) that broke out at night, while both their parents were working night shifts. The fire sparked a controversy on social media and led to some small-scale protests.[6] Paul Stronski of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote:

The house fire, however, epitomizes many of the country’s social problems, as well as the widening gap between the government and the governed. Despite the frigid climate of northern Kazakhstan, this family lived in a new part of town that that had yet to have city gas pipes installed, leaving them no option but to turn on the stove to keep their children warm. But, like many things in the country, that stove apparently did not meet safety standards. Citizens now often blame the country’s pervasive culture of corruption and wasteful spending for such horrific deaths. This anger about lax oversight – of the country’s financial resources, of its rapid urbanization, and of its poor – exposes a lack of public confidence in state structures.[6]

By 15 February, the outrage had led to protests reported as numbering in the hundreds. A protest in Nur-Sultan at a public event where Mayor Bakhyt Sultanov was speaking resulted in him being shouted off the stage.[7]

On 21 February, President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a statement announcing he had dismissed the government led by Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev. The Diplomat reported: "Many reports (such as those in RFE/RL and Eurasianet) regarding Nazarbayev's decision point squarely to recent protests as a triggering factor" for the government's dismissal.[8] On 19 March, Nazarbayev unexpectedly resigned as president, leading to the appointment of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the speaker of the upper house of parliament, as the new President of Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev retained his status in several powerful positions, such as being Chairman of the Security Council and Chairman of the ruling party Nur Otan[1][9] and in October 2019 gained the right to veto appointments of most ministers, of provincial governors and of some other senior officials.[10]

Election protests

See also: 2019 Kazakh presidential election

Tokayev called a snap presidential election held on 9 June 2019, which saw him elected with a majority of over 70% of the vote. In the run-up to the elections, a small number of protests calling for a boycott of the vote were reported.[11] After preliminary results were announced, protests were reported in both Nur-Sultan and Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Deputy Interior Minister Marat Kozhayev announced that 500 people had been taken into custody, while Mukhtar Ablyazov, the leader of opposition group the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, claimed that there were "thousands of protesters" in the Astana Square of Almaty.[4]

August–December protests

Protestors held a march calling for constitutional reform on 30 August. None were detained.[12]

On 21 September, people in Almaty and Nur-Sultan protested against the economic role of China in Kazakhstan, with banner slogans including "Let's not give way to Chinese expansion" and an anti-Nazarbayev slogan "The old man is the enemy" and called for political prisoners to be released. Security forces detained 57 protestors.[9]

Ablyazov and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan initiated further protests in both Nur-Sultan and Almaty in October 2019, which police said resulted in 26 people being arrested.[13]

Protests took place in Nur-Sultan and Almaty on 9 November calling for "freedom for political prisoners, a parliamentary republic, and fair elections", coordinated by Respublika and Oyan, Qazaqstan.[14]

Another round of protests in both cities, involving "up to 100 anti-government protesters" was held on 16 December, timed to mark Independence Day. Reuters reported that "dozens" of protesters were taken into custody. The protest was held to commensurate the victims of Jeltoqsan and Zhanaozen massacre.[1]

January–February protests

Around 50 female protesters gathered in front of the Labor and Social Protection Ministry on 13 January demanding an increase in financial support to single mothers, mothers taking care of handicapped children, and those with low incomes. The protesters were invited to the building by the representative of akim's office, Elnur Beisenbaev. The women refused after the journalists were not allowed to accompany them. The women then marched to the presidential administration but were stopped by the police.[15]

On 16–17 January, protests were held by car owners in different cities, protesting the high cost of fees to register the vehicles imported from the EEU countries. The fees are around the same price as the cars themselves and the law has been in effect for more than year.[16]

On 22 February, multiple protests were held across the country. Two of them were held in Almaty. The first one was organized by the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (QDP), led by Janbolat Mamai, who was detained by the police earlier on Friday night and faced 3 days of detention. Another one was held later that same day by the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT). Around 200 protesters were detained.[17]

On 25 February, a demonstration was held in front of the Interior Ministry building in Nur-Sultan over the death of Kazakh political activist Dulat Agadil while he was held in a detention center. According to the Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbaev, Agadil's death was caused by "heart problems".[18] The protesters demanded a detailed information about his death as well as the officials to come out of the building to speak to them. After receiving no response, the activists then blocked a street which resulted in police violently detaining the protesters into the police buses.[19]

On 27 February, the day of Agadil's funeral, protest was held in front of the Astana Concert Hall in Nur-Sultan, to demand the creation of an independent commission including the participation of civil society representatives to investigate Agadil's death. The police dispersed the rally, and loaded about 20 people into police buses.[20] In Almaty, 80 people gathered in Republic Square to mourn Agadil.[21]

References

1. "Dozens detained in rare Kazakhstan Independence Day protests". Reuters. 16 December 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
2. "Kazakhstan believes in protests, sort of". Eurasianet. 4 October 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
3. "Kazakhstan: Activists Arrested after Land Protests". Human Rights Watch. 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 23 June 2016. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
4. "Kazakhstan election: Hundreds arrested in poll protests". BBC. 9 June 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
5. Kumenov, Almaz (26 June 2019). "As Kazakhstan's activists find their voice, next comes the message". Eurasianet. Archived from the original on 30 August 2019. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
6. Stronski, Paul (8 February 2019). "Tragic fire highlights Kazakhstan's social problems". Eurasianet. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
7. "Angry Kazakh Mothers Demand Reforms After Five Girls Die In House Fire". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
8. Putz, Catherine (22 February 2019). "Nazarbayev Fired the Kazakh Government". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 22 February 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
9. Gordeyeva, Maria; Vaal, Tamara; Auyezov, Olzhas; Kuzmin, Andrey; Babington, Deepa (21 September 2019). "Dozens detained in Kazakhstan at anti-China protests". Thomson Reuters. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
10. "Kazakhstan's Nazarbayev to Confirm Ministers, Governors: Decree". Reuters. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 6 November 2019. Retrieved 16 December 2019 – via usnews.com.
11. Abdurasulov, Abdujalil (7 June 2019). "Kazakhstan election: Rare protests in a country that bans dissent". BBC. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
12. Mills, Laura (24 September 2019). "Mass Arrests Cast Doubt on Rights Reform in Kazakhstan". Human Rights Watch. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
13. "Police detain 26 at anti-government protests in Kazakhstan". France24. AFP. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
14. "Opposition Demonstrates For Change In Kazakhstan". RFERL. 9 November 2019. Archived from the original on 3 January 2020. Retrieved 3 January 2020.
15. "Kazakh Women Call For Increased Social Benefits At Nur-Sultan Rally". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
16. "В Казахстане митингуют владельцы авто с иностранными номерами". EADaily (in Russian). Retrieved 1 May 2020.
17. Putz, Catherine. "Arrests at Rallies as Kazakhstan Contemplates New Protest Law". thediplomat.com. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
18. https://whbl.com/news/articles/2020/feb/25/kazakh-opposition-activist-dies-in-detention/988110/
19. "Prominent Kazakh Activist Aghadil Dies After One Day In Detention". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
20. "Kazakhs Bid Farewell To Noted Activist Who Died In Custody, Demand Explanation". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
21. "В Алматы активисты призвали "наказать виновных" в смерти Агадила". Радио Азаттык (in Russian). Retrieved 1 May 2020.

See also

• Jeltoqsan - December 1986 protests in Almaty, at the time named Alma-Ata
• Zhanaozen massacre - December 2011 protests in the Mangystau Region with 14 protestors killed