More languages
More actions
The 2022 Kazakh protests was a series of demonstrations in the Republic of Kazakhstan between 2–10 January, 2022.[1] The protests began as a response to an increase in fuel prices, which spiked after the government lifted price caps.[2] The protests were organized by local residents in the oil town of Zhanaozen, a city on the western Mangystau region, one of the largest oil producing regions of Kazakhstan.[3] As concessions to the protestors, the government restored oil price controls in Mangystau and every member of the current cabinet in Kazakhstan has also resigned.[4][5]
Although the majority of protesters were on the streets for legitimate reasons concerning their living standards, demonstrations from extremist groups began in 16 December, 2021 demanding the resignation of the government, and were alerted beforehand to the US Embassy in Kazakhstan.[6] The 16 December demonstrations were led by the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK), a banned organization founded by fugitive banker Mukhtar Ablyazov, convicted of money laundering, embezzlement and leading criminal organizations.[7] The DVK promised to compensate protestors, police, soldiers, and prosecutors who aided the protests if they successfully overthrew the Kazakh government.[8] The United States regime change organization National Endowment for Democracy funds more than 20 organizations inside Kazakhstan.[9]
The situation led to the responses of the governments of Russia, China, Belarus and Turkey in support of the Kazakh government.[10] The Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance between post-Soviet states, has agreed to intervene in the protests.[11] The protesters pulled down the statue of Nursultan Nazarbayev,[12] a Kazakh politician who supported the dissolution of the USSR, and for decades in power, promoted neoliberal policies.[13]
The communist parties of Greece (KKE) and Russian Federation (CPRF) released statements in support of the protests and criticizing the Kazakh government.[14][15] The CPRF has noted, however, that these protests may be used in the context of a hybrid war against Russia, as Kazakhstan is very rich in natural resources and shares more than 7,500 km of borders with the Russian Federation. The CPRF has published a longer statement with an analysis on the situation.[16][a] The general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and president of China Xi Jinping released a statement stating China firmly opposes any attempt by external forces to "instigate a color revolution" in Kazakhstan.[17] The US, without being directly asked about the accusations, immediately went on the defensive and sought to debunk "crazy Russian claims" that the US is behind the unrest in Kazakhstan.[18]
The New Atlas has reported on the US's role in stoking the unrest in Kazakhstan.[19] Journalist Pepe Escobar on The Grayzone mentioned that this event began as a genuine protests but was later co-opted by Western / NATO powers to try to implement a regime change operation.[20]
CSTO response
Kazakhstan is part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military organisation whose members promote security, military cooperation, and the sovereignty of post-Soviet nation-states.
As such, president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev invited Russian troops from the CSTO agreement in Kazakhstan to help control the protests. So far, 2500 troops have arrived[21] and their mission, as stated by Chairman of State Duma's Committee for CIS Leonid Kalashnikov will be to protect infrastructure. Kalashnikov also stated the troops are allowed to use their weapons if attacked by "armed gangs".[22] He further claimed the troops would be in Kazakhstan for days, maybe weeks, clarifying he sees a quick resolution to the protests.[23]
References
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
- ↑ Lua error: Cannot create process: proc_open(/dev/null): Failed to open stream: Operation not permitted
Notes
- ↑ The full statement of the CPRF translated from Russian is available in our library.