Events in Kazakhstan: Peak of leader deficit - Comment

The recent events in Kazakhstan have necessitated shedding light on a series of issues. For the past 30 years, Kazakhstan has been the fastest growing Central Asian nation in terms of economic, social, and cultural issues. Kazakhstan is the second-largest exporter in the CIS after Russia. This is confirmed by the relocation of the capital city, the creation of new jobs, the development and expansion of relations with the Turkic and Muslim world, as well as increased cooperation with the Western bloc plus the European Union.

Kazakhstan has also conducted political reforms, which are proved by the innovation in the electoral system. Amendments and addenda to the 1995 constitution in 1998, 2007, 2011, 2017, and 2019 are examples of legal reforms. They have also given impetus to improving the country's legal framework and made it more flexible.

Kazakhstan's strategic cooperation with the United States and strengthening ties with Russia have been among its foreign policy priorities. Through its activities in the Organization of Turkic States, Kazakhstan has contributed to the deepening and rapprochement of relations between the Turkic states. It is unfortunate that such riots take place in a state with more such advantages. In this case, a natural question arises. "Who are troubling the water in Kazakhstan?" First, as official sources indicate, the arbitrariness of officials and the interests of the oligarchs can be seen behind these events.

This is confirmed by the information about the initiation of criminal proceedings against six companies engaged in the wholesale of gas in Kazakhstan, including KazMunayGaz, Aktobe MunayGaz, KazgerMunayGaz, Kazakhoil Aktobe. Kazakhstan's Agency for Protection of Competition and Development said that the actions of major liquefied gas sellers showed signs of a deal to increase the price of this fuel. Nakbergen Tulepov, director of a natural gas processing plant in the Zhanaozen city of Kazakhstan's Mangistau region, has been detained. The head of the liquefied gas e-commerce department has also been detained. According to the report, the director of the plant increased the price of natural gas for no reason. Such cases prove official arbitrariness in Kazakhstan.

Actually, when the central government is weak or unable to control the developments in the country, these forces take the advantage of the situation to achieve their ugly goals. What has happened suggests that these forces, which the government brands as "terrorists", have threatened Kazakhstan's statehood and territorial integrity. Their activities have also damaged the country's international reputation. Some claim that what has happened in Kazakhstan applies to other countries, or signals the beginning of some major "revolutions" on the international stage. Those who stick to this mode of thinking were of the same opinion during the "Arab Spring" and the government changes in Georgia, Ukraine, and Armenia. But events proved the other way round.

The events in Kazakhstan have once again proved that the leadership of a president, his/her influence among the people, his/her unifying role among the social strata are important. This proved itself once again in Azerbaijan in 2020. Thanks to the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, the liberation of Azerbaijani lands from the occupation have confirmed the above-mentioned factors. Personnel reform, economic, social, and cultural policies pursued by President Ilham Aliyev are the factors that ensure unity in Azerbaijan. The foreign policy course pursued by the president gave impetus to the international community's support for Azerbaijan's just position in the liberation of the occupied lands. Innovations in the life of the country, re-construction work in the liberated lands, peaceful coexistence with neighbors, active participation in international energy projects, giving priority to regional cooperation are also being implemented under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev. The president is achieving the restoration of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity and protection of statehood by organizing domestic forces. It also defies causes and excuses for outside interference in Azerbaijan’s domestic issues.

Finally, the events in Kazakhstan have proved that if there is a head of state, whose leadership is accepted by society, there will be no need for outside interference and riots. With the conciliatory and unifying position of such a leader, it is possible to solve the vital problems of a country.