Kazakhstan Local Politics - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 385 - 390 of 481

Time Zone

Kazakhstan Continues Countdown Ahead of Move to Single Unified Time Zone

In less than two weeks, the stroke of midnight will unify all of Kazakhstan in a single timezone. On the night of February 29th-March 1st, residents of twelve regions - as well as the cities of Astana, Almaty and Shymkent - will have to move their clocks back an hour unifying the country in a single timezone (UTC+5). But not all citizens are happy about it, with some arguing it will impact their health. Residents of the East Kazakhstan region are especially fierce in defending their perceived rights. Earlier this year, a lawyer from Ust-Kamenogorsk filed a grievance against then-Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov demanding compensation for damages due to the time change. For that reason, scientists were dispatched to the region to explain the benefits of the timezone change to local residents. Among the advantages they noted were the elimination of time barriers between residents of different regions of Kazakhstan, more favorable conditions for doing business, streamlining the work of government agencies and emergency services, and improved coordination of transport and communication. Professor Sultan Tuleukhanov, head of the Department of Biophysics and Biomedicine of the Kazakh State University, agrees with the residents of East Kazakhstan. "There is such a concept as desynchronises, a type of inconsistency. In particular, it's a change to the chrono-structural parameters of biological rhythms of the human organism," he noted. Desynchronosis causes irritability and fatigue while also reducing the efficiency of the body. However, according to other specialists, residents of most regions will experience this only in the short term. There is one more concern, however. In some cities, it will get dark earlier after the time change, meaning people will have to work under artificial lights and turn on electricity earlier, meaning expenditure on electricity will increase. Yeraly Shinasilov, the director of the national dispatching center of the system operator, KEGOK (Kazakhstan Electricity Grid Operating Company), said that the change of time zones will only affect the finances of residents slightly. "Our consumption grows about 2% every year. Due to the fact that our peak demand will move to an hour earlier, it will all dissolve into the natural growth of consumption during the year," he stated. Only time will tell how effective the single time zone will be for Kazakhstan.

Living Standards

How Kazakhs Saw Their Personal and National Well-Being at the Start of 2024

In December 2023, I was asked quite frequently whether, in my view, protests like the ones that took place across Kazakhstan in January 2022 were again possible. Based on previous sociological data, I answered that they were most likely not: Throughout 2021 – largely due to the pandemic – social sentiment had worsened, reaching its lowest levels in our 20 years of collecting observations. At that time, almost all indicators of social well-being had declined, including satisfaction with life and the approval of government institutions, while expectations of protests about socio-economic and political issues had increased. Since January 2022, however, many indicators began to improve, and by December 2023, they had “normalized”, roughly reaching 2019 levels. This is clearly seen in the indicator regarding the respondent’s satisfaction with life (see Chart 1 below). Over 2004-2023, this indicator saw three incidences of significant deterioration, namely in 2004, in 2008-2009 when the financial crisis struck, and in 2021-2022. Thus, by end-2023, the dangerous convergence of satisfaction/dissatisfaction indicators seems to have passed as social sentiment stabilized. Chart 1: In general, are you satisfied or dissatisfied with your life? (2004-2023) In December 2023, the country's economic situation was also seen as having improved (see Chart 2 below). Some 24% percent of respondents said that the economy was in good shape (versus 7% in 2021); 57% saw things as average (vs. 41% in 2021), and only 13% called the economic situation “bad” (vs. 30% in 2021). Most respondents, therefore, saw the economy in 2023 in a neutral or positive light. Chart 2: How would you assess the current economic situation in Kazakhstan? However, this does not mean that social sentiment has completely turned around and that it can be ignored. The challenging dynamics of “social optimism”, an important indicator, reflects the population’s subjective near-term outlook. Optimistic responses (i.e., “we will be better off”) rose in 2022 to 49% but decreased to 43% in 2023, representing the same level as during the crisis year of 2021 (see Chart 3 below). Chart 3: Do you think that in a year you (your family) will be better or worse off than now? (2004-2023) What drives this decline in Kazakhs’ social optimism? The answer, I think, is low levels of income against a backdrop of rising prices for food and essential goods and services, as well as higher utility tariffs. According to the survey, 58% of the population only has enough money to buy food and clothing and to pay for utilities, with no money left for savings. Almost another fifth of respondents (18.2%) can be classified as “low-income”, meaning their income is barely enough to live on (see below Chart 4). Chart 4: Assess your income versus consumption (%, December 2023) This is why the majority of the population, having carefully planned their small family budgets, painfully experiences unexpected changes to the status quo. Take health care, for example: Some 52.6% of respondents said that their health insurance payments were already too high and that...

Understanding the Changes in the Kazakhstan Government

On February 5th, President Tokayev dismissed the country's government by signing a decree on its’ resignation. The move was expected following weeks of discontent expressed by the president. On an aggregate level, the country has had a successful 2023. Significant reforms were passed and Kazakhstan made substantial diplomatic gains. Economic growth was near 5%, and $13.3 billion in foreign investment was secured in the first six months of 2023. This was achieved despite supply chain disruptions brought on by the Russia-Ukraine war. However, Smailov’s and his cabinet have failed to reel in inflation and attract additional investments to the country. The Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, did not succeed in preparing a new Tax Code of Kazakhstan. The Minister of Emergency Situations is also under fire for its dysfunctional earthquake early warning systems which became known during a recent quake that scared Almaty residents. While certain ministers are anticipated to retain their positions, others are expected to be replaced. The Presidential Administration, along with Tokayev, have consistently shown their willingness to make bold decisions when required.

Kazakhstan’s Government Resigns Amidst Sweeping Reforms

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has dismissed the country's government by signing a decree on its’ resignation. According to the Constitution of Kazakhstan, First Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar will temporarily perform the duties of Prime Minister (PM). At the same time, all other ministers will continue to work in the same mode until the head of state approves the composition of the new government. The resignation of former Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov's government underscores a shift in Kazakhstan's political scene. Smailov assumed office on January 11th, 2022, following public discontent that erupted into riots. During his tenure, many events transpired, but the most memorable for the population were serious problems with municipal heating in a number of regions; forest fires in the Kostanay and Abay regions; explosions at mines in the Karaganda region, and the earthquake in Almaty. All this evoked plenty of criticism regarding the composition of the government. While the precise reasons behind the resignation remain undisclosed, it serves to highlight the dynamic nature of politics in Kazakhstan. Further details, including the process of this transition and potential candidates for the roles vacated, are expected in the next two days following an extended meeting of the government with the participation of Tokayev. Prior to the government’s resignation, Tokayev had increasingly expressed dissatisfaction with progress in addressing socioeconomic issues and stagnation in general. Over the past two years, Tokayev has implemented sweeping reforms aimed at democratizing the country and breaking up economic monopolies. "In Kazakhstan and in general, a change of government is perceived as a crisis phenomenon, but it is by no means a crisis phenomenon here,” said Director of the Eurasian Monitoring Center, Alibek Tazhibayev. “One should proceed from the fact that the economic and political situation is changing. Therefore, we can say that this government, which acted under the leadership of Alikhan Smailov for more than two years, coped with their key tasks. They had the main goal of passing deep-rooted reforms, holding a referendum, launching the mechanism of democratization, and implementing the concept of a 'Listening State'." In a post on his Facebook account, Smailov expressed his "gratitude to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev for his trust in heading the Kazakh government in such a difficult time. These two years were a turning point for the society," he stated.

Year 2022 Marked the Beginning of the End of Nazarbayev’s Rule

The year 2022 was marked by significant changes in Kazakhstan, particularly the end of Nursultan Nazarbayev's rule. This change was symbolized by the removal of his monument on 12 January of 2024 which stood in front of a university in Astana. The monument was taken down and put into storage, explained by the Ministry of Defense as a result of changing the university's name. During the violent protests in January of 2022, protesters in Taldykorgan tore down another monument to Nazarbayev located in front of the mayor's office. Prior to this, Nazarbayev held substantial influence in the country, with the capital named after him and streets bearing his name. According to Radio Free Europe, experts say that after the January events, Nazarbayev's influence waned while that of the current president Kassym-Jomart Tokayev increased. This began a period of distancing from Nazarbayev within the country. The capital returned to its former name of Astana, the status of "Leader" granted to Nazarbayev was removed from the Constitution, and the protections that shielded him and his family from criminal prosecution were lifted.

Elbasy No More: Monument to Nazarbayev Removed From National Museum

In a further sign of the dismantling of the cult of personality which the first President of Kazakhstan strove to build around himself, a monument to Nursultan Nazarbayev has been removed from the National Museum of Kazakhstan in Astana. According to the Minister of Culture and Information, the decision was made in relation to the modernization of the exhibition space. "This exhibit is the property of the museum, and in connection with the changes in the concept of the hall, [the monument] will be moved into permanent storage in the Museum Fund", the National Museum said in a statement. Renovation work has already begun at the hall of the National Museum which depicts "Independent Kazakhstan." The hall hasn’t been updated since 2014, and the management intends to highlight important events from the recent history of the country. The National Museum of Kazakhstan was built upon a direct order from former President Nazarbayev within the framework of a government program called "Cultural Heritage." It is the largest museum in the country, with its buildings occupying a total area of 74,000 square meters, with an exposition area adding another 14,000 square meters. The statue of Nazarbayev first appeared in the museum in July 2018. Above the sculpture of the former president a placard in Kazakh in Latin script reads, "My dream is for Kazakhstan to be an eternal country. Time will pass; people will pass - but independence will remain. The first president of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Elbasy (leader of the nation), Nursultan Nazarbayev." Could this mark the beginning of a wider trend? This is not the first time a monument to Nazarbayev has been removed. During the events of January 2022, a statue of the first president was demolished during riots in Taldykorgan. Later, another monument to Nazarbayev was removed from the National Defense University in Astana, and a picture of Nazarbayev which hung in the Almaty subway was also removed. In January 2023, the law on the first president and leader of the nation, which granted lifetime benefits and privileges to Nazarbayev was rescinded by the Constitutional Court. Earlier this year, a provocative exhibition by artist, Yerbosyn Meldibekov, about the fall of the ex-president and monuments to him was installed in the House of Officers, a military-cultural building in Almaty. Monuments and busts of Soviet-era leaders and revolutionaries in Kazakhstan still stand in parks and various buildings, though often no longer on central pedestals. As of 2021, there were still 159 statues commemorating Lenin, the majority of which are found in regions with a high-density of ethnic Russians, including Pavlodar and Akmola, and in the North Kazakhstan Region, where ethnic Russians outnumber Kazakhs, but since the fall of the Soviet Union, 341 had been demolished. Another lasting symbol of a cult of personality can be found among representatives of law enforcement agencies, who still revere the so-called "Godfather of the Chekists," Felix Dzerzhinsky. In the East Kazakhstan Region, which has an extremely high-density of ethnic Russians, a bust of...