Officicials' Paranoia Skews Kazakhstan's Alleged Listening State, According to Critics
Taking Stock of Tokayev's "Listening State": A Different Tune in Kazakhstan
In an offbeat twist to governance, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev heralded his vision of a "listening state" in a July 2019 address. Under this banner, Tokayev promised to lend an ear to criticism and constructive suggestions from the citizenry. Yet in the activist circles, this call to action has resonated as an unfulfilled promise. Some muse over whether the geopolitical buzz in Kazakhstan's neighborhood has kept Tokayev's administration off the international scrutiny radar, enabling them to bypass genuine political liberalization.
The tumultuous saga that unfolded in November 2019 illustrates this chasm between promise and practice. The events leading up to the tragic death of 31-year-old Saltanat Nukenova at the hands of her abusive husband, a high-ranking government official, served as a grim reminder of the pervasive issue of gender-based violence. Women's rights activists sought to rally in solidarity, but their applications to hold demonstrations - even the smallest of gatherings requires a permit - were括小括左右被删除了括 rebuffed, often due to familiar excuses such as spaces being supposedly under renovation or reserved for cultural events. This processing of applications is viewed by activists as a deliberate maneuver by local authorities.
Interestingly, when organizations choose to rally in support of the government, they are generally granted prime locations and time slots for their events. Zhanar Sekerbayeva, co-founder of human rights group Feminita, noted that the government appears to be wary of independent groups wielding too much influence in society. "When we held a mass demonstration for women's rights, officials saw how many people supported us," she said. "And now they don't want us to further expand our influence."
A starker reality comes to light when examining the plight of certain dissidents. One such example is Marat Zhylanbayev, a vocal opposition figure, who was handed a lengthy prison sentence in November on charges of conspiring with a government foe, Mukhtar Ablyazov. The Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan movement, founded by Ablyazov in 2018, has since been officially labeled an extremist organization. Allegations of financial mismanagement against Ablyazov have led to his influence being increasingly negligible.
Another upcoming trial involves the journalist Duman Mukhammedkarim, who ran the popular political YouTube channel Ne Deydi. He has been in detention since June under charges of promoting extremist views supportive of the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan in an interview he conducted with Ablyazov. Mihra Rittmann, senior Central Asia researcher at Human Rights Watch, stated that the Kazakhstan authorities are attempting to silence an outspoken journalist and political critic through these types of prosecutions.
The dichotomy between Tokayev's assertions about a "listening state" and the ongoing political persecution is palpable. In January 2022, nationwide protests targeted the former President Nursultan Nazarbayev's legacy. The upheaval provided an opportunity for Tokayev to usher in a new era under his catchphrase, Zhana Kazakstan, or New Kazakhstan. Ministering political reforms was part of this vision, to liberalize the political system, improve conditions for political parties, and enable pluralism of views.
While party registration requirements were relaxed, this move primarily engaged parties loyal to the government. Independent and opposition parties argued that the obstacles for them remain artificially onerous. Even candidates running for single-mandate seats were permitted, but none managed to secure a win, an outcome they attribute to electoral meddling in favor of pro-system candidates.
Progress isn't entirely absent, though. In some parts of Almaty, the hostility toward peaceful assemblies has weakened. Events featuring political slogans such as "freeing women political prisoners" are more frequent, with minimal censorship from event organizers. Veronika Fonova, co-organizer of a women's march, shared that there is a prevailing avoidance of discussing the January events publicly.
Yevgeny Zhovtis, a rights campaigner, shares concerns about the broader direction of change. The persistent paranoia among officials stems from worries that legitimate political dissent may be exploited by malign forces. Given that Kazakhstan maintains good relations with Western nations, there is a certain immunity to international scrutiny over domestic human rights matters.
This, in turn, allows the government to persistently suppress dissent, fearing a snowballing of discontent. The focus on maintaining stability, as seen during the January 2022 events, underscores these concerns. The government maintains its grip on power byeliminating opposition and dampening any initiative that might challenge its authority.
Understanding the Political Landscape:
Despite high-level promises of transparency and freedom of expression, Kazakhstan continues to face obstacles in realizing these ideals. The government imposes significant restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, limiting the ability of independent groups and critics to freely express their opposition. Legal restrictions under the guise of safeguarding state security and protecting the rights and freedoms of others often serve to stifle dissent.
Furthermore, political pressure from external forces, like Russia, can exacerbate the internal suppression of free expression. Additionally, the governance system in Kazakhstan exhibits notable authoritarian tendencies that keep a tight rein on media, civil society, and opposition. This pervasive control over narratives limits the free flow of information and restricts the rise of independent voices.
In conjunction with these challenges, media freedom is a significant concern. Kazakhstan is ranked low in media freedom rankings, with limitations placed on foreign correspondents and online media. Government pressure on journalists has resulted in the detention of several reporters, highlighting the risks faced by those who challenge the status quo.
Though international organizations have criticized the media environment in Kazakhstan, the country's strategic position and economic interests can limit the effectiveness of international pressure. The international community must maintain vigilance to hold Kazakhstan accountable for its actions and enable genuine progress toward the democratic ideals promised by President Tokayev.
- The ongoing political landscape in Kazakhstan suggests a disconnect between Tokayev's rhetoric of a "listening state" and the reality, as independent groups and critics continue to face significant restrictions in expressing their opposition.
- Kazakhstan's political landscape is marked by a tight rein on media, civil society, and opposition, which significantly limits the free flow of information and the rise of independent voices.
- The government imposes significant restrictions on the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of speech, heavily favoring pro-system candidates and suppressing dissent under the guise of safeguarding state security and protecting rights.
- External political pressures, like those from Russia, can exacerbate the internal suppression of free expression in Kazakhstan, making it challenging for international pressure to drive meaningful change in the country's media freedom landscape.
