The Guardian: Nazarbayev still in Kazakhstan and in furious talks with Tokayev

Former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev did not flee, as previously reported by the media, amid protests, but is still in the country. The Guardian writes about it.

The source of the newspaper indicates that Nazarbayev is probably in the capital, Nur-Sultan.

According to a former official quoted by the publication, “Nazarbayev is alive, and furious negotiations are underway with Tokayev on the redistribution of assets, trophies and rent.” He added that the struggle for power continues.

“There is no guarantee that everything will end smoothly,” a source told The Guardian.

Nazarbayev is in China, according to another source, but Yermukhamet Yertysbayev, a former minister and adviser to Nazarbayev, said he believes his former boss is still in Kazakhstan.

“Negotiations are ongoing, but it is clear that the Nazarbayev era is over,” Yertysbayev said, adding that he blamed the recent violence on “reactionary and conservative forces from the Nazarbayev clan.”

One of the interlocutors of The Guardian noted that many members of the elite are now in a hurry to declare their loyalty to the current president. Any purge, he hopes, will be limited to those within Nazarbayev’s family and inner circle, he said.

“Kazakhstan is waiting to see if Nazarbayev will ever appear in public, whether Tokayev will completely renounce his predecessor, revive the cult of personality, or simply remain silent,” the publication concludes.

We add that earlier the media reported that the ex-president of Kazakhstan flew to the UAE, having spent several days in his village before that. It was also announced that two private planes belonging to the Nazarbayev family, one of which arrived from the United Arab Emirates, had landed at Manas International Airport. The Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in the UAE, however, did not confirm the information about Nursultan Nazarbayev’s presence in the territory of the Arab state.

“According to the latest report given by his press secretary, Nazarbayev is in Kazakhstan,” an embassy spokesman told reporters.

Recall that in early January 2022, protests broke out in Kazakhstan due to an increase in prices for liquefied gas. They were accompanied by riots and clashes with the police. A state of emergency was introduced on the territory of the country, the government was dismissed. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev turned to his CSTO partners for help. Collective peacekeeping forces were sent to the republic, which are now leaving Kazakhstan.