Kazakhstan’s new strongman, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was in Beijing on Friday February 4 to take part in the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, but also, at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, for a “working visit” two days. A first trip abroad for the Kazakh head of state since the “bloody January” which caused the death of at least two hundred and twenty-seven people during clashes between civilians and the security forces and upset the country’s elite.
Kassym-Jomart Tokaïev, 68, knows Beijing well, where he was posted for several years at the Soviet embassy, when Kazakhstan, the largest state in Central Asia, was part of the USSR. This visit to the powerful Chinese neighbor is, however, more of a gesture of politeness as the Kazakh president has demonstrably moved closer to Moscow to stay in power.
The internal situation is now the focus of all his efforts, as he carries out a purge within the state apparatus and the Kazakh oil industry. Because the era of nepotism is over in Kazakhstan, President Tokayev wants us to believe. On January 22, quoting Aristotle, he declares: “I hope everyone is convinced that the phrase ‘Plato is dear to me, but the truth is even dearer to me’ is of paramount importance to me. (…) The interest of the state is much higher than good relations with anyone. » Were thus explicitly designated former President Nursultan Nazarbayev and his clan, who have monopolized the power and wealth of the country since independence in 1991.
Crucial support from Vladimir Putin
Mr. Tokayev broke away from his mentor exactly a month ago after a violent internal struggle sparked by a popular revolt over the rise in the price of LPG and which quickly turned into anger against ” the old “ Nazarbayev. A fine connoisseur of the Chinese language, in which the word crisis is formed from the concepts of danger and opportunity, the Kazakh president seized the opportunity to bounce back. Perceived so far as a puppet leader and a transitional figure, by the time autocrat Nursultan Nazarbayev, 81, appoints his real heir apparent, Mr. Tokayev has skillfully maneuvered by obtaining the crucial support of Vladimir Putin, through the rapid deployment and temporary nearly 3,000 Russian servicemen. In a few days, the one who was nicknamed “the furniture” or “the shadow of Nazarbayev” managed to plaster the aging autocrat.
You have 61.1% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.