Interview of Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Hungary Zhanibek Abdrashov to Magyar Hirlap newspaper

KAZAKHSTAN PREPARES FOR REFORMS

There was an attempted coup, and law enforcers did not shoot unarmed protesters, Ambassador Zhanibek Abdrashov told to our newspaper.

Mariann Őry

January 14, 2022

Within the next ten days, peacekeepers arriving from the countries of the region will leave Kazakhstan. Zhanibek Abdrashov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan in Budapest, told to our newspaper about the background and consequences of the events of recent weeks.

The withdrawal of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) forces from Kazakhstan began on Thursday. The peacekeepers of the military alliance arrived last week to guard objects of social importance after they clashed with riots in which there were casualties in just a few days due to the abolition of the price limit for liquefied petroleum gas used in cars.

"Until the protests turn into a bloody uprising, the president instructed law enforcement agencies not to use weapons against civilians, as they participated in peaceful protests," Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Hungary Zhanibek Abdrashov told to our newspaper. He pointed out that Kassym-Jomart Tokayev gave the order to eliminate the terrorists only after it became clear that “the attacks are controlled from a single center, with the sole purpose of seizing power, and the riots entail numerous victims, both civilians and law enforcement officials." “We have never used armed force against peaceful demonstrators, and we will not,” Zhanibek Abdrashov mentioned.

He added that analysis also shows that Kazakhstan has faced an armed incursion by terrorist groups trained both domestically and abroad. The main goal of this, according to the ambassador, was obviously to undermine the constitutional order, to take over the institutions of power. "This is a coup attempt," he concluded. Speaking of the possibility of dialogue, the diplomat suggested: "What kind of negotiations can we have with criminals and murderers? Kazakhstan had to deal with armed and trained bandits." According to him, there were snipers among the rioters, armed with special firearms, they had their own chain of communication, some of them disguised themselves as servicemen. The diplomat recalled that on many occasions they attacked police officers and soldiers with fivefold force, severely beating them and beheading two soldiers. All this justified the start of the anti-terrorist operation. Tokayev also addressed the leaders of the CSTO, formed by the countries of the region. The Ambassador recalled that when terrorists learned that three military vehicles had arrived in the capital, Nur-Sultan, they abandoned their plan to seize the presidential palace. This gave Kazakh law enforcement officers the opportunity to send additional forces to the country's largest city, Almaty, the center of the unrest, and "to repel the city from the terrorists".

Zhanibek Abdrashov answering a question about the CSTO contingent, said the Kazakhstani leadership made it clear from the start that the peacekeeping forces would leave the country. Concerning allegations about the legality of the deployment of CSTO peacekeeping forces, he recalled that, according to the UN Charter, every state has an inalienable right to individual or collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack.

He also mentioned that the peacekeepers, consisting of 2030 servicemen and 250 pieces of military equipment, have arrived and that their withdrawal will take 10 days. In addition to the stability of the situation, the Kazakhstani leadership is also learning the necessary lessons. The ambassador said that President Tokayev has set several tasks for the government to reform the country's power structures. According to him, the head of state mentioned the importance of strengthening border security and stepping up the fight against religious extremism. Of course, the reasons for the protests are also being addressed. The government is instructed to develop a new social code as soon as possible, and the government's social policy must be adapted to the new realities in view of the problems caused by the coronavirus epidemic, Ambassador Zhanibek Abdrashov explained. For example, a fund will be created to support the Kazakh people in times of need, and its activities will be transparent and accountable to society and financed both from private and from public sources. The diplomat also said that the government will soon announce new measures to clean up the civil service from corruption and bureaucracy.

He reminded that President Tokayev had already announced that he would issue a separate decree to reduce the bureaucracy of the state apparatus. He also announced a five-year moratorium on raising the salaries of high-ranking officials, members of parliament and regional akims (mayors). "At the same time, the salaries of those working at lower levels in the public sector will continue to rise," he added.

"The government is taking all possible measures to restore the confidence of domestic and foreign investors, as well as trading partners, in Kazakhstan's economy. The country strictly observes and fulfills all its obligations and guarantees to investors," he said.

Link: https://www.magyarhirlap.hu/kulfold/20220114-reformokra-keszul-kazahsztan