In Kazakhstan, after recent mass protests, the third son-in-law of former President Nursultan Nazarbayev, the chairman of the Presidium of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs (NCE) Atameken, Timur Kulibayev, resigned. He himself announced his resignation in an address to members of the chamber’s presidium, published on the Atameken website on Monday, January 17.
“From today, I decided to resign as the elected chairman of the presidium of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs. It was a great honor and responsibility for me to head the supreme supervisory body of the National Chamber of Entrepreneurs for eight years,” Kulibayev wrote.
He promised that the absolute priority for the NCE would be the implementation of the tasks set by the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. This includes, among other things, the development of a program to increase the income of the population, the adoption of measures to reduce import dependence, increase the effectiveness of state support measures and reduce the state’s share in the economy.
Resignations of Nazarbayev’s other sons-in-law
Previously, two other sons-in-law of Nazarbayev have already lost their posts – the chairman of the board of KazTransOil JSC Dimash Dosanov, who is married to the youngest daughter of the ex-president Aliya, and the chairman of the board of QazaqGaz National Company JSC Kairat Sharipbayev, who is called the husband of Nazarbayev’s eldest daughter Dariga.
The website of the state fund “Samruk-Kazyna”, where the message about their resignations was published, did not specify the reason. The release only said that such decisions were made by the boards of directors of the companies.
On January 11, Kazakh President Tokayev said that thanks to Nazarbayev, “a group of very profitable companies and a layer of rich people have appeared in the country, even by international standards.” He said it was time for them to “pay tribute” to the people of Kazakhstan and help them. Tokayev suggested creating a fund for the People of Kazakhstan, to which companies included in the relevant list would make regular contributions.
Protests in Kazakhstan
Mass protests in Kazakhstan began on January 2 in connection with an increase in the price of autogas. However, they soon also acquired a political character.
On the night of January 4-5, tough and large-scale clashes between security forces and protesters took place in Almaty. After these riots, the government of Kazakhstan resigned, and the country’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, introduced a state of emergency in the country.
On January 5, Tokayev appealed to the leaders of the member countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) with a request “to assist Kazakhstan in overcoming the terrorist threat.” On the part of Russia, units of the Airborne Forces were sent to Kazakhstan within the framework of this mandate.
On January 7, Tokayev said he had ordered law enforcement agencies and the army to open fire without warning.
On January 13, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) had begun withdrawing its forces from Kazakhstan and handing over protected facilities to that country’s law enforcement agencies.
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