Why is Kazakhstan Burning ?

Riots in Kazakhastan.

In the first days of 2022, Kazakhstan FACED the most intense and violent protests in its 30-year history of independence. Although they started as small-scale protests in West Kazakhstan DUE TO a sudden increase in gas prcies , the events grew into large-scale looting and violence all over the country including the country’s largest city – Almaty.

Ostensibly Social media has a role to play for protest to grow in such dimensions.

The protesters had a diverse array of actors on the ground with protesters having no unified agenda nor leadership, they looted banks, shops and burnt public and private property.

Reasons.

Many theories are being extended ;

1. Poilitical rivalry between the ex President who is now the Chairman of Security Council and the current President. The current President wanting to strengthen his hold has now ousted the Chairman of the Council and also the PM.
2. Frustration brewing in the country due to unemployment (increased by 12 percent in 2021) and reduced incomes due to covid, corruption and in equal distribution of income. Covid has also disproportionately affected internal migrants, such as young men with low-income backgrounds who came to cities from rural areas in search of job opportunities. The protesters have been overwhelmingly young men
3. Tablikhis from Afghanistan and Pakistan are using this opportunity to spread fundamentalism. They have been trying to make inroads in Central Asia including in Kazakhstan. It is alleged to have played a role in creating such an atmosphere in Kazakhstan, known for its liberal and secular values. The group is banned across Central Asia, Iran and Russia but not in Pakistan. Pakistan backed the activities of the Tablighi Jamaat even after the recent ban on the group by Saudi Arabia.
4. Some are also asking for Political reforms in the country fed up of authoritative rule for last 30 years.

Impact.

1. The Russian Govt intervened using the protection clause of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Russian version of NATO, and moved its armed forces into Kazakhstan for damage control. This move can have potentially sweeping consequences for geopolitics in the region as There is a large Russian speaking population residing on borders between Russia and Kazakhstan. This may increase hostilities between the Kazakh- and Russian-speaking populations of the country.
2. Kazakhstan also matters to the United States, as it has become a significant country for American energy concerns, with Exxon Mobil and Chevron having invested tens of billions of dollars in western Kazakhstan.
3. Such political instability will also help the fundamentalists and Terror organizations from Afghanistan, Pakistan to exploit.
4. Presence of Russian forces in Kazakhstan may also lead to tensions between USA and Russia. The violations of Human rights by the Political powers may lead to a situation like it exists in Syria , wherein various actors are into the fray.