Kazakhstan Facing Political Turmoil
It's a classic whodunit? But with the greatest respect to Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly, the answer to that question may pale in to insignificance, as the outcry and aftershocks of his killing spiral into uncharted territory. For those of you unsure what all the fuss is about, check this page out.
Normally in such situations, as was the tragic case with Zamanbek Nurkadilov, the Kazakh government denies any involvement, opens an investigation, creates a solution to the problem and pretends nothing has happened. This time however, the government reacted differently. Perhaps the KNB (security services) acted beyond the government's control, or maybe President Nazarbayev realised that such a needless murder had taken things too far. Nevertheless, Astana would not be incriminating it's own security service agents in a murder if they were mere scape goats. The negative publicity this would create is not exactly something authoritarian regimes, such as that of Nazarbayev, hopes for. It is therefore incredibly likely that those arrested were infact a part of this appalling crime.
But then who gave the order? The opposition Svoboda Slova newspaper has accused the President's daughter and MP Dariga Nazarbayeva of involvement, whilst another publication goes further. An interview in Aina, with a retired security officer who, citing sources close to the investigation, alleged that the murder had been instigated by Rakhat Aliyev, a government minister and husband of Dariga.
As I earlier mentioned normally such a murder would be covered up by authorities. This time around the President appears to have tried to increase his credibility by 'catching the culprits'. Yet by implicating his own people he has caused several subsequent resignations and damaged his standing. Quite how things will play out now is anyone's guess. My predictions lie with, the aforementioned publications being closed, and a harsh clampdown on any independent politicians/newspapers.
Meanwhile check out AxisGlobe who are claiming the murder was an attempt by a local oligarch to strengthen his own position.
Normally in such situations, as was the tragic case with Zamanbek Nurkadilov, the Kazakh government denies any involvement, opens an investigation, creates a solution to the problem and pretends nothing has happened. This time however, the government reacted differently. Perhaps the KNB (security services) acted beyond the government's control, or maybe President Nazarbayev realised that such a needless murder had taken things too far. Nevertheless, Astana would not be incriminating it's own security service agents in a murder if they were mere scape goats. The negative publicity this would create is not exactly something authoritarian regimes, such as that of Nazarbayev, hopes for. It is therefore incredibly likely that those arrested were infact a part of this appalling crime.
But then who gave the order? The opposition Svoboda Slova newspaper has accused the President's daughter and MP Dariga Nazarbayeva of involvement, whilst another publication goes further. An interview in Aina, with a retired security officer who, citing sources close to the investigation, alleged that the murder had been instigated by Rakhat Aliyev, a government minister and husband of Dariga.
As I earlier mentioned normally such a murder would be covered up by authorities. This time around the President appears to have tried to increase his credibility by 'catching the culprits'. Yet by implicating his own people he has caused several subsequent resignations and damaged his standing. Quite how things will play out now is anyone's guess. My predictions lie with, the aforementioned publications being closed, and a harsh clampdown on any independent politicians/newspapers.
Meanwhile check out AxisGlobe who are claiming the murder was an attempt by a local oligarch to strengthen his own position.
posted by MattyJ @ 6:03 pm
1 Comments:
At 9:42 am,
Anonymous said…
"Nevertheless, Astana would not be incriminating it's own security service agents in a murder if they were mere scape goats. "
Isn't that the definition of scapegoat?
I honestly cannot believe anyone is accepting the official explanation so far. The amounts of money involved are pitifully small, the "bank loan" explanation laughable, the revenge motive inscrutable, and the reported "mastermind" unable to live up to that title.
Keep in mind-- these agents aren't even being charged with the murder-- only with the kidnapping.
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