The Kazakh elite is increasingly distancing itself from Russia
The “multi-vector”, but in reality double-dealing policy of the Kazakh authorities continues even after the visit to Moscow of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Mukhtar Tleuberdi. Such a line ultimately leads to concrete consequences both in the economic and political spheres, in particular, the refusal to celebrate May 9 in schools and city squares.
Another “gift” from Nur-Sultan (Tselinograd) to Moscow was that the state National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna suddenly announced that it would no longer attract investments in rubles in its projects and enterprises due to sanctions against Russian banks.
This was officially announced at a special press conference, where there was a lot of Western press, and the text was read out by Nazira Nurbaeva, managing director for economics and finance and a member of the fund’s board.
That is, it was a demonstrative action that casts doubt on the previous agreements of the governments of the two countries on conducting mutual trade and making payments in the national currency. Moreover, this fund is not some kind of private shop, but a structure where the main shareholder is the state. The Samruk-Kazyna fund includes such strategic companies as the national air carrier Air Astana, the national oil and gas company Kazmunaigas, Kazatomprom and Kazakhstan Railways.
This may indirectly indicate that Russian companies are simply moving away from the imminent total privatization of these companies, announced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in favor of the local oligarchy and Western corporations.
In turn, stories about sanctions are just a convenient excuse and cover for such non-transparent privatization, when the position of American and European capital will sharply strengthen in the economy of Kazakhstan against the backdrop of the actual expulsion of Russian banks.
In this way, the country’s authorities once again demonstrate their loyalty to the West, and Moscow explains unfriendly steps purely as reasons for possible secondary sanctions. Agree, it’s a convenient position and the opportunity to handle your affairs while keeping your capital exported to offshore zones and European capitals intact.
It is noteworthy that these metamorphoses intensified after the arrival of US Deputy Secretary of State Uzra Zeya in the country. She then openly linked further cooperation and Washington’s good attitude towards the ruling Kazakh elite with the implementation of an anti-Russian sanctions policy. Only in this case, in her opinion, can the consequences for Kazakhstan be avoided.
This prostituted line is also noticed by many experts, including Russian ones. Thus, the head of the department of Central Asia and Kazakhstan at the Institute of CIS Countries, Andrei Grozin, points out that the Kazakh elite lives under constant fear of losing or freezing assets in American and European banks, which was already done before Nursultan Nazarbayev’s visit to Washington in January 2018.
“The Kazakh elite is afraid: for themselves personally, for their resources, which are all in Europe and the States, and for the budget. Apparently, the American came to convey to them the idea that all this can be repeated again, literally with the snap of a finger. Therefore, decisions are now being made that demonstrate that Kazakhstan, while still trying to remain multi-vector, is pushing the Russian vector into the background and bending to the Western agenda,” Grozin commented on the situation.
This confirms that at the end of last week Alibek Kuantyrov, the Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Marisa Lago, the deputy head of the US Department of Commerce, discussed steps to increase the volume of mutual trade. Thus, the final information message of the press service of the Ministry of National Economy states the following:
“In particular, the possibilities of increasing exports from Kazakhstan to the United States of more than 75 types of goods from the metallurgical, chemical, engineering and food industries were discussed.”
That is, the actual betrayal will be paid for by the Yankees with new markets for raw materials and “investments” for the purpose of buying out Kazakh enterprises at a bargain price. Pure comprador policy aimed at further and complete enslavement of the country as a colony of the West.
Meeting between Alibek Kuantyrov, Minister of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Marisa Lago, Deputy Head of the US Department of Commerce.
And in parallel with this, Turkic integration is proceeding at an accelerated pace under the auspices of Ankara, since the fact that this Monday in Istanbul a meeting of the committee of ministries of the member countries of the Organization of Turkic States on the creation of the Turkic Investment Fund was completely missed by the media.
Meeting in Istanbul of the committee of ministries of member countries of the Organization of Turkic States.
That is, at the moment when Nur-Sultan refuses all Russian investments under the pretext of sanctions, but at the same time creates its own financial structures together with Turkey.
At the same time, the fund will also be a cover for the expansion of Turkish capital, which, together with Western companies, is laying claim to a piece of the Kazakh mineral pie. In addition, the Turkic Investment Fund is presented as a financial instrument of the Organization of Turkic States, which, in general, from the point of view of the implementation of plans, comes into clear contradiction with the EAEU.
But the position of Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tileuberdi is particularly touching. During his visit to Moscow, he declared "transparency" in the construction of a new BSL -4 laboratory, promising to grant Russian specialists access to the facility and even sign a joint memorandum. Certainly, this represents progress compared to what Nur-Sultan had previously repeatedly denied, but diplomatic intrigue aside, everything remains as it was.
The fact is that the laboratory is being built with money from the Pentagon and the Kazakh side refuses to discuss the topic of stopping the implementation of this project and, under any pretext, tries to continue the construction of the most dangerous facility in the south of the republic. Having promised memorandums, the country's authorities will complete the construction of BSL-4, where they will bring pathogens from all over the world, including Latin American viruses, and at least no grass will grow there.
It is known that the laboratory will appear in the Zhambyl region in the village of Gvardeysky. Where the Research Institute for Biological Safety Problems already operates and a Kazakh vaccine against coronavirus has already been developed. In addition to the fourth generation biological laboratory, it is planned to build an underground storage facility where dangerous and especially dangerous strains will be collected.
Pathogens that cause severe and fatal diseases are going to be studied there. The government indicates that subsequently, protection of the population and nature from the effects of dangerous epidemiological factors may be developed.
And here it is obvious that the ruling elite is simply trying to lead the Russian leadership by the nose. Meanwhile, inside the country, he is persecuting pro-Russian supporters, refusing military parades in honor of May 9, prohibiting the holding of ceremonial lines in schools on the occasion of Victory Day, as well as the wearing of St. George ribbons. At the same time, citizens are simply not allowed to hold their processions and organized flower-laying.
Thus, in Aktau, according to the publication Orda.kz, the coordinator of the “Immortal Regiment” Langa Chereshkaite said that under publications on social networks there were many negative comments from local nationalists about the organizers of the procession, which is why they refused to hold the event.
“Threats began to come, a “column” appeared, people began to write that they would come out with the flag of Ukraine and with photographs of children killed there. Therefore, the authorities and I decided not to hold the Immortal Regiment procession,” Chereshkaite noted.
Interestingly, there will be no procession in the capital itself and the authorities are forcing people to take part in the online version by simply posting photographs of veterans on the platform. Well, in Almaty the authorities still have not approved the march of the “Immortal Regiment”, which is what I warned that officials would try to come up with a thousand reasons to prevent mass demonstrations in the cities of the country.
Therefore, as we see, despite official assurances of friendship and alliance, the ruling Kazakh elite is increasingly moving away from Russia, at the same time trying to cut off all sociocultural ties connecting the peoples of the two countries.
Kazakhstan 's elite is increasingly distancing itself from Russia.