The conflict between the mayor of Almaty, Yerbolat Dosayev, and blogger Asqat Niyazov at the private airport of Almaty has sparked widespread resonance. While many criticize Yerbolat Dosayev for refusing to give an interview to the blogger during an unexpected encounter at the private airport of Almaty, some support the mayor’s arguments. For example, the well-known political analyst Marat Shibutov wrote on his Telegram channel:

«I’ve seen many reposts of videos where journalist Asqat Niyazov wants to interview the mayor of Almaty, Yerbolat Dosayev, and he refuses because Niyazov lives in Astana. The mayor tells him, ‘Move to Almaty, and then I’ll give you an interview.’ And some people are outraged – why such division? As it turns out, many people don’t understand that akimats are called local executive bodies because they are closely tied to the administrative-territorial borders of the region, that is, to a specific place. Beyond those borders, their competence and responsibilities end. Even if you take the definition of an akim, it is specifically mentioned there: ‘The akim is a representative of the President and the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan, heading the local executive body (in case of its creation) and ensuring the implementation of state policy in the corresponding territory, coordinating the functioning of all territorial units of the central state bodies of the Republic of Kazakhstan, managing executive bodies financed from the respective budget, endowed with the powers of local state administration and self-government functions following the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, responsible for the state of socio-economic development of the corresponding territory.’ Well, if you read further, to have the akim of a particular region answer to you, you must be a member of the local community: ‘The basis for recognizing a citizen of the Republic of Kazakhstan as a member of the local community is the fact of his registration at the place of residence in the territory of the administrative-territorial unit where local self-government is carried out. No other conditions for the admission of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the members of the local community are allowed, except for the basis provided for by this article.’ So, Yerbolat Dosayev is right – come to these eight meetings with the mayor and the district’s population, which take place every six months, and ask as many questions as you want. And he must answer them. And if you don’t live in Almaty – he is not obligated. Or call the mayor’s press service and request an interview. Ministers and agency heads, as leaders of central state bodies, are obligated to answer the questions of all Kazakhstanis, but only within their industry. They are not tied to a specific territory but are tied to their industry.»