Famous Kazakh political observer gave an interview, during which he discussed conflicts and even crimes in the extended family of the First President of Kazakhstan.

In an interview given to the NSN Radio Station, Mr. Ashimbayev said that “despite attempts to make a villain of Nazarbayev, he is not precepted as a negative figure today” and added that “Tokayev treats Nazarbayev with courtesy…In some time, this wave of ad hoc negativism will deplete…”

Problems with Relatives

Ashimbayev also communicated that “the First Family never was a monolithic entity. They had regular conflicts, which conflicts, in many instances, would define country’s socio-economic life…Lack of unity in that Family became particularly acute, then those relatives worked their levels up. 

For Nazarbayev, they were one of the key problems, because family conflicts and ambitions were to the detriment of the society. Ex-President would more often dismiss his relatives from various pubic posts, than other public servants. Certainly, as the head of the family, he did show indulgence in certain situations.  Realistically, the enforcement and concentration of assets in their hands were not the primary goal. That was a natural process – when a leader grows, his loyalists and his family reinforce their standing…”

Criminal Factor

Ashimbayev also highlighted that some of the said loyalists and relatives have problems with law-enforcement:

“…there were cases, when certain individuals would manage to gain First Family’s trust and then abuse that trust…When the fight against Nazarbayev commenced, such figures were the first ones to begin the war for re-distribution of power and assets. That happens before the eyes of the public, and triggers ironic attitude to those “who changed masks”…

Nazarbayev’s Indisputable Influence

Ashimbayev is most confident that despite all above, the time will bring things to order. Fundamental principles of Nazarbayev’s political legacy shaped the positive development of the country:

“Principles, in accordance to which Nazarbayev built up this country, remained in place. Kazakhstan is loyal to Eurasian integration and maintains the multi-vector foreign policy, abstaining from involvement in various conflicts in the post-Soviet countries and offering services of a peace mediator. The leadership of the country tries not to rock the political, social, national and inter-ethnical stability. Kazakhstan develops in accordance to principles of civil patriotism. That principle is being actively criticize and so it was back in the 90-s particularly, but eventually it became a fundamental thing. There is a problem with the balance between the national and the civil identity, but that problem exists in almost all countries in the world and all post-Soviets” — the expert said.