Renowned political analyst Daniyar Ashimbayev briefly recounted the power struggle between oligarchs and the government from 1999 to 2001 on his Telegram channel.
In his words:
«On October 12, 1999, the 46-year-old diplomat Kasym-Jomart Tokayev was appointed as the new Prime Minister. His first deputy was Alexander Pavlov (regions and social affairs), and the deputy prime ministers included 45-year-old Danial Akhmetov (industry, agriculture, and transport), and 44-year-old Erzhan Utembayev, the Chairman of the Agency for Strategic Planning and Reforms (economy and finance). This team worked together for the first year.
In November 2000, Pavlov left the government and joined ‘Kazakhmys.’ In December, Utembayev moved to the Presidential Administration. Danial Akhmetov became the First Deputy Prime Minister, and the former Minister of Energy, Industry, and Trade, 51-year-old Vladimir Shkolnik, became the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, as well as the Akim of the Atyrau region. Imangali Tasmagambetov and the President of KEGOC, Uraz Jandosov, became Deputy Prime Ministers.
Akhmetov retained his previous portfolio, Shkolnik received responsibility for energy and natural resources, Tasmagambetov took charge of the social sphere, and Jandosov was in charge of the economy.
Despite the strong Tokayev-Akhmetov tandem, which carried out most of the work, by the autumn of 2001, the country (or rather, the elites) was in such turmoil that it led to a political crisis. A part of the oligarchy and government officials created the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (DVK) movement. In response, the Prime Minister expressed strong opposition and issued an ultimatum: ‘Either they go, or I go.’ Jandosov was relieved of his duties, and Akhmetov became the Akim of his native Pavlodar region to restore order in one of the epicenters of unrest.
The new Deputy Prime Minister was 35-year-old Karim Massimov, who was the Minister of Transport and Communications, and he took over the responsibilities of Akhmetov and Jandosov. After extensive consultations and contemplation, the President carried out major rotations at the end of the following January, replacing the leadership and administration, along with the government.
