– The special services are dealing with the issue of the terrorist threat in Kazakhstan, therefore, there is no information on this matter in the public domain. It is known so far that the so-called “bearded men” were trained by people in the Kazakhstani special services. It is absolutely certain that the camps were located in the mountains of the Alma-Ata region. There is a very large foothill, which is guarded by troops that are part of the KNB (National Security Committee – “MK”). Accordingly, if we assume that terrorists attacked Alma-Ata, then they could only attack from there. There is simply no other place where they could come from.
– That is, the army of 20 thousand militants, which Tokayev was originally talking about, was formed there?
– Presumably out of 20 thousand militants. Perhaps fear has big eyes, and there were about 5 thousand militants in the whole of Kazakhstan. Still, 20 thousand people could completely destroy the city, and there would be nowhere to hide them. But even 5 thousand people are enough to create a rustle, especially since the airport and other strategic facilities were handed over to them without a fight.
– So far, of the high-ranking people, only the ex-head of the KNB Karin Massimov has been detained?
– Yes, so far only about him is known from high-ranking people. But they probably took more people, they just don’t want to show the rest yet. Massimov was in power for 30 years and managed to acquire significant connections and clientele. If we imagine that all those dismissed over the past few days will be detained, then we have a very impressive list, which includes the ex-head of government, deputy ministers, and so on. Plus, a series of suicides among the security forces swept across the country.
– What did they say about Masimov before his arrest? I saw that he was called “the gray cardinal” …
– They said different things, while there is no court verdict, I would not want to go into details. For example, some said that he stole a lot of money, while others considered him a good organizer. He sat in power for 30 years and managed to do a lot, let’s see what happens to him now. But the vast majority of people are happy with the personnel reshuffle in Kazakhstan. They expect that a system in which a minority gets the best out of life, and the vast majority of citizens remain cut off from normal incomes and social lifts, is a thing of the past.
– In addition to Massimov, the nephews of Nazarbayev Samat Abish, the deputy head of the KNB, and his brother, the oligarch Kairat Satybaldy, are suspected of involvement in the terrorist attacks. They say that they supervise the Kazakh Islamists.
– There is conflicting information on them. At first, they said that they were detained and almost deported from the UAE. Then they said that Abish continues to work for the KNB. It is too early to draw any conclusions about them; in the coming days, everything will become clear.
I think that the information is not let through for the reason that the authorities consider it wrong to follow the logic of Eastern despotism, when it is necessary to scold everything that came before you. It would be more correct to let go of the past with dignity and ensure civilized transit.
– And yet, what is the reputation of Nazarbayev’s nephews? Could they have been involved in the creation of the terrorist camps?
– They have no reputation, because both are connected with the special services, and the media have never talked about them. But it is known that both are very rich, therefore they were suspected of corruption. As for the connection with the Islamists, there are also rumors about this, but I will refrain from commenting until it becomes known about their future fate.
– How is Nazarbayev doing? For a long time, nothing was heard about him at all …
– So he does not appear now. We have stories of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, who claims to have talked to Nazarbayev on the phone. But whether he told the truth, we do not know. And there is a statement by Nazarbayev’s press secretary, to whom the same attitude.
In general, two opinions dominate in society. Some believe that Nazarbayev has already died, which led to riots in Alma-Ata. Others believe that Nazarbayev is still alive, but not the same.
– Why not the one, if he himself was not involved in the protests and even gave the power to Tokayev voluntarily?
– The problem is that, in any case, the people who caused the riots worked under Nazarbayev’s command. In addition, a lot of people appeared in Kazakhstan who, a few days ago, praised the first president, and now changed their shoes in the air and began to disown him.
– What is the name of the capital in the media – Nur-Sultan or Astana?
– The capital … Intelligent people now try not to name it in any way.
– Do you think that after a complete settlement of the political crisis in Kazakhstan is there a possibility that Nazarbayev will return to power?
– No, this is completely out of the question. Legally, he is now a pensioner. If anyone tries to change this, many people will rebel again. The trigger of the January protests was precisely the fact that people got sick of the system of power formed under him.
– By the way, about protests, when Tokayev says that he will fight terrorists, does he mean all the protesters or only those who burn down buildings, smash shops, and so on?
– No, he is talking about terrorists. When ordinary people came out to rally, no one fought with them. So far I have not heard of any reprisals against peaceful protesters, but we are now in a lull due to internet restrictions. It is not known what happened during these few days.
Read the material “Russian winter in Kazakhstan will not become Russian spring: the chance was missed”
.