Even as Kasım-Ymart Tokayev began a new term as president of Kazakhstan, the legislature opened with tension and a sense that momentum might stall. In Astana, the capital, crowds gathered despite authorities not granting permission for demonstrations. The night was bitterly cold, well below freezing, yet hundreds of people appeared in the city center, signaling a willingness to rally even in harsh weather.
The core heartbeat of the nation seemed to pulse through the streets. Moments after the opening ceremony, security and protest watchers faced a delicate balance as authorities moved to keep order. Detainees were confirmed, and internet access wavered, with disruptions lasting for large portions of the afternoon as citywide communications links flickered between online and offline states.
Some local media reports tied the protest to supporters of businessman Marat Abiyev, the founder of the Architects of the Future project. In the spring, activists linked to his movement attempted to reach Astana from various regions, but security forces blocked their buses. Police, however, did not officially permit the protesters to act as a formal faction backing the Kazakh businessman.
In Astana, followers of businessman Marat Abiyev were detained as they tried to march forward. Video footage circulated showing participants on the street, underscoring the tension between demonstrators and state authorities. The scene was documented by independent observers and shared across local media networks, drawing attention to the evolving landscape of political expression in the capital.
— Media Zone. Central Asia (Mediazona_ca) reported on the events from Astana, highlighting the crackdown on street actions and the challenges faced by residents attempting to organize protests in the capital. The coverage helped contextualize the broader climate in the region as 2022 drew to a close and political discourse intensified.
Tokayev at the head of Kazakhstan
The president of Kazakhstan took the oath for a second term as the head of the parliament, signaling the start of a new legislature slated to run through 2029. Earlier in the year, the nation had witnessed substantial street demonstrations, notably in Almaty, the country’s largest city and former capital, where riots captured international attention and prompted a strong security response. In response to unrest, Tokayev authorized a hardline stance, including a controversial warning to security forces about the possibility of lethal force, a stance that drew sharp domestic and international scrutiny.
These upheavals pushed Astana into seeking strategic alignments, most notably aligning with the Collective Security Treaty Organization, which includes Belarus, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, with Russia playing a central leadership role in attempting to stabilize the situation. The mobilization of regional security resources underscored how the crisis reshaped Kazakhstan’s governance and its diplomacy with neighboring states.
On the political front, Tokayev entered the new term after last Sunday, November 20, having won the electoral contest under scrutiny and amid limited opposition. Throughout the year, he had aimed to project himself as a reform-minded leader intent on modernizing the country and expanding democratic institutions, even as observers remained cautious about the pace and depth of political change. In addressing the swearing-in ceremony, he reiterated a long-term vision of transforming Kazakh society and advancing a development path that would yield more robust institutions and greater public participation, a message designed to reassure both domestic audiences and international partners that reform is possible without sacrificing stability.
The ongoing conversation about governance in Kazakhstan continues to balance calls for modernization with concerns about civil liberties and the role of security forces in public life. While Tokayev has emphasized modernization and governance reforms, critics point to persistent authoritarian practices as indicators of a political system operating with tight control. The year ahead is expected to bring further debates about reform, transparency, and the mechanisms through which Kazakhstan can cultivate a more open political culture while maintaining social cohesion and national security. The swearing-in marked a turning point in this process, inviting scrutiny of policy proposals, security policies, and the government’s broader developmental agenda that many say will define Kazakhstan’s trajectory in the coming decade.