2019–2020 Kazakh protests

On 4 February 2019, five sisters were killed by a house fire in Astana (later, Nur-Sultan) that broke out at night, while both their parents were working night shifts. The fire sparked a controversy on social media and led to some small-scale protests.[6] Paul Stronski of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace wrote:

The house fire, however, epitomizes many of the country’s social problems, as well as the widening gap between the government and the governed. Despite the frigid climate of northern Kazakhstan, this family lived in a new part of town that that had yet to have city gas pipes installed, leaving them no option but to turn on the stove to keep their children warm. But, like many things in the country, that stove apparently did not meet safety standards. Citizens now often blame the country’s pervasive culture of corruption and wasteful spending for such horrific deaths. This anger about lax oversight – of the country’s financial resources, of its rapid urbanization, and of its poor – exposes a lack of public confidence in state structures.[6]

By 15 February, the outrage had led to protests reported as numbering in the hundreds. A protest in Nur-Sultan at a public event where Mayor Bakhyt Sultanov was speaking resulted in him being shouted off the stage.[7]

On 21 February, President Nursultan Nazarbayev issued a statement announcing he had dismissed the government led by Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev. The Diplomat reported: "Many reports (such as those in RFE/RL and Eurasianet) regarding Nazarbayev's decision point squarely to recent protests as a triggering factor" for the government's dismissal.[8] On 19 March, Nazarbayev unexpectedly resigned as President, leading to the appointment of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the speaker of the upper house of parliament, as the new President of Kazakhstan. Nazarbayev retained his status in several powerful positions, such as being Chairman of the Security Council and Chairman of the ruling party Nur Otan[1][9] and in October 2019 gained the right to veto appointments of most ministers, of provincial governors and of some other senior officials.[10]

Tokayev called a snap presidential election held on 9 June 2019, which saw him elected with a majority of over 70% of the vote. In the run-up to the elections, a small number of protests calling for a boycott of the vote were reported.[11] After preliminary results were announced, protests were reported in both Nur-Sultan and Almaty, the largest city in Kazakhstan. Deputy Interior Minister Marat Kozhayev announced that 500 people had been taken into custody, while Mukhtar Ablyazov, the leader of opposition group the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, claimed that there were "thousands of protesters" in the Astana Square of Almaty.[4]

Protestors held a march calling for constitutional reform on 30 August. None were detained.[12]

On 21 September, people in Almaty and Nur-Sultan protested against the economic role of China in Kazakhstan, with banner slogans including "Let's not give way to Chinese expansion" and an anti-Nazarbayev slogan "The old man is the enemy" and called for political prisoners to be released. Security forces detained 57 protestors.[9]

Ablyazov and the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan initiated further protests in both Nur-Sultan and Almaty in October 2019, which police said resulted in 26 people being arrested.[13]

Protests took place in Nur-Sultan and Almaty on 9 November calling for "freedom for political prisoners, a parliamentary republic, and fair elections", coordinated by Respublika and Oyan, Qazaqstan.[14]

Another round of protests in both cities, involving "up to 100 anti-government protesters" was held on 16 December, timed to mark Independence Day. Reuters reported that "dozens" of protesters were taken into custody. The protest was held to commensurate the victims of Jeltoqsan and Zhanaozen massacre.[1]

Around 50 female protesters gathered in front of the Labor and Social Protection Ministry on January 13 demanding an increase in financial support to single mothers, mothers taking care of handicapped children, and those with low incomes. The protesters were invited to the building by the representative of akim's office, Elnur Beisenbaev. The women refused after the journalists were not allowed to accompany them. The women then marched to the presidential administration but were stopped by the police.[15]

On 16-17 January, protests were held by car owners in different cities, protesting the high cost of fees to register the vehicles imported from the EEU countries. The fees are around the same price as the cars themselves and the law has been in effect for more than year.[16]

On 22 February, multiple protests were held across the country. Two of them were held in Almaty. The first one was organized by the Democratic Party of Kazakhstan (QDP), led by Janbolat Mamai, who was detained by the police earlier on Friday night and faced 3 days of detention. Another one was held later that same day by the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan (QDT). Around 200 protesters were detained.[17]

On 25 February, a demonstration was held in front of the Interior Ministry building in Nur-Sultan over the death of Kazakh political activist Dulat Agadil while he was held in a detention center. According to the Interior Minister Erlan Turgumbaev, Agadil's death was caused by "heart problems".[18] The protesters demanded a detailed information about his death as well as the officials to come out of the building to speak to them. After receiving no response, the activists then blocked a street which resulted in police violently detaining the protesters into the police buses.[19]

On 27 February, the day of Agadil's funeral, protest was held in front of the Astana Concert Hall in Nur-Sultan, to demand the creation of an independent commission including the participation of civil society representatives to investigate Agadil's death. The police dispersed the rally, and loaded about 20 people into police buses.[20] In Almaty, 80 people gathered in Republic Square to mourn Agadil.[21]