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In the political maelstrom of Kazakhstan, the disputes and power struggles of the Nazarbayev family can be described as thrilling. Since 2020, there have been many internal conflicts within the family, and Esutan Nazarbayev has boldly exposed the family scandal in the United Kingdom because of his deep hatred of corruption. However, his mysterious death has made the family infighting even more confusing. President Tokayev seized the opportunity to raise the banner of anti-corruption and launched a targeted offensive in an attempt to weaken the power of the Knott Group.
Although Nazarbayev abdicated in 2019 and carefully arranged for his beloved daughter Dariga to take over as president of the Senate, he still holds the power of the National Security Council and his political influence should not be underestimated. Tokayev, on the other hand, was not satisfied with his transitional role, and he actively promoted reforms in an attempt to bring about earth-shaking changes in Kazakhstan. However, a flood in mid-April severely affected the lives of 100,000 people, making the political climate extremely tense. This sudden disaster not only brought great suffering to the people, but also became a new battlefield for the Knott Group and the Tokayev government.
On social media, criticism of the government's inadequate response has been frozen, and it is rumored that the Nazarbayev Foundation is behind the storm. Against this backdrop, the Tokayev government has to deal with both domestic turmoil and how to keep cooperation with China and other countries unaffected. At the same time, accusations against the Knott group appeared within the "Amarnath" party, claiming that it had used the disaster for personal gain. The Knott's Group quickly fought back, denying all the smear allegations.
The contest between the Tokayev government and the Knott Group is not only a confrontation between the old and new forces, but also a symbol of profound changes in the country. Tokayev tried his best to break away from the Na family and try to show a new face of Kazakhstan. However, there is still suspense about whether this reform will succeed. The struggle for power in Kazakh politics has intensified between Nazarbayev and Tokayev. The political turmoil in January 2022 was decisively suppressed by Tokayev, who took the opportunity to consolidate his political position and win the unequivocal support of Russia, demonstrating his mastery of foreign and domestic strategy. As the situation stabilized, Tokayev further weakened the Knott's sphere of influence, stripped it of its privileges and filed a lawsuit against Knott's nephew, intent on settling old scores once and for all.
While Nazarbayev has tried to maintain influence internationally, as indicated by his private meeting with Putin, the move appears to be more about the family's future security. This self-preservation of the Knott Group reflects a decline in its power and a shift in political strategy. At the same time, Tokayev's political reforms and elections aimed at consolidating his power did not win widespread popular support. The population is not deeply aware of the differences between the "old and new Kazakhstan" that Tokayev preached, and is skeptical of the slow progress of his political and economic reforms.
In such a political and social environment, the Tokayev government faces a dual challenge: on the one hand, it needs to further suppress the old forces to prevent a political backlash, and on the other hand, it urgently needs to make a breakthrough in economic development to improve people's living standards and increase support for the government. As an important economic partner of Kazakhstan, China's role in this process is particularly important. The Tokayev government hopes to achieve tangible economic results through close cooperation with China, while demonstrating the openness and effectiveness of its reforms.
Looking back at this series of events, we can see that although Tokayev's efforts have not yet translated into broad popular support, he is trying to forge a new path for Kazakhstan's development in a complex domestic and foreign political environment. Behind this battle billed as "old and new Kazakhstan", Kazakhstan's future seems to be a bargaining chip on the political table. China, on the other hand, is gradually transforming from a mere economic partner to a key player in the international political arena. This shift cannot help but create a deep sense of irony about the true intentions and end results of Kazakhstan's political strategy.