Russia’s ally Kazakhstan has refused to allow a march against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its organizers said on Saturday, as tensions rise in Kazakh society over the armed conflict that has prompted sanctions unprecedented Western economics against Moscow.
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A former Soviet republic in Central Asia, Kazakhstan, which traditionally enjoys cordial relations with the West, is seeking a balance between distancing itself from the Russian campaign in Ukraine and maintaining its friendly ties with Moscow.
In early March, the Kazakh authorities authorized a rally of around 2,000 people in Almaty, the country’s economic capital, against the war in Ukraine.
But the second parade of this type was not authorized by the Almaty city hall, which explained its decision by the fact that another rally – in support of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev – was planned for the square. center of the city, a traditional place of demonstrations, the activists behind the initiative told AFP.
One of these activists, Alnour Iliachev, told AFP that the place was “reserved” by the president’s supporters for the whole day, so no other gathering could take place there even after their departure, early in the day. ‘afternoon.
“In reality, they organized (the demonstration) only to prevent us from holding our anti-war rally,” he told AFP.
Public gatherings are strictly controlled in Kazakhstan where they can only take place in designated places, with permission from local authorities.
The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has repeatedly stressed the country’s neutrality in the armed conflict in Ukraine.
For its part, Uzbekistan, another former Soviet republic in Central Asia, neighboring Kazakhstan, showed its support for the territorial integrity of Ukraine on Thursday, the Uzbek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Abdulaziz Komilov, having called to an immediate end to the fighting in that country, during a speech before Parliament.
Kazakhstan is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Moscow-led military alliance, as well as the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
Uzbekistan left the CSTO in 2012 and has observer status in the EAEU.