Kazakh Leader’s Call for Dialog Met With Plans for New Protests

Kazakh Leader’s Call for Dialog Met With Plans for New Protests

(Bloomberg) -- Kazakh police detained dozens of people during a protest against the election of the nation’s new president, adding to hundreds more jailed in demonstrations that have marred leader Nursultan Nazarbayev’s efforts to transfer power to a hand-picked successor.

Former Senate leader Kassym-Jomart Tokayev dominated Sunday’s presidential ballot, taking 71% of the vote to take over from Nazarbayev, who had ruled the country since before the collapse of the Soviet Union. Tokayev called for dialog Wednesday and said he’d ordered the formation of a “national council of public trust” to address protesters’ concerns.

Some opposition leaders have denounced the election, which also drew criticism from international observers for violating fundamental freedoms that included ballot-box stuffing and a disregard of counting procedures.

“Our people are very worried about developing a dialog between authorities and the public,” Tokayev, 66, said during his inauguration in Nur-Sultan Wednesday. “Such dialog must be built on the recognition of opinions and pluralism.”

Police detained as many as 30 people Wednesday in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, according to the Vlast news website. The spokeswoman for the Almaty police department wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Kazakh Leader Nazarbayev Quits Presidency, Retains Key Posts

Earlier, authorities arrested about 700 protesters on Sunday and Monday in Nur-Sultan, the capital, and Almaty. Protests on Monday night were dispersed by police, while authorities have blocked messaging apps and social networks, according to Vlast.

Nazarbayev, who parliament has declared leader-for-life, retains key powers as head of the national security council. He also leads the ruling Nur Otan party, which has an overwhelming majority in parliament. His daughter Dariga became head of the senate in place of Tokayev. Nazarbayev began a long-expected transfer of power in March when he resigned as president.

“Our formula of state power is: a strong, empowered president -- an influential, capable parliament -- a government accountable to the people,” said Tokayev, who demonstrated his loyalty to Nazarbayev after succeeding him in March by leading a push to rename the capital to Nur-Sultan from Astana.

©2019 Bloomberg L.P.

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