How the Russian Ally Kazakhstan Takes a Stand Against Ukraine War

• The opposition to the Ukraine war has been firm but subtle by Russian ally Kazakhstan
• Some Russian hawks call for the “de-Nazification of Kazakhstan,” inciting fears it could be the next.
• Kazakhstan is building stronger ties with Europe while balancing friendly relations with Russia.

Kazakhstan, an ally for many years, was not quick to help Russia when it invaded Ukraine in Feb.

The former Soviet republic of central Asia shares a 4,750-mile-long land border with Russia. Kazakhstan maintains close relations with its neighbor. Although Kazakhstan is a close ally, it has made subtle but firm statements to deny Russia’s invasion.

Insider heard Magzhan Illyassov, Kazakhstan’s new ambassador, state that Kazakhstan has a position on the war and called for a ceasefire.

After the invasion in Ukraine, there have been fears that Russia could be looking to Kazakhstan as a target next.

Ilyassov stated, “I wouldn’t lie to you and tell you that it’s all just a matter of us watching it,”

“We are neighbors to the Russian Federation. There are many parts of our society and community that are concerned about the events. Some people can extrapolate the scenario that it could happen in Kazakhstan.

However, the ambassador pointed out that Russia and the United States have strong trade and economic ties. He said that Russia would not be able to take any “hostile measures” against the country. 

A delicate balance act

Kazakhstan has been trying to find the right balance between building a friendship with its neighbor and maintaining friendly relations with it. stronger ties with the European Union.The EU and Kazakhstan already have close trade and investment ties. However, they pledged to forge closer ties. “ever closer” relationsat a meeting held in Luxembourg in June.

While Kazakhstan has not directly criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it has made its position quite clear.

It denied a requestNear the start of the war, to send troops to fight against Russia and has sent planeloads of humanitarian aidUkraine

Kazakhstan also refused to recognize the Russia-created separatist republics Luhansk or Donetsk in south Ukraine, which the country’s president Kassym Jomart Tokayev made an effort to acknowledge. statingDuring a June economic forum in St Petersburg, Vladimir Putin was in front of me.

The threat of ‘de Nazification’

A guest on the Vladimir Solovyov show, a well-known Russian TV host and propagandist, stated that Kazakhstan is the next problem because there are “the same Nazi processes that can start there as in Ukraine.”

—ТРУХА⚡️English (@TpyxaNews) November 22, 2022

Putin’s baseless use “de-Nazification”As a pretext to invade Ukraine in February.

Other Russian politicians have also made this statement. similar commentsAbout Kazakhstan, Sergey Savostyanov (a Moscow city deputy parliamentarian) praises Russia’s so called mission to “denazify Ukraine” and suggests that it should next consider countries like Kazakhstan.

Also, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President, also posted a social media message questioned Kazakhstan’s sovereigntyIt was called an “artificial state” by the author this summer. However, it was deleted later and hackers were blamed.

Ilyassov stated that “people don’t understand why somebody would say that, what Kazakhstan has do with Nazis.”

He said that while people in Kazakhstan were upset by the comments, it was important to note that Solovyov is a known provocateur, and Russian politicians who have made these comments tend to be very junior and perhaps looking to score points – meaning it is likely not reflective of any official position.

Russia has voiced its dissatisfaction at its neighbor

While Russia may be dissatisfied by Kazakhstan’s inability to support it, it has decided not to retaliate in any obvious ways at a moment when it has been subjected to global sanctions and has been isolated by the West.

Russia has made some small gestures to show discontent with its neighbor.

Ilyassov explained that there have been many strange incidents and that no one can be certain if it’s a coincidence, or if it was planned.

He pointed out this summer, two days after Tokayev’s comments from St. Petersburg, Russia, he said. temporarily shut down an oil terminal on the Black SeaKazakh oil exports are facilitated by this, ostensibly because of “environmental concerns.”

Since then, the president has instructed his government to diversify its oil supply routes.

Kazakhstan strives to improve its image

In January, protests broke out in Kazakhstan over rising fuel prices. The brutal crackdown that followed led to the deaths over 200 people.

Russian-led troops arrived in Kazakhstan after the president of Kazakhstan requested help from the Collective Security Treaty Organisation, also known as CSTO. It is made up several post-Soviet nations. The move was approved. criticized by Western leadersAt the time, Russia was building troops at the border with Ukraine.

Since then, Kazakhstan has attempted to distance itself from the incident. Ilyassov claimed that Russian troops were there along with others from all member countries. They left after almost two weeks and did not take part in any actions. He said that an investigation was ongoing into events following January protests.

Tokayev, who was elected president in a quick election this week, came to power in 2019. Both felicitated him. PutinVolodymyr, President of Ukraine Zelenskyy.

A significant influx of Russian citizens and businesses

The country is almost as big as western Europe (1,000,000 sq mi) and is the most landlocked in the world. It has 19 million inhabitants, which include ethnic Kazakhs as well as Russians. Additionally, it has seen an influx in Russian companies and individuals.

Putin ordered the partial mobilization to Ukraine of reservists. This sparked a torrent of fighting-age Russian men fleeing Russia.

According to Kazakhstan’s official figures, around 200,000 people crossed the border into Kazakhstan. Ilyassov stated that about 80% of them went on to other destinations. Many of the remaining Russians are registered to work in Kazakhstan.

Dozens upon dozens of foreign companies, which were formerly based in Russia, have also moved to Kazakhstan.

Kazakhstan is continuing to balance its act. It remains to see how far it can push itself without angering Moscow.