Kazakhstan: The myth of stability

The 16th of December was meant to be a jubilant day in Kazakhstan. Parallel to the unveiling of a Paris-style triumphal arch in Astana, all major cities celebrated the 20th anniversary of Kazakhstan’s independence. But in Zhanaozen, a small town in the oil-rich Western province of Mangystau, the festivities turned into tragedy. An unresolved conflict about higher wages between the state-owned oil company KazMunayGas and striking oil workers escalated – police forces opened fire on the protesters in the central square, leaving 17 dead and dozens injured. K+, an independent Kazakh TV station broadcasting from Kyrgyzstan, presented video footage of retreating demonstrators being relentlessly attacked by armed police. President Nazarbayev, autocratic ruler of the country for 20 years, immediately imposed a state of emergency on the Western region prohibiting internet access and mobile phone contact to the outside world.